Budget Matters Blog


This April, Climate and War Are Linked More Than Ever

It’s Earth Day today, and the U.S. and the world seem determined to ignore the climate crisis and instead invest in war. That’s a huge mistake. 


Militarized Funding in Biden Budget Totals Well Over $1 Trillion (and it will grow)

While the larger budgets makes some important strides forward, this discretionary proposal won’t provide security we need, in terms of costs of living, quality of life, climate change, or securing peace.


What We Spend on the EPA Compared to Pentagon Contractors

Each year Congress gives more than 50% of its discretionary budget to the Pentagon. and one of the most wasteful uses of this money is on contract spending. 


United We Dream and Allies Demand Permanent Ceasefire and Immigrant Protections

Last week, I joined an action hosted by United We Dream in DC. We demanded a ceasefire now in Gaza and permanent protections for immigrants who have made this country our home. 


The Senate's Failed War and Border Deal is Not Security

The $118 billion bill that Senate leaders put forward this week is a deal that never should have been made. 


The Cost of the Holiday Season: Increasing Funds for Border Enforcement Will Separate Families and Take Away From Human Needs

The holiday season is all about gathering with loved ones, right? Well, that’s the exact opposite of what extra funds to border enforcement - part of a foreign aid package in the Senate - will do for immigrant communities.


Hunger Striking for a Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza

From left to right: DE State Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, Bita iuliano (activist, grassroots organizer), Ashik Siddique, Sumaya Awad (author/activist, Adalah Justice Project), Rana Abdelhamid (organizer and former congressional candidate), Cynthia Nixon (actor/director), NY State Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, Amani Al-Khatahtbeh (Founder, Muslim Girl). Photo Credit: Eman Mohammed.  Last week, I...


Pentagon Fails Its Sixth Audit

There is an entity whose job it is to prevent this sort of abuse: Congress. With each failure at the Pentagon, Congress is failing, too.


On Veterans Day, Let’s Care for Veterans and Our Communities

Even though they often come up short, the U.S. has a good thing in its veterans’ programs. Veterans deserve this level of care and dignity - in fact, we all do. 


Israel, Ukraine, the Border: What's in Biden's $105 Billion Military Bill

An extra $105 billion in mostly military spending is no small matter, especially on top of the $886 billion military budget that has been working its way through Congress this year. So, how did this thing get so big?