Budget Matters Blog

Entries By Lindsay Koshgarian


Myth vs. Fact: The Pentagon Slush Fund

The OCO slush fund was originally designed to fund our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it is now being used to help the Pentagon break existing spending caps. 


President Obama's Order on Police Militarization: Your Federal Dollars at Work

A new executive order prohibits the federal provision of tracked armored vehicles, weaponized aircraft and vehicles, grenade launchers, and other items to local police departments.


Move the Money 2015: Shifting Spending from the Pentagon to Local Priorities in New Hampshire

From May through July, National Priorities Project staff together with partners from the Peace Action Education Fund will visit four states as part of our Move the Money training series.


The Good, The Bad, the Ugly: Top 3 Amendments to the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act

This week the House of Representatives is considering the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and amendments. Here are three of the most notable amendments to the NDAA on offer.


Congress’ Budget Resolution: Sequestration in Name Only

The Senate voted to approve a non-binding budget resolution that sets overall spending limits for the federal government’s discretionary spending in fiscal year 2016.


National Defense Authorization Act: Five Things You Should Know

Today – all day and quite possibly into the night -- the House Armed Services Committee is marking up the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). But what is the NDAA, and why should we care?


Budget 2016 Update: No budget resolution yet

Yesterday's deadline for House and Senate budget resolution wasn't binding, and it came and went without much drama, and without a deal. 


Where Your Tax Dollars Go: Federal Funds vs. Trust Funds

On Tax Day, it’s all about "federal funds" - largely from your income taxes - that pay for the military, certain health care programs, education and other things. 


Pentagon Spending FY 2016: The Great Debate

President Obama, the House and Senate have all lined up with a whopping request for Pentagon and related spending of $613 billion. What alternative do we have to this bloated Pentagon budget? 


Senate Approves a Budget. What’s Next?

In the wee hours of Friday morning, the U.S. Senate voted 52-46 to approve a budget, setting off a months long processNow Congress is in recess for two weeks.