THE WARFARE STATE: HOW FUNDING FOR MILITARISM COMPROMISES OUR WELFARE
LINDSAY KOSHGARIAN | ALLIYAH LUSUEGRO | ASHIK SIDDIQUE
The militarized portion of this year’s federal discretionary budget is by far its largest single component. And yet the same legislators demanding billions in savings have vowed to exempt that militarized spending from any cuts. Instead, they’ve targeted the much smaller portion that funds human and community needs for even deeper cuts.
In FY 2023, out of a $1.8 trillion federal discretionary budget, $1.1 trillion — or 62 percent— was for militarized programs.
That includes war and weapons, law enforcement and mass incarceration, and detention and deportation.
Less than $2 out of every $5 in federal discretionary spending was available to fund investment in people and communities.
This investments include primary and secondary public education, housing programs, child care programs, federal disaster relief, environmental programs, and scientific research.
Since 2001, the U.S. has added $2 to the discretionary budget for militarism for every $1 added to invest in communities.
The U.S. spent $16 on the military and war for every $1 that was spent on diplomacy and humanitarian foreign aid.
The U.S. spent $51.1 billion for homeland security, approximately half of which goes to ICE ($8.8 billion) and CBP ($17.4 billion). These are the agencies responsible for deportations, family separations, and violent apprehension at the southern border. That’s nearly three times spending on substance abuse and mental health programs ($7.5 billion), even as opioid use remains a major cause of death.
The harm these programs have done is compounded by the parallel failure to invest in other urgent needs and crises.
Check out our new research that exposes the full extent of militarized spending today: “THE WARFARE STATE: HOW FUNDING FOR MILITARISM COMPROMISES OUR WELFARE”
https://ips-dc.org/report-warfare-state-how-funding-militarism-compromises-welfare
