Demand the Pentagon Return $1 Billion in Stolen Public Health Money
CODEPINK
(September 28, 2020) — Question: What’s more outrageous than a $740,000,000,000 Pentagon budget?
Answer: How about the Pentagon spending an extra $1 billion earmarked to increase the country’s medical supplies during a historic pandemic to instead line the pockets of “defense” contractors?
This is UNNACEPTABLE
That’s why it’s imperative that we support Representative Barbara Lee and Mark Pocan’s call for oversight investigations into this matter immediately AND demand that the Pentagon return the $1 billion intended for medical equipment.
In an investigative reportpublished in the Washington Post, authors report that a “$1 billion dollar fund Congress gave the Pentagon to build up the country’s supplies of medical equipment has instead mostly been funneled to defense contractors and used for making things such as jet engine parts, body armor, and dress uniforms.”
We always knew that funneling our taxpayer money to the Pentagon meant prioritizing funding for weapons over services and equipment we actually need — now we have an opportunity to make sure Congress officially investigates this misallocation of resources! Support Representatives Barbara Lee and Mark Pocan’s call for oversight investigations into this matter immediately AND demand that the Pentagon return the $1 billion intended for medical equipment.
200,000 Americans have died due to the Coronavirus to date. It is unconscionable that the Pentagon misused taxpayer funding meant to manufacture critical medical equipment during an historic pandemic. While this may not be surprising to many of us, now is the time to expose the Pentagon to the American people for their continued use of funding to line the pockets of private “defense” contractors.
Official oversight committee hearings in Congress will expose the Pentagon’s real priorities of funneling taxpayer money into the hands of weapons manufacturers. Official oversight hearings can help us continue to build a stronger and stronger case to defund the Pentagon and invest in human needs.
THE LETTER
I am writing to demand that you commence oversight investigations into the misuse of $1 billion in taxpayer dollars by the Pentagon and that you demand that the Pentagon return the $1 billion in taxpayer dollars they stole.
In an investigative report published in the Washington Post entitled “Pentagon Used Taxpayer Money Meant for Masks and Swabs to Make Jet Engines and Body Armor” authors report that a “1 billion dollar fund Congress gave the Pentagon to build up the country’s supplies of medical equipment has instead mostly been funneled to defense contractors and used for making things such as jet engine parts, body armor, and dress uniforms”.
If these reports are true, this is unacceptable and I demand that you immediately commence oversight investigations into the matter and demand that the Pentagon return $1 billion in taxpayer funding.
The CARES Act was passed to help address the needs of American people during the middle of an unprecedented pandemic and this alleged misuse of taxpayer dollars comes at a time when over 200,000 Americans have died due to the Coronavirus.
Given these recent revelations and the fact that the Pentagon remains the only Department that has never been independently audited, it is urgent that you immediately commence oversight investigations and public hearings into the matter and demand that the Pentagon return $1 billion in taxpayer funding.
Thank you,
Towards a weapons free future, Carley,Angela, Ann, Ariel, Carley, Caty, Cody, Danaka, Emily, Jodie, Kelsey, Leila, Leonardo, Maxine, Mary, Medea, Michelle, Nancy, Paki, Teri, and Yousef
The Pentagon Is Wasteful and Corrupt: Demand Accountability
Did you know the Pentagon is the ONLY Department that has never been independently audited? And, when given the opportunity to cut the Pentagon budget by 10% earlier this year, only 93 representatives voted correctly. Do you know where your representative stands on cutting the Pentagon budget? Find out here, then hold them accountable!
We also know the Pentagon misuses our taxpayer dollars every day– over half of our taxpayer dollars that are sent to the Pentagon go directly into the pockets of weapons manufacturers. That’s why it remains urgent that we organize in our local communities to divest from the war machine.
ACTION: Sign up to start a campaign in your community today and a CODEPINK organizer will be in touch with resources! P.S. — Didn’t get a chance to join the Premiere of We Are Many? You can still stream the event, which includes a panel discussion with Medea Benjamin. Unlock the livestream here.
