Tell Congress: Cut Pentagon Spending and Keep Social Programs!
Hon. Ro Khanna / US House of Representatives & Democracy Now!
ACTION: Add your name now to call on Congress to curb the influence of the military industrial complex in our government by cutting the Pentagon budget, NOT funding for social programs.
(February 2, 2023) — On January 17, 1961, in his historic farewell address, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned Congress of the unchecked growth of the arms industry in creating a never-ending “military industrial complex” that would undermine the very foundations of our democracy:
“Our toil, resources, and livelihood are all involved.
So is the very structure of our society.
The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”
Now, more than 60 years later, the Pentagon budget has grown at an astronomically unsustainable rate year after year, with no end in sight. Last year alone, Congress increased Pentagon spending by 8 percent — more than $40 BILLION above the president’s request — bringing the Pentagon’s total budget to $858 BILLION.
But it’s a new Congress, and that means the game could change. Right now, we’re hearing renewed calls to CUT government spending, and that means we could push to decrease the Pentagon budget NOW. The catch? Republicans are calling for cuts in critically needed social programs too.
It’s time for Congress to prioritize the needs of the people. That means investing in programs that will truly make our country stronger and more equitable while cutting the bloated Pentagon budget — and activists like us can lead the way.
Last year, Congress increased Pentagon spending by 8 percent — more than $40 billion above President Biden’s request. This brings the Pentagon’s total budget to a staggering $858 billion.
A bloated Pentagon budget won’t bolster our safety and well-being. But access to life-saving healthcare, tuition-free community college, and paid family leave will. If we cut Pentagon spending, we can provide better opportunities for everyday Americans to not only survive but succeed.
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I understand the need for a modern national security strategy. But true security requires that we meet the needs of America’s working families at home as well.
We need to push Congress to cut waste from the Pentagon budget that rewards legacy defense contractors and start investing in programs that benefit the American people.
Hon. Ro Khanna on Democracy Now!
Congressmember Ro Khanna of California says hundreds of billions of dollars in annual defense spending could be better used on diplomacy, humanitarian aid, public health and other initiatives.
He’s one of 50 House Democrats who signed a letter to President Joe Biden in March urging a “significantly reduced” Pentagon budget, which has grown to over $700 billion.
“The Pentagon increases make no sense,” says Khanna. “If you’re ending the forever war in Afghanistan … then why are we increasing, at the same time, the defense budget?” Khanna also discusses the Saudi-led, US-backed war in Yemen, a major US arms deal with the United Arab Emirates and more.
