John,

The US military budget is currently $858 billion, more than China, Russia, and the next seven countries combined. Yet, we are told there isn’t money to expand child care, affordable housing, food for poor mothers and children, or home heating assistance for seniors or families.

Last week, Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) reintroduced the People Over Pentagon Act, which would cut $100 billion in defense spending and reallocate the funds to human needs programs.

The People Over Pentagon Act would redirect $100 billion to real investments in our security, enough to hire more teachers and nurses, enroll more children in Head Start, connect households to renewable energy, and more.

SEND LETTERS: Tell Congress to pass the People Over Pentagon Act and start investing in our communities.

Throwing huge increases year after year to the Pentagon’s corporate contractors undermines our security by preventing us from investing in the shared prosperity that comes from more housing, climate and public health protections, ending hunger, more education and jobs.

Spending on the Pentagon, including work on nuclear weapons at the Department of Energy and emergency military aid to Ukraine is expected to total at least $894 billion during the current fiscal year. Experts say that if current trends continue, it will not be long before defense spending exceeds $1 trillion per year.

Reducing the Pentagon budget by $100 billion would still leave plenty to keep America safe at a level well above our country’s post-World War II average.

We’re still dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s time Congress prioritize the well-being of their constituents and invest in our communities. Tell Congress to pass the People Over Pentagon Act.

Thank you for all you do to support vulnerable communities,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs