In 2022, we spent 3.3% of our GDP on defense. These expenditures now total about $742 billion, an amount equal to the defense budgets of the next 7 largest nations combined – or more than twice as much as China ($300 billion), Russia ($66 billion) and the world’s “rogue” nations combined. This amount does not include the budgets of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security, our nuclear weapons program, the debt payments from past wars, or intelligence operations conducted by the FBI and NASA. We seldom cut our defense budget. The end of the Cold War and the 2011 Sequester budget cuts are rare examples of such cuts.

Supporters of our military budget claim these expenditures help drive our economy and are needed to protect our interests and maintain peace abroad. Considering China’s resurgence, many proponents say we need an even larger military presence than the one we have.

Opponents say our present level of defense spending is the biggest driver of our nation’s debt and is consuming the funds needed for domestic programs such as rebuilding infrastructure, investing in education and fighting climate change. They claim we do not need a military large enough to fulfill the role of the world’s policeman, and that we should insist other free nations equitably contribute to maintaining world peace.

Proposed Legislation: Introducing legislation to reduce our military budget by either 1% of GDP or an amount equal to the combined military budgets of the next 5 largest nations, whichever amount is less.
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Lee (CA)