U.S. Responsible for 37% of Global Military Spending, Still Gunning for More
WASHINGTON. D.C. – The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) today released its annual “Trends in World Military Expenditure” report summing up global military spending totals in 2024. The U.S. continued its upward march towards a trillion dollar annual Pentagon budget, spending $997 billion in 2024. The House and Senate Armed Services Committees this week are expected to mark up their portions of the annual spending bill, which authorizes $150 billion in new Pentagon spending for President Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense system and a larger military footprint at the country’s southern border, while threatening cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and free school lunches for qualifying students. Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, released the following statement:
“The U.S. war budget representing 37% of the global military spending is a sign of weakness, not strength. A country that leads the world in military spending, by far, while trailing all peer rich countries in providing affordable and quality healthcare, by far, is doing things wrong. And yet, Trump and Republican congressional leaders are proposing dramatic increases in Pentagon spending, throwing hundreds of billions more at well-connected military contractors.
“The upcoming budget reconciliation legislative fight throws a bright light on a long-hidden truth: Spending on the military comes at the direct cost of funding for healthcare, housing, nutrition, environmental protection, and other human needs. The SIPRI report should be a slap in the face that finally convinces political leaders: Enough.”