On March 17, 2025, news broke that Congress greenlit a staggering $141 billion for Pentagon research and development. This sum surpasses the budgets of most federal agencies and is nearly equivalent to the combined military budgets of the next seven largest countries. Yet, instead of robust discussions on this spending, lawmakers focused on lamenting a decrease of $7 billion from the previous year. This missing money is due to the budget caps in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. It seems military leaders are always pushing for more funding.
How often have we heard that there’s no money for vital services? Requests for universal pre-K and Medicare expansion often meet the same response: too expensive. Raising the minimum wage is said to threaten the economy. While the Pentagon’s budget keeps climbing, many Americans struggle with medical bills, housing issues, and underfunded education.
The U.S. tends to treat “national security” as a blanket reason for continuous military spending, even as millions face financial hardship. It appears that the primary focus is on maintaining a strong military presence instead of prioritizing the well-being of citizens.
Despite military budgets hitting record highs, officials insist that more funds are necessary. This year’s defense budget beacons at $892.5 billion, covering the Department of Defense and nuclear operations, yet there’s a constant drumbeat for additional funding.
This cycle of increased military spending transcends political parties. For example, former President Donald Trump once proposed an eye-watering $1 trillion military budget. Critics were quick to label this a moral failure, especially considering the everyday struggles that many American families face. The mere suggestion of such vast military spending highlights how normalized excessive budgets for defense have become. Whether it’s $892.5 billion or $1 trillion, the priority remains on military readiness over community support.
What’s often overlooked is that actual security does not hinge on military hardware. Instead, true national security encompasses stable lives for individuals and families. We’re conditioned to associate safety with missiles, drones, and advanced weaponry, rather than with affordable housing, education, health care, and community services.
So, what could a budget of $141 billion do for everyday Americans? It could provide universal pre-K for every child for five years, free school meals for ten million students, tens of thousands of affordable housing units, and full Medicaid expansion in states that refuse it. Instead, this funding will go towards developing new weapons and military technologies.
When discussions arise about funding basic needs—health care, education, or paid family leave—politicians often hesitate, claiming it’s unrealistic or too costly. This disconnect demonstrates a troubling pattern: military spending is seen as a necessity while social spending is portrayed as a burden.
Moreover, the current military budget primarily benefits contractors, not troops or veterans. The Pentagon frequently wastes billions on weapons systems that go unused while companies like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon profit from the defense budget. Recent events, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, have further boosted defense contractors’ profits.
The military’s role in domestic operations is also expanding. Recent strategies have intensified its engagement in immigration enforcement, especially along the southern border. This shift indicates a growing trend toward militarizing domestic issues, with the U.S. Navy deploying ships like the U.S.S. Gravely to patrol the Gulf of Mexico under the banner of national security.
Approximately 10,000 active-duty troops and 2,500 National Guardsmen now line the U.S.-Mexico border, equipped with advanced surveillance techniques. This significant ramp-up in militarization raises concerns about constitutional limitations like the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts federal military involvement in civilian law enforcement.
Many experts argue that treating immigration as a security threat oversimplifies complex issues like climate change, economic instability, and past U.S. interventions that fuel migration.
As military budgets expand, every crisis—domestic or global—becomes a reason for amplifying military expenditures. But what if we redefined security as ensuring that people have the basic necessities to lead fulfilling lives?
Real security starts with making sure everyone has access to housing, education, healthcare, and emotional well-being. A society where people aren’t struggling at the edge of survival is much safer and more resilient.
The reality is that the funds are there; we just choose to direct them toward war instead of community support. It’s time to rethink our priorities and invest in solutions that promote health, education, and stability—true foundations of national security.
For deeper insights into how military spending affects social services, you can check the report from the National Priorities Project.
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