WIN WITHOUT WAR: Co-sign the Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act

Despite the Pentagon only being able to account for 39% of its $3.5 TRILLION assets last year, Congress is on deck to rubber stamp an $886 BILLION weapons and war budget for 2024. It’s just another example of a broken status quo in which financial discipline is abandoned, and runaway Pentagon spending has become the norm.

But it turns out that every year, as the federal budget gets finalized, the Pentagon quietly comes back for even MORE. In recent years, congressionally required unfunded priorities lists (UPLs) — wish lists — have allowed Congress to redirect BILLIONS more dollars of critical government resources toward weapons and war and away from our communities.

While Congress subjects budgets for education, healthcare, and infrastructure to rigorous scrutiny, debate, and cuts, the Pentagon’s seems untouchable — but the reality is, it isn’t. The good news is, we’re not the only ones who think so. A new bipartisan bill, the Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act, introduced by Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Tom McClintock (R-CA), would repeal the wish list requirement altogether — and you can play a critical role in building power to pass it:

Show Congress that you demand transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. Become a grassroots co-signer of the Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act now!

ACT NOW

For too long, the Pentagon's unchecked and bloated budget has been a glaring testament to the United States’ misplaced priorities. While infrastructure crumbles, people fall through the healthcare system’s gaps, and students struggle to get a quality education, Congress funnels HUNDREDS of BILLIONS into the Pentagon.

And right now, congressionally required UPLs fuel that broken status quo by opening a backdoor to the official budgeting process that can amount to BILLIONS more dollars for weapons and war. In addition to the already MASSIVE annual budget request the president makes on the Pentagon’s behalf, Congress currently requires senior officials to also forward their separate wish list requests along for a rubber stamp.

This year’s list is already tallying up to TENS of BILLIONS of more dollars for weapons, tanks, airplanes, and ships that the Pentagon and Office of Management and Budget ALREADY agreed would not further the U.S. national security strategy. 

The asks have gotten so extravagant and out of control that even Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has come out against the practice.

It's time to say enough is enough and put an end to a wasteful charade that skirts accountability. That’s where the Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act comes in, offering a bipartisan solution to ensure that the Pentagon operates with the fiscal responsibility and transparency the public expects and deserves. It’s crucial and long overdue — but what happens next is up to you:

We have the power to shape the narrative, influence policymakers, and ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent judiciously and in the best interests of the people. Become a grassroots co-signer of the Streamline the Pentagon Budget Act by adding your name now.

Let's rally together, show our disdain for these wasteful practices, and push Congress to fix this broken status quo.

Thank you for working for peace,
Eric, Faith, Amy, and the Win Without War team

 

 

 

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A U.S. foreign policy rooted in human rights and justice won’t happen overnight.