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

 

 

 

---

Donate

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

We’re seeing some progress

 

July 16, 2022

This week, the House voted on amendments to the annual defense policy bill. While we didn’t see all of our priorities added to the House bill, we did see a lot of progress. First, we saw a strong vote on an amendment to cut $37 billion from the Pentagon budget, returning it to the level requested by the administration. Even though this amendment failed, we did see more support for a cut to the topline than we did last year. On Wednesday, 151 members of the House voted to cut $37 billion from the Pentagon budget, whereas last year, just 142 members of the House voted to reduce the Pentagon budget by $25 billion. Digging a bit deeper, 13 Republican members who voted against the $25 billion cut last year voted in favor of the $37 billion reduction. That’s progress, and we’ll keep pushing each year to convince more members of the House to reduce waste at the Pentagon. POGO also saw the House pass some great amendments. One measure would repeal the 2002 authorization for use of military force, which has been abused to justify military actions unrelated to the initial resolution from Congress. Another amendment would give the mayor of Washington, D.C. control over the D.C. national guard. And we’re very excited that the House passed an amendment to strengthen the rules requiring certain federal contracts to reveal their true owners, which would better prevent bad actors from benefitting from taxpayer dollars. Now, we’ll turn our attention to the Senate and work to ensure that chamber includes these wins in its version of the defense bill. EVENT The Ridenhour Prizes Save the date for the nineteenth annual Ridenhour Prizes, happening on September 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. Learn More EVENT The Constitution Project's Virtual Book Club: Nobody Is Protected Join us for a virtual book club discussion with award-winning author Reece Jones about his new book, Nobody Is Protected: How the Border Patrol Became the Most Dangerous Police Force in the United States. Register QUOTE OF THE WEEK “What really gets me about this particular moment – with midterms, with war in Europe, with inflation – is that those pushing to increase the Pentagon budget seem to be far more concerned with purchasing power than they do the actual purchases that we’re making.” Julia Gledhill, Analyst for the Center for Defense Information, in Open Secrets OVERHEARD ONE LINERS “So [the Defense Logistics Agency is] cutting corners. And as a result, small businesses might be getting the shaft.” Nick Schwellenbach, Senior Investigator, in Federal News Network   “Contracts for large amounts should be competed as much as possible because the potential savings to the taxpayer would be significant and well-worth the extra work needed to oversee the bidding process.” Sean Moulton, Senior Policy Analyst, in Washington Examiner   “The leadership of Social Security is clearly protecting one of their own. ... If you’re just sweeping the problem under the rug, that’s the kind of thing that kills public confidence in federal agencies.” Nick Schwellenbach, Senior Investigator, in the Washington Post   “[This bill is] a congressional effort to put some more teeth in the rules, especially when it comes to foreign adversaries.” Scott Amey, Executive Editorial Director and General Counsel, in NBC News Enjoyed this weekend’s edition of the Weekly Spotlight? Forward to a friend. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Welcome! 👋 Subscribe here.   WANT MORE FROM POGO? Eyes on the federal government from every angle:   Paper Trail: Quick links to the news in the world of government oversight The Bunker: Military intelligence from POGO's Mark Thompson The Bridge: Analysis on the latest in government ethics from Walt Shaub Sidebar: Key context on the latest constitutional news from the TCP team Click here to update your newsletter subscriptions.   🎧 The Continuous Action Podcast 📺 YouTube 📱 Instagram

pogo.org The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that investigates and exposes waste, corruption, abuse of power, and when the government fails to serve the public or silences those who report wrongdoing. We champion reforms to achieve a more effective, ethical, and accountable federal government that safeguards constitutional principles.

Project On Government Oversight 1100 13th Street NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20005 United States

the military budget is out of control

The military budget is out of control. This year’s Pentagon budget is $782 billion, President Biden just requested an additional $31 billion for next year, and some members of Congress are pressing for even more. Meanwhile, we’re constantly getting told we can’t afford investments that would actually improve life for ordinary people: Medicare for All? “We can’t afford that!” Green New Deal? “We can’t afford that!” Help the homeless? “We can’t afford that!” Universal childcare? “We can’t afford that!” Free community college? “We can’t afford that!” Raise the minimum wage? “We can’t afford that!” More money to fight COVID-19? “We can’t afford that!” It feels like Congress cares more about their buddies working for the military-industrial complex than they do about people like us. Send an email message to your members of Congress: Tell them that the Pentagon has more than enough money already, and urge them to invest in our communities and people in need instead! Thank you for taking action, Savannah Public Citizen

Follow Us on Social Media Public Citizen 1600 20th Street NW    Washington, District of Columbia 20009

 

9 coups. 5 countries. BILLIONS in U.S. military training.

 

Weeks ago, a military coup ousted Burkina Faso’s democratically elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. The new leader? Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, a U.S.-trained soldier.

Damiba received special ops and military intelligence training directly from the Pentagon, as part of a multi-BILLION dollar, decades-long attempt to “counter terrorism.”

Not only has this weapons-and-war-first approach failed to curb violence in the region, it’s had other disastrous results. In West Africa alone, U.S.-trained soldiers have attempted at least 9 coups across 5 countries in just the last 14 years. It’s a U.S.-funded endless war feedback loop.

This “national security” system isn’t making anyone safer, not here and not in Burkina Faso. We need a fundamental shift in our priorities — you know it, I know it, and a majority of people in the United States now agree: it’s time to cut the weapons and war budget. 

That’s why it’s infuriating that we’re hearing President Biden is set to propose raising the Pentagon budget yet again — by $60 BILLION more than Trump’s average request. 

But this is key: Biden’s increase can’t happen without the House of Representatives in tow. We’re gearing up to build our power to push back, working closely with a growing coalition in Congress that’s also laser-focused on cutting the Pentagon budget. Together, we’ll create unprecedented levels of congressional opposition to rubber-stamping another bloated Pentagon budget — and we need you with us.

Coups like in Burkina Faso last month, in Guinea last year, or in Mali in 2020 aren’t a failure of the U.S. war machine: they’re evidence of the system working exactly as designed. 

The ENORMOUS Pentagon budget doesn’t reflect the security needs of the country or impacted communities who deserve our support — it reflects the wants of gigantic weapons corporation CEOs and lawmakers who collectively receive $25 million per election in donations from their companies. 

These war profiteers stand to lose BIG if we’re successful in cutting up the Pentagon’s blank check budget — and they’ll throw everything they’ve got toward keeping the war machine running. 

That’s why we have to come out even harder than we have before if we want to stop spending where weapons contractors want, and start spending on the things that will actually keep us safe — and help people thrive. 

With huge public awareness of the enormous toll our misguided priorities have for communities across the globe, this is a critical moment to build power and call for a fundamental reckoning. 

That’s why our team is pulling out all the stops to work with allied lawmakers and powerful progressive partners to cut the Pentagon budget. It’s an uphill challenge, and we need you with us for the long-term.

Budgets are moral documents, and what we choose to fund is what we’ll see flourish. If we do this right, we’ll have a chance at turning the tide on a violent, broken status quo that prioritizes profit over people’s needs. 

Together, we’ll build something that can provide true security for ALL of us.

Thank you for working for peace,

Annika, Abbey, Yint, and the Win Without War team

© Win Without War 2021
1 Thomas Circle NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 656-4999 | info@winwithoutwar.org 

POGO: USPS under the microscope

 

August 22, 2020

Last week, we warned you that the Postal Service’s ability to manage mail-in ballots this fall is under threat, and that comments from President Donald Trump suggested changes in mail service might be politically motivated. Outcry over these changes prompted Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to announce that the Postal Service would roll back some changes that could impact mail delivery ahead of the election.   Yet several reports indicate that the Postal Service will not reverse all policies contributing to mail delays. USPS confirmed it will not reverse a new policy that resulted in mail carriers leaving mail behind for the next day and told maintenance managers not to reinstall mail sorting machines that had already been removed. On top of that, USPS recently barred clerks from serving as mail-in ballot witnesses.   Given all this, we’re still deeply concerned about the management of the Postal Service in the lead-up to the election and politicization of the post office. On Thursday, we filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, requesting an investigation into whether DeJoy and other officials violated the Hatch Act by attempting to interfere in or sway the election. We also spoke to a former member of the Postal Regulatory Commission about the latest controversy surrounding USPS.   DeJoy appeared in a Senate hearing yesterday, where he committed to expediting election mail and continuing overtime for postal workers, and will testify in the House on Monday. We’ll continue to monitor the situation.   We’re following another executive branch move, though this one has flown a bit under the radar. The Office of Management and Budget has put in place a new policy requiring political appointees to sign off on decisions about the disbursement of funds appropriated by Congress. Through the Power of the Purse Coalition, of which we are co-founders, we condemned the move, which, paired with the administration’s increased secrecy about these decisions, further erodes Congress’ power over the federal budget. LETTER Hatch Act Complaint Against Postmaster General Louis DeJoy POGO asked the Office of Special Counsel to investigate whether Postmaster General Louis DeJoy or other federal officials violated the Hatch Act by enacting changes in mail delivery service. Read More ANALYSIS The Postal Service and the Election: Q&A with a Former Postal Regulator For an expert view on USPS changes that could impact the delivery of mail-in ballots, POGO turned to former Postal Regulatory Commission member Ruth Goldway. Read More TESTIMONY Testimony in Support of Increased Transparency and Reform of FISA Surveillance Recent, limited reforms to increase transparency have been insufficient to answer critical questions concerning how much and in what ways FISA surveillance impacts individuals. Read More ICYMI: PANEL DISCUSSION Everything on the Table: The Case for Rethinking the Pentagon Budget POGO's Mandy Smithberger participated in a panel discussion about waste in the Pentagon budget and the extent to which defense spending is actually making us safer. Watch SPECIAL EVENT Calling All Law Students: Emergency Moot Court Competition The Constitution Project at POGO will host its first-ever emergency moot court competition, through which participants will be given a problem that mimics the kind of real-world scenario that would require immediate redress for conduct by the federal government and an emergency petition for relief before a federal district court. Registration is open through September 16, 2020. Register QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The fact that [Louis DeJoy] was a clear political donor to the president raises the question: who is he working for? ... He has clear political leanings that favors this administration, which raises questions. Why was he appointed in the first place?” Tim Stretton, Policy Analyst, on NPR ONE LINERS “I realize there was a premium on getting the money out quickly, but modern banking technology surely could have done far better than it did.” Danielle Brian, Executive Director, in Business Insider   “I’m sitting here in amazement. After 26 years in law enforcement, I've never seen anything with this level of sophistication. It literally sounds like a Hollywood movie.” Wayne McElrath, Senior Investigative Adviser, in the Daily Beast   “If something falls into a gray zone, I recommend people seek OSC's Hatch Act advice before assuming something is either okay or a violation.” Nick Schwellenbach, Senior Investigator, in Government Executive   “The well-banked, the well-lawyered and the politically well-connected did benefit from this program in a way that absolutely undermined the effectiveness of this program for those smaller businesses.” Liz Hempowicz, Director of Public Policy, in the New York Post   “Just giving (the Pentagon) a blank check and not challenging them on how that money is going to be spent won’t make us safer.” Mandy Smithberger, Director of the Center for Defense Information at POGO, in the Washington Times   “You'd almost think would be the other way around: the larger, more leveraged banks are able to take on this risk rather than the small ones.” Tim Stretton, Policy Analyst, in American Banker   “Using people’s data is not expressive, and even if it is, courts have long treated commercial speech differently than other types of speech.” Jake Laperruque, Senior Counsel with The Constitution Project at POGO, in World Magazine   “The overwhelming reason why people don’t use dissent channels, according to the people we’ve talked to, is they don’t think it would make a difference.” Nick Schwellenbach, Senior Investigator, in Federal News Network

pogo.org The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that investigates and exposes waste, corruption, abuse of power, and when the government fails to serve the public or silences those who report wrongdoing. We champion reforms to achieve a more effective, ethical, and accountable federal government that safeguards constitutional principles.

Project On Government Oversight 1100 G Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 United States