For Immediate Release
Carley Towne, CODEPINK Co-Director, carley@codepink.org
$80 Billion in Pentagon Budget Cuts
WASHINGTON - Today CODEPINK, along with over 25 organizations from across the ideological spectrum, sent a letter to key Congressional committees identifying suggested cuts to the Fiscal Year 2022 Pentagon budget that would yield a savings of about $80 billion.
The coalition represents a diversity of political views because reducing the Pentagon budget is not a partisan issue. A poll conducted by Data for Progress found that reducing wasteful Pentagon spending and redirecting our tax dollars into social programs has broad public support. This was reflected in the transpartisan letter sent today to key Congressional committees that identifies $80 billion in savings.
The full letter is available here and the full list of signatories can be found below.
Carley Towne, co-Director of CODEPINK and coordinator of the Defund the Pentagon campaign, said, “The American people know that we can no longer continue the failed strategy of pouring $1 million a minute into Pentagon--the only federal agency to never complete, let alone pass, an audit. ”
Amongst other cuts, the letter proposes canceling the purchase of additional F-35 Fighter Jets for a savings of $11.4 billion and the elimination of the Space Force, which could save up to $2.5 billion annually.
Jodie Evans, CODEPINK C0-Founder said, “Even a 10% cut to the Pentagon budget would end homelessness in the United States, which is why we’re continuing to build a grassroots movement to defund the Pentagon and invest in human needs.”
Full list of Signatories below:
American Friends Service Committee
Center for International Policy
Center on Conscience & War
Coalition on Human Needs
CODEPINK
Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd,
U.S. Provinces Council for a Livable World
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Massachusetts Peace Action
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National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Priorities Project at the Institute of Policy Studies
National Taxpayers Union
Our Revolution Massachusetts
Pax Christi USA
Peace Action
Peace Education Center
Project on Government Oversight
Public Citizen
Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
R Street
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team
Taxpayers for Common Sense
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
Win Without War
Women’s Action for New Directions
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CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities. CODEPINK rejects foreign policies based on domination and aggression, and instead calls for policies based on diplomacy, compassion and a commitment to international law. With an emphasis on joy and humor, CODEPINK women and men seek to activate, amplify and inspire a community of peacemakers through creative campaigns and a commitment to non-violence.