$80 Billion in Pentagon Budget Cuts

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

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