CODEPINK Rejects the Enormous $768 Billion Pentagon Budget

Yesterday, in a 363-70 vote, the House of Representatives passed a $768 billion Pentagon budget for the fiscal year 2022. The bill is $25 billion more than the President originally requested and $30 billion more than the last Pentagon budget enacted under the Trump Administration.

CODEPINK National Co-Director Carley Towne said, "A $768 billion Pentagon budget is a slap in the face to working people across this country. Over the past few months, Congress has been gridlocked over the possibility of spending $350 billion annually on healthcare, education, and green jobs. All of a sudden, when it comes to money for war, Congress once again shows that they are ready and willing to prioritize war profiteers over human needs."

The $768 billion Pentagon budget is $25 billion larger than what President Biden requested, $30 billion more than the last Pentagon budget enacted under the Trump Administration, and over $100 billion larger than the last enacted budget of the Obama Administration.CODEPINK National Co-Director Carley Towne said, "The $768 billion Pentagon budget is part of a disturbing trend where an otherwise divided Congress unites to overwhelmingly approve a substantial increase in Pentagon spending. This is due in no small part to the millions of dollars that top weapons manufacturers spend lobbying Congress every year in order to secure lucrative government contracts. In 2020 alone, the top five weapons manufacturers received over $150 billion in taxpayer dollars."