The Real Cost of ICBMs: U.S. Economic Development Beyond Defense Spending
Posted: 10th July 2022
Last week, our friends at Global Zero released a new report, The Real Cost of ICBMs: U.S. Economic Development Beyond Defense Spending, exposing false claims by the defense industry, the Department of Defense, and the military that the U.S. needs nuclear weapons to keep Americans working. The report shows how the United States can reinvest its nuclear weapons budget in what really keeps us safe – housing, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
For the tl;dr version, check out Emma Claire’s op-eds in The Hill and Inkstick Media.
The 2023 U.S. defense budget topline is on a path to hit nearly $850 billion – that’s over $100 billion more than the last Trump Administration military budget. As our communities struggle to meet their basic needs, the defense industry is working hard to shore up its profits, using inflation and the Russian invasion of Ukraine as an excuse.
Together with Global Zero, we’re working hard to demand real security for everyone. Our spending priorities must change – and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which experts agree make us less safe, are a perfect place to start.
Together, we can build a future for U.S. communities defined by real security and demand more for ourselves and our neighbors. It all depends on us.
In solidarity,
Tristan and the Beyond the Bomb Team