Campaign cash from military industry subsidizes bad politics

Speaking Security Newsletter | Advisory Note for Organizers and Candidates, n°138 | 8 December 2021

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Situation

The House passed the NDAA last night, 363-70, which authorizes the Pentagon to spend $768 billion in fiscal year 2022 (pending approval in the Senate). You might’ve come across an amount that isn’t that one, like $740 billion (which refers only to the Department of Defense budget) or $778 billion (= Defense Department budget + nuclear weapons funding under the Pentagon’s control in the Energy Department + military-related spending that happens outside the NDAA’s formal jurisdiction). The $768 billion figure is the sum of Defense Department money + Energy Department nuke money.

Corrupted redistribution of wealth

Of that (let’s say) $778 billion Congress will likely approve for the Pentagon, over half of it will be delivered to for-profit companies via contracts. And, eventually, a portion of that money will find its way back to Congress via campaign donations from those military contractors—disproportionately to the members who are both friendly and useful to the weapons industry. We saw this theme play out with last night’s vote.

Thanks for your time,

Stephen (@stephensemler; stephen@securityreform.org)

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