(C) Common Dreams
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How much does the US spend on the military? [1]
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Date: 2024-07
In 2023, the US military spent approximately $820.3 billion, or roughly 13.3% of the entire federal budget for that fiscal year. In March 2023, the Department of Defense (DoD) requested $842.0 billion for 2024 — a 2.6% increase.
With the world’s third-largest military, at nearly 1.3 million active-duty troops, the US estimates it spends more than any other nation on its national defense. Between 2014 and 2022, the US spent more than twice as much on defense as did all other NATO members, 30 nations in total.
According to the 2022 National Defense Strategy, US military priorities include countering China’s military presence in the Indo-Pacific; deterring strategic attacks against the US and allies; defending against evolving threats like cyberattacks and addressing aggression from Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Where does military spending go?
The annual defense budget is a comprehensive financial plan that underpins the US military’s strategic objectives. When the government renews the military budget, it allocates funds across several key areas to support national defense and the operation of the Armed Forces.
The 2024 defense budget clarifies how much funding each military department will receive. Out of the five major Armed Forces managed by the DoD, the Air Force gets the most direct funding at $216.1 billion, followed by the Navy ($202.6 billion), Army ($165.6 billion), Marine Corps ($53.2 billion), and Space Force ($30.1 billion).
The remaining DoD funds are allocated to the National Guard ($32.9 billion), along with focused programs like the Special Operations Command (US SOCOM), the Missile Defense Agency, and the Defense Health Program.
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[1] Url:
https://usafacts.org/articles/how-much-does-the-us-spend-on-the-military/
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