Over 20 years, the U.S. has spent more than $21 trillion on militarization, surveillance, and repression — all in the name of security.

Stan, 20 years since 9/11, we are deeply overdue for a reckoning of everything the United States has done in the name of "national security." The War on Terror has fed a sprawling security apparatus that was designed for counterterrorism, but has also taken on immigration, crime, and drugs. The human costs of this evolution are many — including mass incarceration, widespread surveillance, the violent repression of immigrant communities, and hundreds of thousands of lives lost to war. Turbo-charged militarism and xenophobia has driven some of the deepest divisions in U.S. politics and around the world, including the growing threats of white supremacy and authoritarianism. Another result is a long-standing neglect of threats like those from pandemics, the climate crisis, and economic inequality. But of course, this militarization also has financial costs too. Over 20 years, the U.S. has spent more than $21 trillion on militarization, surveillance, and repression — all in the name of security. These investments have shown us that the U.S. has the capacity and political will to invest in our biggest priorities.  In our staggering new report, "State of Insecurity: The Cost of Militarization Since 9/11," we lay out where all those trillions went — and what we could fund instead. KEY FINDINGS Over the 20 years since 9/11, the U.S. has spent $21 trillion on foreign and domestic militarization. Of that total, $16 trillion went to the military — including at least $7.2 trillion for military contracts. Another $3 trillion went to veterans’ programs, $949 billion went to Homeland Security, and $732 billion went to federal law enforcement. For far less than it spent on militarization since 9/11, the U.S. could reinvest to meet critical challenges that have been neglected for the last 20 years: $4.5 trillion could fully decarbonize the U.S. electric grid. $2.3 trillion could create 5 million jobs at $15 per hour with benefits and cost-of-living adjustments for 10 years. $1.7 trillion could erase student debt. $200 billion could guarantee free preschool for every 3-and-4-year old for 10 years, and raise teacher pay. $25 billion could provide COVID vaccines for the world. The past year of crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic, raging floods and wildfires, to the fall of Afghanistan, have shown us that militarized investments cannot buy us safety. The next 20 years give us an opportunity to reconsider where we need to reinvest for a better future.  See our full report and findings on the #StateOfInsecurity, and share widely in your networks on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! Twenty years from now, we could live in a world made safer by investments in infrastructure, job creation, support for families, public health, and new energy systems — if we are willing to take a hard look at our priorities. In solidarity, Lindsay, Ashik, Lorah, and the NPP team at IPS

The U.S. has been in a #StateOfInsecurity for 20 years now, spending over $21 trillion on militarization since 9/11. Here's what that funded— and what we could reinvest instead. Share our graphics on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! Read Our Report

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