Defense & Foreign Policy
Military spending, veterans affairs, foreign aid, NATO, trade agreements, and diplomatic relations.
Take Action on Defense & Foreign Policy →📖 What You Need to Know
The U.S. has the world's largest military budget. Congress authorizes military operations, approves arms sales, ratifies treaties, and controls the defense budget through the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The President is commander-in-chief but needs congressional authorization for sustained military action. Foreign aid is a tiny fraction of the federal budget (less than 1%) but is politically contentious.
📜 Current Legislation
👥 Write to These Members
💬 Talking Points
The U.S. defense budget for FY2024 is approximately $886 billion — more than the next 10 countries combined.
Foreign aid represents less than 1% of the federal budget, though polls show Americans believe it's 25%+.
Over 3.4 million veterans have service-connected disabilities, and VA healthcare serves about 9 million veterans annually.
The PACT Act (2022) was the largest expansion of VA healthcare in decades, covering toxic exposure from burn pits.
NATO's collective defense has been a cornerstone of U.S. security strategy since 1949.
Take Action
Use these talking points to draft a letter, call script, or social post to your representatives.
✏️ Draft a Letter📞 Call Script🔍 Find Your Rep📄 File a FOIA Request