GOP Tries to Divert Defense Cuts; Faith Leaders Provide Alternative Vision

In early January, President Obama announced plans to decrease the military budget by $487 billion dollars over the next ten years. Although faith groups, such as the Friends Committee on National Legislation, continue to pressure the Pentagon for further cuts, the announcement is a welcome start to preventing military conflicts around the world. FCNL has lobbied policymakers and educated the public for decades about the fact that a  ballooning military budget diverts critical funding from domestic priorities like schools, housing assistance, safety-net programs and future infrastructure investments.

In addition to the President’s proposal to trim the defense budget, automatic military spending cuts triggered by the failure of the Supercommittee’s deficit negotiation are on the way. But now, Congressional Republicans are introducing legislation to subvert that agreement, trying to shift the automatic cuts onto federal workers instead.

In spite of Congress’s irresponsible military spending and decision to backtrack on their 2011 agreement, young people across America have a different vision for their future.  Just this month, the American Friends Service Committee and the National Priorities project released their  2^nd Annual “If I had a Trillion Dollars” video contest.  The trillion dollar question represents the yearly cost of the U.S military, and alternatively, the cost of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

Respondents and future documentary filmmakers were asked to consider “What would [they] do with $1 trillion- for yourself, your family and community?”

To see last year’s winning entry and the budget priorities of young people across the country, check out this video:

Policymakers should heed the advice of these young filmmakers, re-evaluate their budget priorities and recommit to investing in the needs of the generations to come.

Note: Post updated to reflect FCNL’s continuing efforts to pressure the Pentagon and Congress to implement further military spending cuts.

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