The Costs of War Project
@costsofwar.bsky.social
The human, budgetary, environmental, and social costs of U.S. wars and military operations, at home and abroad. Housed at Brown University's Watson School of International and Public Affairs at costsofwar.org.
Completely redoing the nation’s air traffic control system ($31.5 billion) and repairing all of the bridges currently rated in poor condition ($319 billion) would comprise about 10 percent of the expense of U.S. military competition with China since 2012. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/Milita...
The Army spent $117 million in 2023 reviving its iconic “Be All You Can Be” recruitment campaign for social media platforms. By 2024, it had exceeded its recruiting target, enlisting 55,300 new soldiers.
The connections between play, patriotism and war run deep. Five years into the U.S. war in Iraq, an online search for “G.I. Joe” produced at least 35 obituaries for military personnel that mentioned the toy as inspiration for serving.
Costs of War co-founder @cathylutz.bsky.social and contributor Linda Bilmes talk to @kalwradio.bsky.social about the consequences of ever-higher military spending, and who profits. "There's so much missing from the public conversation." www.kalw.org/show/your-ca...
The Authoritarian Playbook: Companies, politicians profit from US wars
The big five military contractors – which receive about a third of the DOD’s annual contracts – are making billions from Trump’s attacks on Iran and other countries.
kalw.org
The U.S. government’s current legal structure around immigration enforcement is a cost of the post-9/11 wars. Read the research, “Terrorizing Migrants: Five Ways Post-9/11 Legal Precedents Paved the Way for Anti-Immigrant Actions in the United States.” costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/terror...
The military sectors make up almost two-thirds (61%) of the U.S. federal discretionary budget and 78% of the federal workforce. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/employ...
Instead of funding endless wars, the U.S. could fund meaningful ways to increase true human security and wellbeing. Via @stephensemler.bsky.social.
As U.S. veterans continue to bear huge physical and mental costs from the post-9/11 wars, the cost of caring for them is expected to top $2 trillion by 2050. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/long-t...
U.S. mass surveillance since 9/11 disproportionately impacts Muslims, immigrants, and protesters for racial, environmental, and labor justice. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/total-...
Of the 20 states with economies most dependent on military manufacturing, 14 experience poverty at similar or higher rates than the national average. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/milita...
Drone operators carry out remote strikes from half a world away using video game-style controllers adopted from popular home game systems.
The U.S. has spent at least $3.4 trillion countering China militarily since 2012. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/Milita...
The Army spent $117 million in 2023 reviving its iconic “Be All You Can Be” recruitment campaign for social media platforms. By 2024, it had exceeded its recruiting target, enlisting 55,300 new soldiers.
Our media fellow Hammi Sylla breaks down how the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant policies are enabled by practices created, tested, and normalized by all three branches of government on a bipartisan basis in the post-9/11 era.
Recent polling reveals a growing disconnect between how American voters think about safety and how Washington spends money in the name of national security, write Costs of War contributors Jennifer Greenburg and William Hartung. responsiblestatecraft.org/american-mil...
Voters: The military makes us feel safe but not sure it's worth a trillion
Americans don't see massive Pentagon spending as the key to ensuring their security, according to new polls
responsiblestatecraft.org
As of 2024, there were 950 lobbyists hired by the arms industry. That’s 220 more than in 2020. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/profit...
Lindsey Graham was a vocal supporter of the so-called "War on Terror". At least 4.5 million people died in post-9/11 war zones in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere as a result of war and its reverberating impacts. www.democracynow.org/2026/7/13/li...
Lindsey Graham “Never Met a War of Aggression He Didn’t Passionately Back”: Jeremy Scahill
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of the most prominent supporters of war in Washington, has died at the age of 71 after what his office called a “brief and sudden illness.” He ...
democracynow.org
From 2020 to 2024, private firms received $2.4 trillion in contracts from the Pentagon, approximately 54% of the department’s discretionary spending. The amount that went to contractors could eradicate global hunger for 25 years.
"Catherine Lutz is talking about mega-wars and massive destruction — as calmly as possible." Read the Times of India interview with Costs of War co-founder @cathylutz.bsky.social. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/us-overseas-...
‘US overseas wars impact gender, jobs and political power at home — they reflect a waning democracy’
Catherine Lutz is Thomas J Watson, Jr Family Professor of International Studies at Brown University. Speaking with Srijana Mitra Das in TE , she discusses the results of overseas wars — within America...
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Tax dollars invested in the military are less effective for jobs than investments in education or healthcare. Military spending produces an average of five jobs per $1 million in spending. By contrast, 13 jobs are created for every $1 million in education spending – nearly three times more.
The connections between play, patriotism, and war run deep. Five years into the U.S. war in Iraq, an online search for “G.I. Joe” produced at least 35 obituaries for military personnel that mentioned the toy as inspiration for serving.
The extra U.S. fuel costs associated with the Iran war have surpassed $65.8 billion. That's more than $500 per household. Check out the Iran War Energy Cost Tracker: iranwarcost.watson.brown.edu
The extra fuel costs associated with the Iran war has cost more than $500 per U.S. household. Check out the Iran War Energy Cost Tracker: iranwarcost.watson.brown.edu
"On behalf of the grown-ups of the world, I apologize, because you have been so failed," Ms. Rachel told a young girl from Gaza at a press briefing for a new UN report. [1/2] www.newarab.com/news/ms-rach...
Ms Rachel says world has failed Palestinian children at briefing
Ms Rachel became emotional during a press briefing on Palestinian children, apologising to a young girl and urging world leaders to act.
newarab.com
As of 2024, there were 950 active lobbyists for the arms industry—220 more than during the last years of the war in Afghanistan.
The Intercept reports that in the Army, women are more likely to be killed by their fellow service members than by enemy combatants, citing Costs of War research on sexual assault in the military. theintercept.com/2026/06/30/a...
Women in the Army Are More Likely to Be Killed by Fellow Soldiers Than Enemy Combatants
A first-of-its-kind investigation by The Intercept found that the greatest threats to women serving in the Army come at the hands of male soldiers.
theintercept.com
Mimi Syed, @wesjbryant.bsky.social, and Charles Blaha explain their report with @costsofwar.bsky.social on Israel's precise, lethal quadcopter use in Gaza, documenting multiple targeted, single-round shots against children, many from quadcopters. Report: costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/Quadco...
The value of the global market for camouflage is estimated to be worth $5.3 billion. But camo isn’t unique: The military has a presence in virtually every corner of the fashion world. [1/2]
Over 1/3 of the $108 billion spent on U.S. contractors in Afghanistan since 9/11 went to undisclosed recipients.
