Currently, the U.S. Department of Defense has 1.6 trillion dollars at its disposal. (USAspending.gov 2024) Much of this will go towards funding the Military Industrial Complex, as all five of the largest military companies in the world have contracts with the DOD that have given them billions. In addition to being armed by these companies, the U.S. donates 4 billion dollars a year to Israel, ensuring the genocide and ecocide continue.
- General Dynamics: Between 2008-2021, was given about 2.4 billion dollars by the DOD. (AFSC 2022)
- Northrop Grumman: Between 2008-2021, was given about 136.7 billion dollars by the DOD. (AFSC 2022)
- Boeing: Between 2008-2021, was given about 289 billion dollars by the DOD.
- Raytheon/RTX: Between 2008-2021, was given about 52 billion dollars by the DOD. (AFSC 2022)
- Lockheed Martin: Between 2008-2021, was given about 429 billion dollars by the DOD. Was also awarded on April 15 2024
This money could be going anywhere else, but instead, it’s going towards the Military Industrial Complex, which is responsible for the deaths of many thousands of Palestinian civilians, many of whom are children. Not only that, but the weapons produced by these companies have also been destroying the very foundations of the land itself. After just 100 days into the Palestinian Genocide, 22% of Gaza’s arable land had been turned to dust . Not only this, but the bombs used have left behind toxic metals that make the land toxic to farm from, on top of being directly harmful to humans. (Pearce 2024) The US Military industrial complex is not sustainable and must be divested.
Above is a video with a recording of a phone call of a six year old girl named Hind Rajab. She was murdered shortly after the call by the Israeli forces. She was later found by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society along with 6 other dead relatives inside their car. She is just one of many children who have suffered the same fate at the hands of the American Military Industrial Complex. The United States Government would rather put money towards killing children than for example, helping the homeless or research for diseases or more sustainable energy sources. The American Military Industrial Complex is not a sustainable institution and must be divested.