Late last week, Congress passed and President Trump signed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill marks the first time the US military budget officially passed the one trillion dollar mark.
When factoring in related expenses—such as debt interest, veterans’ services, and military branches in other government agencies—the actual total exceeds one and a half trillion dollars.
To echo President Eisenhower’s 1953 speech, “The Chance for Peace,” every dollar directed toward military offense and sustaining the US global empire instead of defending the homeland is taken from American families struggling to put food on the table and make ends meet.
Congress’s addiction to military funding is evident, having allocated even more than President Trump’s initial request, including a staggering $800 million to a deeply corrupt Ukraine. Will Washington ever explain why Americans suffering from inflation and economic decline must continue financing a regime overseas whose elite enjoys luxuries like golden toilets?
Such aid also conflicts with President Trump’s position as a neutral mediator in the conflict. How can peace be brokered when nearly a billion dollars in weapons are sent to one side to kill the other? It defies logic.
The legislation also blocks any effort by President Trump to withdraw US forces from “forever wars” in Korea and Europe. How many more decades must American taxpayers support military deployments in regions unrelated to national security? World War II concluded 80 years ago, and the Korean War ended years later, yet the American military empire persists at an immense cost.
Some critics might argue this spending primarily benefits wealthy foreign nations, which is partly true. However, it more so sustains the politically connected US military-industrial complex domestically. Consider how many retired officers and ex-officials turned lobbyists would lose financially if the US finally decided to pull back.
This week, Western Christians will commemorate the birth of the Prince of Peace, with Orthodox celebrations shortly after. It is troubling that many Americans identifying as Christians continue to support policies that bankrupt their own country and impoverish citizens by acting as the world’s policeman and deciding which foreign regimes Washington must overthrow.
Christian communities are among the hardest hit by overseas military operations, including in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza. Yet numerous American Christians ignore the suffering caused by neoconservative militarism abroad. They overlook that unwavering support for Israel, for example, has nearly wiped out Christianity from its birthplace.
Imagine if Jesus were born in the Holy Land today.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” This is the Savior’s message celebrated this season. Persisting in draining our nation’s wealth and exporting hardship to sustain a global military empire places us against this noble teaching. Let us unite and strive for genuine peace in the coming year!
Original article: ronpaulinstitute.org
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