In a June 2023 national poll of the “top problems facing the nation,” not a single foreign policy issue ranked in the top ten. Despite this seeming lack of concern by the American public, the direct consequences of the United States’ overly militarized foreign policy are more evident now than ever at home—if you know where to look.
The 1033 Program Brings Weapons of War to U.S. Neighborhoods
Both at home and abroad, Congress must end this militarized approach to security.
Established in 1989 at the height of the “War on Drugs,” the 1033 program provides local police departments with free surplus military equipment from the Department of Defense. The initiative was further expanded in 1996 to allow equipment for “counterdrug and counterterrorism activities” to be distributed. The program transformed policing, bringing tools meant for war into marginalized communities. Increasingly, when police enter homes and neighborhoods, they are equipped with SWAT teams, flash grenades, and overly violent tactics.
“If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail,” Abraham Mslo famously wrote. Both at home and abroad, Congress must end this militarized approach to security. Instead of arming local police departments with weapons of war, Congress should invest in effective, community-led violence interruption programs. These critical programs equip local community members to mediate conflict and de-escalate violence before it occurs. They have been proven effective at significantly reducing gun violence.
The Pentagon is Fueling the Climate Crisis
Meanwhile, as climate change remains a significant concern among the American public, the Pentagon bears significant responsibility for the United States’ contribution to the climate crisis. The Department of Defense is the world’s largest institutional producer of greenhouse gas emissions and consumer of petroleum.
International diplomacy and national policy reforms are needed to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. Yet, the Defense Department’s significant contribution to climate change has received little attention. Reducing the U.S. military’s footprint while investing in climate adaptation and resilience globally is one place where Congress can start.
We all have a vested interest in changing how the United States engages in the world.
The Militarization of U.S. Foreign Policy Impacts All of Us
Every American bears the consequences of the United States’ militarized foreign policy. And Americans’ most pressing concerns—healthcare costs, gun violence, economic inequality, education, racial and gender injustice—can only be solved with solidarity and human compassion, not further militarized responses.
We all have a vested interest in changing how the United States engages in the world. Instead of defaulting to militarized responses to guarantee domestic and international stability, we must seek a new way forward that promotes principles of justice, peace, equality, human rights, and sustainability.
