On January 17, 1961, in his historic farewell address, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned Congress of the unchecked growth of the arms industry in creating a never-ending "military industrial complex" that would undermine the very foundations of our democracy:

“Our toil, resources, and livelihood are all involved.
So is the very structure of our society.
The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."

Now, more than 60 years later, the Pentagon budget has grown at an astronomically unsustainable rate year after year, with no end in sight. Last year alone, Congress increased Pentagon spending by 8 percent -- more than $40 BILLION above the president’s request -- bringing the Pentagon's total budget to $858 BILLION.

But it’s a new Congress, and that means the game could change. Right now, we’re hearing renewed calls to CUT government spending, and that means we could push to decrease the Pentagon budget NOW. The catch? Republicans are calling for cuts in critically needed social programs, too.

It’s time for Congress to prioritize the needs of the people. That means investing in programs that will truly make our country stronger and more equitable while cutting the bloated Pentagon budget -- and activists like us can lead the way.

Add your name now to call on Congress to curb the influence of the military industrial complex in our government by cutting the Pentagon budget, NOT funding for social programs.