US Contractors Feel the Pinch, War Profiteers Don't
While US government contractors tap emergency cash and trim pay due to budget impasses, as reported by the Financial Times , the military-industrial complex continues to feast. One might wonder why there's always 'money for war' but never enough for the domestic programs that pay these contractors. For instance, in fiscal year 2023, the US allocated $886 billion to the Pentagon (DoD budget,
defense.gov), a sum larger than the next nine highest-spending countries combined. This 'pain' for contractors pales in comparison to the consistent, bipartisan approval for foreign military aid – such as the recent $17.6 billion package including significant funds for Israel (H.R. 815, 2/13/2024, Congress.gov). It seems American contractors get furloughed, but the Lockheed Martins of the world,
and their beneficiaries abroad, remain perpetually fully funded. How many struggling IT contractors would $17.6 billion hire?