We all want to live with freedom, safety, and stability. But for too long, corrupt politicians and greedy weapons manufacturers have used lies and fear to keep us divided so they can profit from endless wars. While they funnel hundreds of billions into a bloated military budget, they claim there’s never enough for health care, good schools, and affordable child care.

The same politicians never hesitate to fund the ever-growing military industrial complex, but when it comes to basic human needs, they tell us there simply isn't enough money. It doesn’t have to be this way. When we come together, we can demand an end to forever wars and push for a foreign policy rooted in dignity, human rights, security, and shared prosperity.

We Build Progress brings together progressive foreign policy experts and organizers from across our movement to learn from each other and educate the public about the impact of U.S. foreign policy choices at home and abroad.

The Militarism at Home project analyzes how our bloated military budget impacts our communities here at home. From military-grade weapons flooding our communities, to mass surveillance, to militarized policing in our cities, on our borders, and on Indigenous land, this project exposes how war-making abroad is deeply connected to repression at home.

Close-up of a police officer in tactical gear pointing a gun, with another officer partially visible in the background, both wearing helmets with 'POLICE' written on them.

In this report, we present a clear overview of the federal programs and policies contributing to militarized law enforcement. In doing so, we draw a clear line between the budgets that support U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities and the local communities directly affected by these allocations.

Cover of a report titled 'The Militarization of Border Communities' featuring a close-up photo of a border patrol officer wearing tactical gear and a helmet.

This report presents a historical overview of the border, the creation of our modern border and immigration enforcement programs, and historical and ongoing decisions that led to border militarization. This report is the second installment of a series of five reports. Our first report provided a synopsis of the series and analyzed the connections between the ballooning military budget and adverse outcomes for local communities. The remaining three reports will examine critical issues surrounding tribal policing, the 1033 and 1122 military equipment transfer programs, and the surveillance of Muslim communities.

Silhouettes of two soldiers wearing helmets, one aiming a sniper rifle, against a blue sky. The cover text discusses the Pentagon's military budget and police militarization.

This report analyzes government programs that allow for the transfer or purchase of military equipment by state and local law enforcement agencies and the residual harmful effects these acquisitions have on communities. This report also explores how militarized police departments have historically been deployed to crack down on progressive social movements and the policy alternatives available to lawmakers to move away from militarized responses to public safety.

Surveillance camera mounted on a wall, with bold yellow and white text overlay discussing militarism and surveillance.

In this report, we explore the current sources of spending for several intelligence programs. We also call attention to historical examples of surveillance by the state and the tactics employed. Our report draws a clear connection between the taxpayer dollars spent on intelligence programs and the militarized surveillance of our neighbors and communities.