1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

It is absurdly ironic that we criticize another nation for prioritizing weapons over its people while millions of Americans cannot afford basic healthcare, housing, food, energy, or education and billions are sent overseas for war. Millions of American families struggle every day to afford essential healthcare, stable housing, healthy food, rising energy costs, and quality education. Meanwhile, the federal government continues to pour massive sums into military operations and war. In recent weeks, the United States spent an estimated $11.3 billion in just the first week of military action involving Iran, a figure that alone surpasses the annual budgets of major public health and scientific agencies. At the same time, about 62 percent of federal discretionary funding is devoted to militarized programs including war, weapons systems, and law enforcement, leaving less than 40 percent for housing, health, energy, education, science, and community support. These numbers are not abstract. Millions of Americans face food insecurity and rising living costs. Many households cannot afford basic healthcare or prescriptions. Students and families shoulder the crushing weight of tuition and debt. And yet, our government continues to prioritize billions for war overseas while the very citizens who pay taxes and serve communities struggle to survive here at home. Consider this: the money spent in just one week of foreign military operations could fully fund public healthcare programs for tens of millions of Americans, provide stable housing for hundreds of thousands, or cover the cost of tuition for hundreds of thousands of students. The contrast between what we spend on war abroad and what is denied to people at home is stark, glaring, and morally troubling. Even as essential domestic services are cut, recent federal budgets continue to boost defense spending while reducing funding for education, housing programs, medical research, and public welfare initiatives. This is not about condemning defense spending outright. Every nation must protect itself. It is about priorities. If we criticize another government for investing in weapons instead of people, we must first confront how our own budget mirrors those same choices. Billions go overseas while basic needs go unmet at home. Americans should not have to delay medical care, fear losing their homes, declare bankruptcy or choose between filling a prescription and filling their gas tank or pantry. Protecting the well being of Americans is a matter of national security and deserves the same urgency and funding as defense. I urge you to take immediate action to rebalance federal spending toward investments that strengthen the lives of everyday Americans, ensuring access to healthcare, housing, food security, affordable energy, and education for all. It is time to confront the glaring irony of our rhetoric and align our policies with the realities faced by those who live here.