1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

The American people are watching—and what we see unfolding in this year’s budget proposal is a glaring example of corruption, corporate capture, and misplaced priorities. House Republicans have added a staggering $150 billion increase to the Pentagon budget in the partisan budget reconciliation “megabill,” pushing total military spending past $1 trillion. This is being proposed alongside cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and student loan relief—programs that serve the most vulnerable in our nation. Buried in this bill is a $25 billion earmark for the “Golden Dome” project, a revival of the Reagan-era Strategic Defense Initiative. But this is no small defense upgrade—it’s a gateway to a program that could eventually cost hundreds of billions to over a trillion dollars. And who stands to benefit most from this windfall? Elon Musk and SpaceX. Musk’s company has already proposed a plan to launch 400–1,000 satellites under this initiative, with a subscription-style contract that would lock the U.S. government into ongoing payments. This is not a one-time investment—this is a permanent funnel of public funds into a private corporation under the guise of national security. This is not the first time Musk has used his influence and government relationships for personal gain. He previously pushed a $400 million proposal for armored Teslas for the State Department—an unnecessary and absurd expense. He has also quietly replaced existing FAA air traffic control equipment with his own Starlink systems, raising serious national security and regulatory concerns. These are not isolated incidents—they are part of a clear pattern. Musk is exploiting his proximity to power and the Republican Party to line his own pockets at taxpayer expense. We urge you: reject this massive and unjustified increase to the Pentagon budget. Our national security is not strengthened by bloated contracts and sweetheart deals—it is secured when we invest in the well-being of our people. Feed the hungry. Educate our children. Heal the sick. Don’t let our democracy slide further into oligarchy. Stand against corruption. Vote no on the Golden Dome and the broader Pentagon expansion.