Tell Congress to Prioritize True Human Security in FY 2025 Appropriations
Take action to call on your lawmakers to resist calls for more money for weapons and war.
As the US Congress debates funding for fiscal year 2025, it is clear that our elected officials are neglecting human rights and true security in favor of increasing the defense budget and relying on weapons of war.
The appropriations process has included effectively no oversight or debate over billions of dollars of weapons and defense services, including nuclear weapons and unfettered aid to countries committing human rights violations. The process has glaringly omitted debate on issues such as cutting the Pentagon budget, reigning in the President’s war powers, prohibiting security assistance to countries that violate human rights, oversight of nuclear forces, and much more.
While the House of Representatives voted to increase the defense budget by $9 billion over the FY24 budget, appropriations bills have cut money for global health, humanitarian aid, diplomacy, and development programs.
People of faith have a clear call to follow Jesus’ example, to care for the gift he has given us and address strife and discord. Scripture clearly calls people of faith to build peace and beat swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks (Isaiah 2:4). As United Methodists, we must call on our lawmakers to put grace over greed.
While the situation is dire, there is still time to influence the final passage of appropriations bills. Call on your Representatives and Senators to prioritize life-affirming services over weapons of war by taking the action below.