The True Cost of Conflict

In just the first six days of the conflict in Iran—a war initiated without the constitutionally required approval of Congress—the United States has already burned through $8 billion.

To be clear: that $8 billion covers only military deployment and ammunition. It doesn’t account for the global economic ripples, the skyrocketing price of oil, or the stifling of international trade. It also doesn't address the strategic hypocrisy of lifting sanctions on Russian oil to offset this crisis, effectively fueling the continued invasion of our allies in Ukraine.

Putting the Numbers in Perspective

Let’s look at what that money means here at home.

The administration recently cut $1.1 billion from Medicare and Medicaid funding—a move projected to strip coverage from 11.8 million people over the next decade.

We could have fully funded those Medicaid gaps for the next eight years using only what we spent in the first six days of this war.

The argument we often hear is that social programs are "too expensive." The reality is that the money exists; it’s simply being diverted. For decades, both parties have signaled that their priorities lie in military expansion rather than human investment.

I have different priorities. I don’t believe we need more bombs, or more advanced mid-air refueling tankers, or more raids on foreign soil to protect the dividends of oil company shareholders.

Our government should be prioritizing:

• Universal Healthcare

• Accessible Education

• Affordable Housing

Our future is being fed to the military-industrial complex while American families are told the cupboards are bare. That is exactly why I’m running.