The Costs of War Project
@costsofwar.bsky.social
The human, budgetary, environmental, and social costs of U.S. wars and military operations, at home and abroad. Housed at Brown University's Watson School of International and Public Affairs at costsofwar.org.
We are devastated by this weekend's senseless violence on the Brown University campus.
As we mourn the deaths of two students, we share the terror and grief of the entire Brown community, the deep concern for those who were injured, and the sorrow for their families and friends.
As we mourn the deaths of two students, we share the terror and grief of the entire Brown community, the deep concern for those who were injured, and the sorrow for their families and friends.
December 15, 2025 at 4:58 PM
We are devastated by this weekend's senseless violence on the Brown University campus.
As we mourn the deaths of two students, we share the terror and grief of the entire Brown community, the deep concern for those who were injured, and the sorrow for their families and friends.
As we mourn the deaths of two students, we share the terror and grief of the entire Brown community, the deep concern for those who were injured, and the sorrow for their families and friends.
Reminder: The Pentagon has never passed an audit. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
December 12, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Reminder: The Pentagon has never passed an audit. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
In 2024, global military spending had its steepest annual rise since 1992, according to new data from @sipri.org. Reuters reports on the record revenues for the weapons industry, citing our research with @quincyinst.bsky.social. www.reuters.com/graphics/BUS...
Business is booming for defense contractors
New data shows that defense firms are making more money than ever.
www.reuters.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:55 PM
In 2024, global military spending had its steepest annual rise since 1992, according to new data from @sipri.org. Reuters reports on the record revenues for the weapons industry, citing our research with @quincyinst.bsky.social. www.reuters.com/graphics/BUS...
In 2024, at least 61% of the discretionary budget went towards military-related spending.
December 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
In 2024, at least 61% of the discretionary budget went towards military-related spending.
Join DismantleTheMic.org on Dec. 11 at 6pm ET for a webinar on stopping the war machine, featuring Julian Aguon, Brittany DeBarros and Costs of War contributor William Hartung.
Register: tinyurl.com/StopWarMachine
Register: tinyurl.com/StopWarMachine
December 9, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Join DismantleTheMic.org on Dec. 11 at 6pm ET for a webinar on stopping the war machine, featuring Julian Aguon, Brittany DeBarros and Costs of War contributor William Hartung.
Register: tinyurl.com/StopWarMachine
Register: tinyurl.com/StopWarMachine
The Trump administration's drone strikes in the Caribbean are "less of an aberration and more of a continuation and intensification of the War on Terror," notes our forthcoming contributor @elizabethrb.bsky.social in @inkstickmedia.com. inkstickmedia.com/the-war-on-t...
The War on Terror Set the Stage for Deadly Caribbean Boat Strikes
The recent deadly strikes on alleged drug-running boats in the Caribbean happened thanks to the war on terror's legacy.
inkstickmedia.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
The Trump administration's drone strikes in the Caribbean are "less of an aberration and more of a continuation and intensification of the War on Terror," notes our forthcoming contributor @elizabethrb.bsky.social in @inkstickmedia.com. inkstickmedia.com/the-war-on-t...
The Trump administration is reportedly considering ground operations in Venezuela to fight "terrorism". If Afghanistan and Iraq are any indicator, these actions will likely harm countless civilians. [1/3]
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/p...
Trump says US land action against alleged drug trafficking networks in Venezuela will start ‘very soon’ | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump suggested Thursday that the United States is preparing to take new action against alleged drug trafficking networks in Venezuela, telling service members during a Thanksgiving c...
www.cnn.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The Trump administration is reportedly considering ground operations in Venezuela to fight "terrorism". If Afghanistan and Iraq are any indicator, these actions will likely harm countless civilians. [1/3]
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/p...
Costs of War co-founder @cathylutz.bsky.social on why now is the time to question the "military normal": substack.com/home/post/p-...
December 4, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Costs of War co-founder @cathylutz.bsky.social on why now is the time to question the "military normal": substack.com/home/post/p-...
Records show that Raytheon was allowed to claim about half a million dollars in tax refunds for jobs it did not create, reports @inkstickmedia.com and Carolina Public Press. inkstick.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
Exclusive: We Followed the Money to Raytheon in North Carolina
We got hundreds of pages of public records about a controversial deal to offer tens of millions of state and local subsidies to a new Raytheon/Pratt & Whitney plant in Asheville.
inkstick.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Records show that Raytheon was allowed to claim about half a million dollars in tax refunds for jobs it did not create, reports @inkstickmedia.com and Carolina Public Press. inkstick.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
The connections between play, patriotism and war run deep. Our latest cultural analysis looks at the militarization of toys. [THREAD]
December 3, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The connections between play, patriotism and war run deep. Our latest cultural analysis looks at the militarization of toys. [THREAD]
The Trump administration halted special immigrant visas from Afghanistan after a former member of one of Afghanistan's CIA-backed units was accused of shooting two U.S. National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. [1/2] www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
US State Department stops processing visas for Afghan allies
The order effectively suspends the special immigration program for Afghans who helped the United States during its 20-year-long occupation of their home country.
www.reuters.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:25 PM
The Trump administration halted special immigrant visas from Afghanistan after a former member of one of Afghanistan's CIA-backed units was accused of shooting two U.S. National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. [1/2] www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
The Trump administration halted special immigrant visas from Afghanistan after a former member of one of Afghanistan's CIA-backed units was accused of shooting two U.S. National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. [1/2] www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
US State Department stops processing visas for Afghan allies
The order effectively suspends the special immigration program for Afghans who helped the United States during its 20-year-long occupation of their home country.
www.reuters.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The Trump administration halted special immigrant visas from Afghanistan after a former member of one of Afghanistan's CIA-backed units was accused of shooting two U.S. National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. [1/2] www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
The so-called "War on Terror" looks poised to continue in Venezuela without congressional authorization.
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
White House gives Maduro ultimatum as U.S. moves toward land operations
The call quickly reached an impasse as it became clear that the two sides’ positions were far apart.
www.miamiherald.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The so-called "War on Terror" looks poised to continue in Venezuela without congressional authorization.
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
On average, over the course of the war in Afghanistan, 24 percent of active-duty women and 1.9 percent of active-duty men experienced sexual assault.
Sexual assault prevalence in the military is likely two to four times higher than official government estimations.
Sexual assault prevalence in the military is likely two to four times higher than official government estimations.
November 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
On average, over the course of the war in Afghanistan, 24 percent of active-duty women and 1.9 percent of active-duty men experienced sexual assault.
Sexual assault prevalence in the military is likely two to four times higher than official government estimations.
Sexual assault prevalence in the military is likely two to four times higher than official government estimations.
A new book by Costs of War contributor William Hartung and Ben Freeman looks at how we got to a trillion dollar military budget — more than half of which goes to military contractors. www.commondreams.org/opinion/tril...
'Trillion Dollar War Machine': Understanding US Militarism and How to Dismantle It | Common Dreams
William D. Hartung and Ben Freeman's extremely timely and necessary book explains how today's crises are the predictable consequence of an entrenched system of militarism, a politics captured by lobb...
www.commondreams.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:52 PM
A new book by Costs of War contributor William Hartung and Ben Freeman looks at how we got to a trillion dollar military budget — more than half of which goes to military contractors. www.commondreams.org/opinion/tril...
In a first, Ukraine plans to seek nearly $44 billion in damages from Russia for emissions caused by the ongoing war. time.com/7335449/ukra...
November 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
In a first, Ukraine plans to seek nearly $44 billion in damages from Russia for emissions caused by the ongoing war. time.com/7335449/ukra...
Since the agreed upon ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, 67 Palestinian children have been killed in “conflict related incidents,” says UNICEF. news.un.org/en/story/202...
Gaza: Two children killed every day during fragile ceasefire, says UNICEF
Ongoing attacks and airstrikes attributed to Israeli forces in Gaza continue to kill and maim people of all ages in the shattered enclave despite an agreed ceasefire, UN agencies said on Friday.
news.un.org
November 24, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Since the agreed upon ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, 67 Palestinian children have been killed in “conflict related incidents,” says UNICEF. news.un.org/en/story/202...
The White House is ready for war with Venezuela, but the majority of Americans are unenthusiastic.
Only Congress can intervene by asserting its war powers, writes @cathylutz.bsky.social and @lutzfernandez.bsky.social.
responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-war-ve...
Only Congress can intervene by asserting its war powers, writes @cathylutz.bsky.social and @lutzfernandez.bsky.social.
responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-war-ve...
Ask Americans — they don't want a war on Venezuela
Reports say the president is preparing to attack, as lawmakers ignore their constituents and refuse to stand in the way
responsiblestatecraft.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The White House is ready for war with Venezuela, but the majority of Americans are unenthusiastic.
Only Congress can intervene by asserting its war powers, writes @cathylutz.bsky.social and @lutzfernandez.bsky.social.
responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-war-ve...
Only Congress can intervene by asserting its war powers, writes @cathylutz.bsky.social and @lutzfernandez.bsky.social.
responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-war-ve...
The post-9/11 wars directly killed at least 940,000 people; an additional 3.6-3.8 million have died due to the reverberating impacts of war, bringing total deaths to at least 4.5 million people. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/findings
November 20, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The post-9/11 wars directly killed at least 940,000 people; an additional 3.6-3.8 million have died due to the reverberating impacts of war, bringing total deaths to at least 4.5 million people. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/findings
A trillion dollar 2026 military budget would likely privatize well over $500 billion in public funds, writes @stephensemler.bsky.social. popular.info/p/how-trumps...
How Trump’s trillion-dollar war machine enriches the 1%
Congress will decide in the coming weeks whether to approve a $1 trillion military budget for 2026.
popular.info
November 19, 2025 at 3:07 PM
A trillion dollar 2026 military budget would likely privatize well over $500 billion in public funds, writes @stephensemler.bsky.social. popular.info/p/how-trumps...
A Costs of War cultural analysis paper looks at how the military uses social media platforms to shape narratives around war, drive recruitment, and wage cyberwarfare. [THREAD]
November 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
A Costs of War cultural analysis paper looks at how the military uses social media platforms to shape narratives around war, drive recruitment, and wage cyberwarfare. [THREAD]
Israel’s entire inventory of combat capable aircraft comes from the U.S.; Israel’s attack and transport helicopters are also all of U.S. origin.
November 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Israel’s entire inventory of combat capable aircraft comes from the U.S.; Israel’s attack and transport helicopters are also all of U.S. origin.
The name change from DoD to Department of War could cost up to $2 billion dollars, reports @nbcnews.com. www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
Trump's Pentagon name change could cost up to $2 billion
Officially changing the Department of Defense to the Department of War can only be done by Congress and would require updating thousands of signs, rewriting digital code and creating new letterheads,...
www.nbcnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The name change from DoD to Department of War could cost up to $2 billion dollars, reports @nbcnews.com. www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
With COP30 underway, it's worth noting that the U.S. military is the world's largest institutional greenhouse gas emitter.
November 13, 2025 at 7:45 PM
With COP30 underway, it's worth noting that the U.S. military is the world's largest institutional greenhouse gas emitter.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, the U.S. has spent over $9.65 billion on military activities in Yemen, Iran, and the wider region.
Including military aid to Israel, the U.S. has spent over $31 billion on the post-10/7 wars.
Including military aid to Israel, the U.S. has spent over $31 billion on the post-10/7 wars.
November 12, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Since Oct. 7, 2023, the U.S. has spent over $9.65 billion on military activities in Yemen, Iran, and the wider region.
Including military aid to Israel, the U.S. has spent over $31 billion on the post-10/7 wars.
Including military aid to Israel, the U.S. has spent over $31 billion on the post-10/7 wars.