The Costs of War Project
@costsofwar.bsky.social
The human, budgetary, environmental, and social costs of U.S. militarism and military operations, at home and abroad. Housed at Brown University's Watson School of International and Public Affairs at costsofwar.org.
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
The Army spent $117 million in 2023 reviving its iconic “Be All You Can Be” recruitment campaign for social media platforms. By 2024, it had exceeded its recruiting target, enlisting 55,300 new soldiers. [6/8]
November 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The Army spent $117 million in 2023 reviving its iconic “Be All You Can Be” recruitment campaign for social media platforms. By 2024, it had exceeded its recruiting target, enlisting 55,300 new soldiers. [6/8]
The U.S. Cyber Command employs thousands of personnel to conduct Military Information Support Operations—commonly known as psychological operations or intentional deception campaigns. [5/8]
November 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The U.S. Cyber Command employs thousands of personnel to conduct Military Information Support Operations—commonly known as psychological operations or intentional deception campaigns. [5/8]
Additionally, large agencies within the Pentagon handle digital content creation and online distribution, while regionally focused Combatant Commands run social media “ops” within their respective regions. [4/8]
November 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Additionally, large agencies within the Pentagon handle digital content creation and online distribution, while regionally focused Combatant Commands run social media “ops” within their respective regions. [4/8]
Between 2021 and 2025, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) allocated nearly $60 million to an initiative that leveraged AI to optimize its online influence – one of many related DARPA-funded projects. [3/8]
November 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Between 2021 and 2025, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) allocated nearly $60 million to an initiative that leveraged AI to optimize its online influence – one of many related DARPA-funded projects. [3/8]
By embedding itself in the daily digital lives of billions through social media platforms, the military bypasses traditional media gatekeepers, turning its manufacture of public consent for war into an interactive military-to-civilian affair. [2/8]
November 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
By embedding itself in the daily digital lives of billions through social media platforms, the military bypasses traditional media gatekeepers, turning its manufacture of public consent for war into an interactive military-to-civilian affair. [2/8]
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]
Read the research, “U.S. Military Aid and Arms Transfers to Israel, October 2023 – September 2025,” a joint report with @quincyinst.bsky.social written by William Hartung. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/AidToI...
November 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Read the research, “U.S. Military Aid and Arms Transfers to Israel, October 2023 – September 2025,” a joint report with @quincyinst.bsky.social written by William Hartung. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/AidToI...
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.
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.
This Veteran’s Day, we’re remembering the 7,053 service members killed in the so-called “War on Terror,” and the estimated 30,177 service members and veterans that died by suicide in the 20 years that followed Sept. 11, 2001.
November 11, 2025 at 2:24 PM
This Veteran’s Day, we’re remembering the 7,053 service members killed in the so-called “War on Terror,” and the estimated 30,177 service members and veterans that died by suicide in the 20 years that followed Sept. 11, 2001.
H.R. 1 diminishes transparency around Pentagon and military-related spending and increases it beyond the $1 trillion mark in FY 2026.
November 7, 2025 at 3:18 PM
H.R. 1 diminishes transparency around Pentagon and military-related spending and increases it beyond the $1 trillion mark in FY 2026.
Dick Cheney, one of the key architects of the post-9/11 war era, has died.
An estimated 3.6-3.8 million people have died indirectly in post-9/11 war zones, bringing the total death toll to at least 4.5-4.7 million and counting.
An estimated 3.6-3.8 million people have died indirectly in post-9/11 war zones, bringing the total death toll to at least 4.5-4.7 million and counting.
November 4, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Dick Cheney, one of the key architects of the post-9/11 war era, has died.
An estimated 3.6-3.8 million people have died indirectly in post-9/11 war zones, bringing the total death toll to at least 4.5-4.7 million and counting.
An estimated 3.6-3.8 million people have died indirectly in post-9/11 war zones, bringing the total death toll to at least 4.5-4.7 million and counting.
Listen to Costs of War co-founder Neta C. Crawford on Gaza, and how U.S. democracy suffers as a result of long-term militarization.
November 3, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Listen to Costs of War co-founder Neta C. Crawford on Gaza, and how U.S. democracy suffers as a result of long-term militarization.
Read the research, "Mass Displacement since October 7, 2023: Flight from War, Genocide, and Expulsion in Gaza, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and the West Bank". costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/PostOc...
October 31, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Read the research, "Mass Displacement since October 7, 2023: Flight from War, Genocide, and Expulsion in Gaza, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and the West Bank". costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/PostOc...
Costs of War contributor @david-vine.bsky.social on how the Israeli government appears to have orchestrated mass expulsion in Gaza – one of several tools of genocide.
October 31, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Costs of War contributor @david-vine.bsky.social on how the Israeli government appears to have orchestrated mass expulsion in Gaza – one of several tools of genocide.
Listen to Costs of War contributor Linda Bilmes on the billions spent in U.S. post-10/7 military operations, and the trillions spent in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
October 30, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Listen to Costs of War contributor Linda Bilmes on the billions spent in U.S. post-10/7 military operations, and the trillions spent in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Over 2,500 movies and TV shows have been produced with Pentagon assistance. Read the research, "The Militarization of Movies and Television". costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/consum...
October 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Over 2,500 movies and TV shows have been produced with Pentagon assistance. Read the research, "The Militarization of Movies and Television". costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/consum...
Two U.S. administrations proceeded as though they had no leverage against Israel to stop the killing in Gaza. Costs of War contributor and @quincyinst.bsky.social expert William Hartung on why this wasn’t true:
October 29, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Two U.S. administrations proceeded as though they had no leverage against Israel to stop the killing in Gaza. Costs of War contributor and @quincyinst.bsky.social expert William Hartung on why this wasn’t true:
“People will die for years afterwards of things that they wouldn’t have had to die from in Gaza,” says Costs of War co-founder Neta Crawford on the long-term impacts of war.
October 28, 2025 at 2:31 PM
“People will die for years afterwards of things that they wouldn’t have had to die from in Gaza,” says Costs of War co-founder Neta Crawford on the long-term impacts of war.
Read the related research, "Mass Displacement since October 7, 2023: Flight from War, Genocide, and Expulsion in Gaza, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and the West Bank". costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/PostOc...
October 27, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Read the related research, "Mass Displacement since October 7, 2023: Flight from War, Genocide, and Expulsion in Gaza, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and the West Bank". costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/PostOc...
Read the joint brief with the @stimsoncenter.bsky.social, "What You Need to Know about Pentagon and Military-Related Spending in H.R. 1" by Julia Gledhill: costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/HR1
October 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Read the joint brief with the @stimsoncenter.bsky.social, "What You Need to Know about Pentagon and Military-Related Spending in H.R. 1" by Julia Gledhill: costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/HR1
Military and related spending, including the regular Pentagon budget plus funding provided by H.R. 1, or the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” is over 13 percent higher in FY26 than in FY25 and will primarily benefit military contractors.
October 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Military and related spending, including the regular Pentagon budget plus funding provided by H.R. 1, or the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” is over 13 percent higher in FY26 than in FY25 and will primarily benefit military contractors.
NEW: The military spending portion of the reconciliation bill, or H.R. 1 (“One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) will primarily benefit military contractors, according to a new joint brief with the @stimsoncenter.bsky.social. [THREAD]
October 23, 2025 at 2:13 PM
NEW: The military spending portion of the reconciliation bill, or H.R. 1 (“One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) will primarily benefit military contractors, according to a new joint brief with the @stimsoncenter.bsky.social. [THREAD]