Defense and security articles

Get unbiased data and visuals on military recruitment, veterans, border security, and foreign affairs. These reports use government sources to help Americans understand national security and defense.

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Defense and security
How many refugees are entering the US?

Refugee admissions are increasing after a 40-year low in 2021.

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Defense and security
What was the Lend-Lease Act?

The Lend-Lease Act allowed the US to provide supplies to Allied powers in exchange for long-term leases for military bases around the world.

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Defense and security
How many people are in the US military? A demographic overview

Active-duty military numbers decreased by 64.3% from their peak in 1968, dropping off twice during the Vietnam War and after the Cold War.

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Defense and security
Where are US military members stationed, and why?

The US military oversees more than 27 million acres globally through its military bases, an area equivalent to the size of Virginia.

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Defense and security
How does the government support veterans?

Over 93% of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ annual spending funds pensions, compensation, medical care, and education programs for veterans.

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Defense and security
Is military enlistment down?

Enlistment numbers have steadily dropped for the past 40 years. More than 148,318 people enlisted in the US armed forces in 2020, a 59% decline from 1980.

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Defense and security
How is the standard of living changing for veterans?

The 16.2 million veterans in the US in 2022 earn a higher median income and have lower rates of unemployment and poverty than the general population.

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Defense and security
Border recidivism: How common are repeat illegal border crossings?

More than a quarter of migrants attempted to illegally cross into the US more than once in fiscal years 2020 and 2021.

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Defense and security
Statistics on unauthorized US immigration and US border crossings by year

The US has reported nearly 11 million unauthorized border encounters between October 2019 and June 2024.

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Defense and security
Military recruitment is down. Why don’t young Americans want to join?

A diminishing pool of Americans are eligible to join the Army, Navy, or Air Force. An even smaller pool want to.

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