Defense and security articles
Get unbiased data and visuals on military recruitment, veterans, border security, and foreign affairs.
How many people apprehended at US borders have a prior criminal conviction?
About 17,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This number of criminal noncitizen arrests — now referred to by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as criminal alien arrests — represents 1.1% of all border apprehensions by the US Border Patrol (USBP) through September 2024, the end of the federal fiscal year. Because one person may be arrested multiple times in the same fiscal year, it’s possible to have more arrests than people arrested.
How much does the US spend on defense?
About $820 billion in fiscal year 2023. Defense spending includes personnel compensation, equipment, research and development (R&D), and the costs associated with operating and maintaining military efforts. The Department of Defense is responsible for most spending on national defense, along with other agencies like the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice.
What does USAID do?
USAID (US Agency for International Development) is an independent executive branch agency responsible for administering foreign aid and economic development assistance outside the US. Its functions include supporting economic growth, global health, and education; providing humanitarian aid in response to crises; and advancing US foreign policy goals through partnerships. It was established in 1961 as part of the Foreign Assistance Act.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Transportation Security Administration do?
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is a subdivision of the Department of Homeland Security responsible for ensuring the security of the traveling public in the United States. The agency oversees security operations at airports, including passenger screening and baggage inspection, and works to prevent and respond to threats against transportation systems. It also collaborates with other federal, state, and local agencies to ensure transportation security. It was established in 2001.
Updates annuallyWhat does the State Department do?
The Department of State (State Department, DOS) is an executive branch agency responsible for conducting US foreign policy and diplomatic relations. Its functions include negotiating treaties, representing the US in international organizations, issuing passports and visas, coordinating refugee and humanitarian assistance, and overseeing foreign aid and embassy operations. It was established in 1789.
Updates annuallyWhat does the National Security Council do?
The National Security Council (NSC) is a subdivision of the Executive Office of the President responsible for advising the President on national security and foreign policy matters. The NSC coordinates these policies among various government agencies to ensure a unified national security strategy. It was established in 1947.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Department of Veterans Affairs do?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for providing healthcare services, benefits programs, and access to national cemeteries for the nation's veterans and their dependents. It was established as the Veterans Administration in 1930 and elevated to cabinet status in 1989.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Department of Homeland Security do?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for protecting the United States against potential threats. Its primary functions include anti-terrorism efforts, border security, immigration and customs enforcement, cybersecurity, and disaster prevention and management. It was established in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and began operations in 2003.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Department of Defense do?
The Department of Defense (DOD) is cabinet-level executive branch agency tasked with maintaining and overseeing the military forces of the United States. Its primary functions include overseeing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force; creating military policies; and managing the defense budget. It was established in 1947.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency do?
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is a subdivision of the US Department of Homeland Security responsible for protecting the nation's critical infrastructure from physical and cyber threats. The agency works to enhance the security, resilience, and reliability of the nation's cyber and physical infrastructure through partnerships, information sharing, and risk management. It also provides resources, tools, and support to help organizations and individuals safeguard their systems and respond to incidents. It was established in 2018.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Coast Guard do?
The US Coast Guard (USCG) is a subdivision of the US Department of Homeland Security responsible for ensuring the safety, security, and stewardship of the nation's waters. The agency conducts search and rescue operations, enforces maritime law, and protects the marine environment. It also supports national defense and responds to natural and man-made disasters. It was established in 1790.
Updates annuallyHow many unauthorized immigrants are in the US?
An estimated 11 million in 2022. The unauthorized immigrant population consists of all foreign-born noncitizens who are not legal US residents. This includes people who entered the country undetected, those who requested asylum after entry, and those who sought asylum at the border. It also encompasses people from conflict zones, such as Ukraine, and those who have overstayed their temporary visas.
How many people does ICE arrest?
149,071 arrests by the two operational branches of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in fiscal year (FY) 2024. That includes 113,430 administrative arrests (76.1% of total arrests) conducted by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), as well as criminal arrests: 3,032 by ERO and 32,608 by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the transnational criminal investigative division of ICE.
Updates monthlyHow many troops are in the US military?
About 2.1 million in March 2025. This includes 1.3 million active duty troops and 765,000 reserve troops. This includes active duty troops or full-time training duty in the reserves. Reserve troops are withheld from initial action to be deployed at a later time and are subject to call to active duty.
Updates annuallyHow much fentanyl is seized at US borders each month?
About 740 pounds in June 2025. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used medically as a pain reliever but is also trafficked illegally due to its potency. In 2023, the latest data available, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids were involved in 69% of fatal accidental drug overdoses in the US.
Updates monthlyHow many people are deported from the US each year?
1.1M in 2023. The Department of Homeland Security defines deportation as the removal or return of a noncitizen from the United States. However, a broader term can be used, “repatriation”, which also includes COVID-19 related expulsions from the US.
How has military enlistment changed?
Military enlistment fell for 40 years and hit a low in 2022. But that decline could be reversing: in October 2024 the Defense Department announced that an estimated 146,473 people enlisted in the US armed forces in FY 2024, up 14% from FY 2022.
Jun 27, 2025Where are US troops stationed?
The US has a strong military presence both domestically and overseas, with 1.5 million active-duty service members stationed at home or abroad. In addition to millions of troops, the Department of Defense manages 568,000 facilities, covering 27 million acres, across 4,790 military sites worldwide. For context, that’s roughly the size of the state of Virginia.The US military is tasked with training troops and defending US citizens on American soil, as well as protecting its national security interests by defending strategic supply chains, deterring attacks and future aggression, and participating in bilateral, regional, and multilateral defense programs.Where are US troops based in the US?As of March 2025, the US had 2.6 million military personnel, including active-duty troops, reserve, and civilian workers stationed domestically. Of these, 1.1 million were active-duty troops across 50 US states, Washington, DC, and 5 US territories.Roughly 50% of these troops are in five states:California (157,477 )Virginia (119,878)Texas (112,915)North Carolina (94,805)Florida (67,115)
Jun 23, 2025How many people are in the US military? A demographic overview
As of March 2025, the US military consisted of 2.86 million people worldwide. Data from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) indicates that, in 2024, the US has the world’s third-largest active military by size, surpassed by China and India, respectively.These forces are spread across six main service branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force – all tasked to protect and serve the US.How many people are in the military?The US military includes approximately 2.07 military personnel and 788,470 civilians as of March 2025. With 2.86 million troops and civilians combined, the military is slightly greater than the population of Chicago, the country's third-largest city.Of those military members, the Department of Defense (DOD) listed nearly 1.31 million people as active-duty troops, and 765,495 as National Guard/reserves.
Jun 22, 2025How many nuclear weapons does the US have?
Newly declassified data shows that as of September 2023, the US had a stockpile of 3,748 nuclear warheads. The most recent numbers show an 88% reduction since 1967, when the US stockpile peaked at 31,255 warheads. From 1994 to 2023, the US dismantled 12,088 warheads, while an additional 2,000 weapons have been retired and are currently awaiting dismantlement.
Jun 22, 2025