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Home / Reports / 2020 State of the Union / Defense

Defense

Defense spending increased in 2019 but is 14% lower than its 2010 peak.

The largest portion (about 40%) compensates military and civilian personnel.

Defense

The military is larger today than in 2016 but smaller than in 1980.

In 2019, there were 1.3 million active duty and 760,000 civilian members of the armed forces, a decrease of 38% and 31%, respectively, since 1987.

Defense

We have fewer troops abroad, particularly in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

There were 195,077 active duty and reserve troops abroad in 2019, an 18% decrease from 2016 and 56% from 2008.

Defense

Adjusting for inflation, foreign aid has declined slightly since 2008, and makes up less than 1% of the federal budget

More than a quarter of aid is military assistance.

Defense

Veterans have higher levels of employment, lower rates of poverty, and higher rates of disability than the overall population.

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