From D-Day to Desert Storm: The Most Expensive Wars in U.S. History

"Under the terms of the United States Constitution, the power to declare war rests solely with Congress, the same branch of government that also controls federal spending. While these two powers are separate and distinct, an exercise of the former has always had a direct impact on the latter. Indeed, the United States has spent trillions of taxpayer dollars on warfare over the course of its 250-year history,"

"Even during peacetime, the United States invests more in its military than any other country on Earth. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, total U.S. defense spending topped $997 billion in 2024 alone, more than triple the defense budget of the world's second highest-spending military power, China. As of 2023, the latest year of available data from the World Bank, U.S. military spending was equivalent to roughly 3.4% of gross domestic product, a full percentage point above the 2.4% global average."

"For any country, government budgets are often a reflection of national priorities - and in the United States, heavy investment in the military serves multiple purposes. By maintaining its ability to project power across the globe, American defense spending better positions the U.S. to succeed should war break out. Perhaps even more importantly, the billions of dollars the Pentagon spends each year on weapons development and procurement also act as a deterrent to adversarial nations and may ultimately reduce the likelihood of war."

Under the United States Constitution, the power to declare war rests with Congress, the same branch that controls federal spending, and wartime decisions have substantial fiscal consequences. The United States has spent trillions of taxpayer dollars on warfare across its 250-year history. Even in peacetime, U.S. defense spending remains the world's highest, totaling $997 billion in 2024 and equaling roughly 3.4% of GDP in 2023, about a full percentage point above the global average. Heavy military investment supports global power projection, readiness for conflict, and weapons development that can deter adversaries. Wartime expenditures exceed peacetime budgets, adding costs for mobilization, deployment, repairs, and munitions.

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