Public opinion
National Polling:
network to dismantle the Military Industrial Complex reveals US Attitudes about Pentagon Spending + the mic
From November 27 to December 1, 2024, ReThink Media and the Network to Dismantle the Military Industrial Complex surveyed a nationally representative sample of US adults to better understand how people in the US perceive Pentagon spending, war profiteering, and the Military Industrial Complex’s role in the economy, foreign policy, and society. The results reveal significant concerns about influence and government spending priorities.
The survey was conducted online with 1,789 adults from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Respondents were selected to reflect national demographics in terms of age, race, gender, and urban/rural geography. All responses were collected in English. The margin of error is ±2.32%.
For more on the findings, see Adrienne Lynett, "What Do People Really Think About Pentagon Spending and the Military-Industrial Complex?" ReThink Media blog, March 31, 2025, https://rethinkmedia.org/blog/what-do-people-really-think-about-pentagon-spending-and-the-military-industrial-complex.
To request the full report, please email analysis@rethinkmedia.org.
Trade Offs Data and Slides
People in the US are much less likely to prioritize investments in the Pentagon budget compared to other government investments. Check out these slides and use them to demonstrate what people really care about….
Summary of Key Findings
Public Opinion on Pentagon Spending and the Military Industrial Complex:
National Survey Results
War Profiteering and Cutting the Pentagon Budget
77% of people in the US agree “war profiteers” and “war profiteering” are a problem (7% disagree).
A majority (52%) support reducing the Pentagon budget if the reductions wouldn’t harm military personnel and their families [18% neither support nor oppose, 9% not sure, 21% oppose].
A plurality (42%) support reducing the Pentagon budget, period. [23% neither support nor oppose, 11% not sure, 24% oppose.]
A plurality (40%) believe the federal government is spending too much on the Pentagon budget. [23% not sure, 28% about right, 9% too little.]
The Military Industrial Complex
What’s the MIC? It’s corrupt alliance of weapons makers, the Pentagon, and Congress members in a powerful system that continually encourages increased spending on endless wars, creating immense profits while diverting trillions of dollars from taxpayers and countless unmet needs such as health, housing, and education.
64% of people in the US believe the MIC “profits from the continuous involvement of the US military in wars, combat, and other deployments in foreign countries.”
52% believe the MIC “has too much influence on the country's foreign policy decisions because of its lobbying and campaign contributions.”
Half of 18–44 year olds and a plurality of the entire country (40%) agree the MIC “plays a significant role in causing global warming/climate change” [9% don’t know, 23% disagree].
A plurality (44%) agree “it’s in our best interest as a nation to reduce the power” of the MIC [29% neither agree nor disagree, 19% disagree, 8% don’t know].
The tobacco industry was the only industry surveyed that was less favorably viewed than weapons manufacturers (others = pharmaceuticals, technology, oil and gas).
Spending Priorities
People in the US are much less likely to prioritize investments in the Pentagon budget compared to other government investments: Percent who believe it’s extremely or very important for the federal government to invest in…
Health Care: 83%
Education and Childcare: 76%
Affordable Housing: 75%
Infrastructure: 74%
Addressing Global Warming / Climate Change: 59%
Pentagon Budget: 47%