President Biden exercised Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) 55 times from August 2021 through September 2024, transferring $31.7 billion in weapons from Pentagon stockpiles to Ukraine without normal Congressional oversight. Congress expanded PDA’s annual cap from $100 million to $11 …
Joe BidenPentagonCongressUkraineMike Leeemergency-powersukrainemilitary-aidcongressional-bypassdefense-spending
President Harry S. Truman signs the Defense Production Act in response to the Korean War, enacting sweeping federal authority over industrial mobilization and war production. The legislation enables Truman to establish the Office of Defense Mobilization, institute wage and price controls, strictly …
Harry TrumanOffice of Defense MobilizationBoeingLockheedGeneral Electric+1 moremilitary-industrial-complexdefense-spendingkorean-warindustrial-mobilizationcorporate-subsidy+1 more
Twelve nations sign the North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty) on April 4, 1949, establishing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and marking a fundamental transformation in U.S. foreign and defense policy by committing the United States to an ongoing role in European defense. The …
Harry S. TrumanU.S. CongressNorth Atlantic Treaty OrganizationDefense Departmentcold-warmilitary-alliancedefense-spendingmilitary-industrial-complexnato
Congress authorizes attacks on French warships and effectively declares an undeclared naval war against France, establishing the foundation for permanent American military expansion and the military-industrial complex. The Quasi-War begins after French privateers attack over 316 American merchant …
President John AdamsSecretary of the Navy Benjamin StoddertU.S. CongressGeorge WashingtonFrench privateersmilitary-expansionnaval-buildupinstitutional-capturedefense-spendingpermanent-military