United States spent nearly $1 trillion on security in fiscal year 2007 ... not just the $463B for the DoDefense ...

November 14, 2007 by MinutemanMedia.org | Here’s What America Really Spends on Security | by Christopher Hellman

Back in February 2006, the Bush administration requested, and Congress later approved, roughly $463 billion in funding for the Defense Department. But when it comes to what American taxpayers really spend on national security, this is just the tip of the iceberg. All told, the United States spent nearly $1 trillion on security in fiscal year 2007, which ended on September 30.

In addition to the money allocated to the Pentagon each year as part of the Defense Department’s “base budget,” hundreds of billions of dollars are spent on other federal programs that are a direct result of the United States supporting and maintaining its military.

For example, the United States spent $173 billion last year on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other costs the Pentagon says are related to the “Global War on Terror.” ...

The government also spent $43 billion on homeland security, not including $17 billion funded through the Defense Department budget. ...

The White House further revealed that it spent $43 billion on intelligence-related activities last year. ...

Veterans’ benefits accounted for $73 billion in federal spending last year to provide for those who’ve served their country in the past. ...

And the list goes on. According to the White House, the government paid $433 billion in interest on the national debt, and a conservative estimate puts the cost of past military spending attributable to this debt at $99 billion annually. ...