The People-First Foreign Policy Pledge identifies three foreign policy positions that all Congressional candidates, regardless of party, should pledge to support if they want to win a midterm election and deliver the change people in the US want and need.
Each is common sense, with broad support across Democrats, Republicans, and independents. Each prioritizes the safety, security, and well-being of our country and the world over those profiting off war. Each breaks from a status quo that has killed, injured, and displaced tens of millions, squandered trillions of tax dollars, and caused devastating environmental damage. The three positions are:
- End the War in Iran and All Endless Wars.
- Cut the Pentagon Budget and Abolish ICE.
- Stop All Aid* to Israel and Other Human Rights Violators.
End the War in Iran and All Endless Wars.
Transforming our country’s future begins with ending the disastrous, illegal war on Iran and the endless wars that have hijacked the nation since 2001. The Iran war is the most unpopular in US history. Recent polling shows nearly 60 percent of US adults—including 90% of Democrats, 63% of independents, and 22% of Republicans—oppose it. People are angry that this war of choice has raised gas and grocery prices, wasted tens of billions of dollars, and killed and injured tens of thousands.
Cut the Pentagon Budget and Abolish ICE.
President Trump has requested the largest military budget in US and world history for the next fiscal year: $1.5 trillion. Nearly 2 in 3 adults oppose this 60% increase over this year’s already bloated budget. People understand that sending money to the Pentagon strips money from health care, education, and other needs while enriching weapons makers and giving Trump money to wage new wars against Cuba, Greenland, or China. People are similarly opposed to militarizing US streets having witnessed the brutal, deadly effects of ICE and the domestic deployment of the military. Nearly three-quarters of Democrats, half of independents, and a quarter of Republicans support abolishing ICE.
Stop All Aid to Israel and Other Human Rights Violators.
Support for Israel has declined dramatically across the political spectrum. People are sick of sending US arms and taxes to militaries violating human rights, including Israel’s, which has killed more than 73,000 Palestinian children and adults in Gaza. Stopping military aid and other support for Israel and other human rights violators, such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is an obvious, mainstream position.
Time for Change
These three positions are just the beginning of the change our foreign policy desperately needs to start to put people first, not war profiteers. By committing to end endless US wars, cut the budgets of the Pentagon and ICE, and stop US aid to Israel and other human rights abusers, Congressional candidates can adopt winning positions and help transform our country into one we can be proud of.
We urge everyone nationwide to join us in demanding candidates support these three positions and ensure they become realities. Our future and our world’s future are at stake in the midterms.
Sign the Pledge here. Learn how to use the Pledge here.
* “Aid” is a poor choice of words here, the pledge drafters have corrected in their other communications. Stopping all “arms and other support” for Israel and other human rights violators is a more helpful framing.
