Americans Split on Increasing Defense Spending

But large majorities support sending additional arms and military supplies to Ukraine, and if needed, Taiwan, Council polling shows.

In his 2023 budget, US President Joe Biden sought a record $813 billion for national defense. The House of Representatives then piled another $45 billion on top of that. The American public, however, is split on increasing defense spending. And there are deep divides between Republicans and Democrats.

Key Findings

• A plurality of Americans (38%) want to keep defense spending about the same with nearly equal numbers wanting to either expand (29%) or cut back (26%).
• A majority of Americans (51%) say that maintaining US military superiority is a very effective way to achieve US foreign policy goals. Only maintaining existing alliances (54%) is higher.
• Just 16 percent say military aid to other countries is a very effective way to achieve US foreign policy goals. Another 59 percent say it is somewhat effective.
• Even so, large majorities support sending additional arms and military supplies to Ukraine (72%) and if needed, to Taiwan (65%).

Three in 10 (30%) say ensuring the physical defense of our country is the most important priority for making US foreign policy today. This was the top priority included in the list, and by far the most important priority for self-described Republicans.

And while 54 percent of Americans say maintaining existing alliances is a very effective foreign policy approach, just 16 percent identify providing military aid to other countries as very effective.

Asked in separate questions, however, nearly three out of every four Americans favor the US sending additional military supplies to Ukraine to help defend itself against Russia (72%). And if China invades Taiwan, two in three Americans favor providing additional military transfers to Taipei (65%).