PEP News Releases peace July 3, 2025 0 Comments

$3.1 Billion for Fighter Jets While Families Struggle? Missouri Deserves Better

St. Louis, MO — The Peace Economy Project (PEP) strongly condemns the U.S. Department of Defense’s recent $3.1 billion investment in the production of 21 additional F-15EX fighter jets, manufactured by Boeing in St. Louis. At a time when Missouri families are grappling with underfunded schools, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and crumbling infrastructure, this massive outlay for weapons of war reflects deeply misplaced national priorities.

“While Boeing’s St. Louis plant may profit from this deal, Missouri communities are left hungry, sick, and unsupported,” said Katerina Canyon, Executive Director of the Peace Economy Project. “We need to stop pouring taxpayer dollars into death machines and start funding life-affirming programs right here at home.”

Misplaced Priorities in Missouri’s Backyard

Boeing may see a short-term economic boost, but the long-term needs of Missouri residents remain unmet. Classrooms are overcrowded, maternal health outcomes are some of the worst in the nation, and roads and bridges continue to decay. This investment is a moral and fiscal failure.

$3.1 Billion = Community Opportunities Lost

For the cost of 21 fighter jets, the federal government could instead:

Fund free school lunch for every child in Missouri for five years
Create thousands of green energy jobs across the Midwest
Expand mental health and trauma recovery programs in underserved communities

St. Louis Doesn’t Need More Warplanes—It Needs Investment in Peace

This latest funding allocation adds to a pattern of militarized excess that does little to address the root causes of violence, poverty, or instability. Peace Economy Project’s recent brief, “Sinking Billions: What America Could Build Instead of More Warships,” details the real-world impact of redirecting military spending to public good.

Challenge the False ‘Jobs vs. Peace’ Binary

We reject the narrative that military production is the only viable path for economic growth in Missouri. Peace Economy Project calls for a Just Transition—a strategic investment in sustainable industries, clean energy infrastructure, and social programs that support Boeing workers without perpetuating war.