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United States and the Military Industrial Complex

12/2/2025

The USA’s arms exports grew by 21 per cent between 2015–19 and 2020–24, and its share of global arms exports went from 35 per cent to 43 per cent,

The report was published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Monday, December 1, 2025. It states that the world's 100 largest arms-producing companies saw a 5.9% increase in revenue from arms and military services in the previous year (2024), reaching a record $679 billion.

Key Details from the Report

Driving Factors: The increase in revenue was primarily driven by the high demand for weapons and military equipment due to the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as general rising global military spending and geopolitical tensions.
Regional Performance:
- United States: U.S. companies accounted for the largest share of revenue at $334 billion (3.8% increase).
- Thirty of the 39 U.S. companies in the top 100 — including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics — posted increases.
- Europe: The 26 European companies in the top 100 saw a combined 13% increase in revenue, totaling $151 billion, as countries worked to replenish stockpiles and expand their militaries.
- Russia: The two Russian firms listed recorded a 23% rise in combined revenues.
- Middle East: Nine companies from the Middle East were in the top 100, with the three Israeli companies increasing their revenue by 16%.
- Asia and Oceania: This was the only region to see a slight decline in revenue, largely due to issues within the Chinese arms industry.

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Military Law Attorneys Say Senator Kelly Did Not Break Any Law

12/2/2025

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Many experts predict that any formal case brought against Kelly would be quickly dismissed

Legal experts largely agree that the
Pentagon is unlikely to succeed in punishing Sen. Mark Kelly over the "illegal orders" video, citing significant constitutional and legal hurdles. The investigation was initiated after President Trump's social media posts accused Kelly and other lawmakers of sedition.

Key arguments from legal experts include:

First Amendment and Civilian Status: Experts note that Kelly made the statements as a civilian and a U.S. Senator, not a military officer. The law can restrict the speech of active service members in ways that are unconstitutional for civilians, and Kelly is protected by his First Amendment rights in this context.
Separation of Powers: Kelly's status as a sitting member of Congress provides him with constitutional protections intended to shield the legislative branch from executive overreach and arbitrary punishment. Attempting to subject a senator to discipline by the Secretary of Defense would violate core principles of legislative independence.
Lack of Legal Grounds: A group of former military lawyers (JAGs) stated that the video did not violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). They argue that it simply restated the law regarding the distinction between lawful and unlawful orders, a foundational principle of military service (the "Nuremberg defense").
Jurisdiction Limits: While retired service members receiving pay can technically still be subject to the UCMJ, this is typically for extreme cases such as fraud or serious criminal activity where no other jurisdiction applies. Applying military law to a retired member's political speech is seen as a "ridiculous conclusion" by some experts.
Likely Outcome: Many experts predict that any formal case brought against Kelly would be quickly dismissed or result in an acquittal.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed an investigation is underway, with potential outcomes including a recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures. However, the consensus among legal scholars is that such efforts face long odds in the U.S. judicial system. Kelly has dismissed the inquiry as political bullying, stating it will not deter him from his congressional duties

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US Judge Blocks IRS Sharing of Confidential Taxpayer Address Information With ICE

12/1/2025

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Plaintiffs have shown that the IRS committed multiple violations of Internal Revenue Code Section 6103(i)(2)

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from sharing confidential taxpayer address information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for use in civil immigration enforcement. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled on November 21, 2025, that the data-sharing agreement was unlawful because it violated federal law protecting taxpayer confidentiality and procedures. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by civil rights groups, including the Center for Taxpayer Rights.

Key details of the ruling:

Violations: Judge Kollar-Kotelly found the IRS's disclosure of taxpayer addresses to ICE on August 7, 2025, was unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act and Internal Revenue Code Section 6103(i)(2).
Arbitrary and Capricious: The judge stated that the IRS failed to provide a reasoned explanation for its new policy and did not consider the reliance interests of taxpayers on a long-standing policy of strict confidentiality.
Questionable Justification: The ruling found ICE's justification for needing the data suspicious, including its claim that one agent was personally overseeing hundreds of thousands of criminal matters.
Relief Granted: The injunction prevents the IRS and the Department of the Treasury from disclosing taxpayer information to the Department of Homeland Security and its components, including ICE, under the contested policy. The judge ordered the IRS to notify ICE that the data it previously disclosed must be returned or made "undisclosable".
Background: The data-sharing policy was part of the Trump-Vance administration's immigration enforcement efforts. Concerns over the agreement had previously prompted several high-level IRS officials to resign. Earlier in 2025, a different federal judge had allowed a similar, though narrower, data-sharing agreement to proceed

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United States and the Military Industrial Complex

Military Law Attorneys Say Senator Kelly Did Not Break Any Law

US Judge Blocks IRS Sharing of Confidential Taxpayer Address Information With ICE

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