Inside the $1,776 “Warrior Dividend”: Where the Money Really Comes From

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The $1,776 “warrior dividend” sounds like new money for America’s service members—but it’s not. In this episode, Chris breaks down what’s really behind the $2.9 billion payout, drawing on reporting from Defense One to explain how the funds were reallocated from existing military housing allowances rather than generated by tariffs or new revenue. While supporting troops is non-negotiable, this shell game raises serious questions about Pentagon priorities, budgeting transparency, and whether short-term checks come at the expense of long-term support for military families. Before you celebrate the headline, here’s the reality behind the numbers.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Watchdog on Wall Street podcast explaining the news coming
out of the complex worlds of finance, economics, and politics
and the impact it will have on everyday Americans. Author,
investment banker, consumer advocate, analyst, and trader Chris Markowski.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Inside the one thousand, seven hundred seventy six dollars Warrior Dividend. Now,
first and foremost, if you think I like reporting on
things like this, you're crazy. I don't. This is disappointing
to me. Two point nine billion dollars in money going
to our young men and women in the military, and

(00:39):
I don't have any problem with that. I've talked about
how quite frankly, I don't the amount of money that
the Pentagon takes in I've met you know, we went
railed against this years ago. I wanted to dismantle the
VA completely, just completely get rid of the VA. You know,
you volunteer to be in our military. You should automatic,
you should have get out of medical Expenses card. You

(01:02):
should be able to go to any damn doctor you
want anywhere, and it should be on the taxpayers. Period.

Speaker 1 (01:09):
Done done.

Speaker 2 (01:11):
We don't treat our military nearly as well as we should.
Not to mention the fact the way we task them,
sending them all over the globe on a regular basis
in our nonsensical wars. Anyway, that's a story for another day.
The two point nine billion dollars and I I don't
know when I saw Trump announce the money and the check,

(01:35):
and I'm like, how's he gonna do that? I said,
he must have had the votes, he must have put
something together with Mike Johnson and Thune and try to
get something through. That's not the case. This is coming
from Defense one. This is military publication. This is just
money that is being reallocated. That two point nine billion

(02:00):
dollars was used to help with housing allowances for the military,
and they're just rejiggering it to checks. So you know,
the reality is that maybe I don't know they're going
to reimburse that fund next year, but a bandon people.

(02:22):
I have to be honest. The money is not coming
from tariffs. The money is not coming from tariffs. The
money is coming from a fund that is used to
beef up troop housing allowances. Don't doubt me. Look it up.
If you don't want to believe me. Watchdog on Wall
Street dot com