America's defense budget exceeds $800 billion, but the real cost goes deeper. The True Cost of Defense follows quadruple-amputee veteran Travis Mills, military recruiters, families on overseas bases, and communities shaped by global military commitments. It reveals defense's most profound price: the human one—lives forever changed by service and America's role in world affairs.
The True Cost of Defense is presented by your local public television station.
Video has Closed Captions
Peeling back layers of the U.S. defense budget reveals its deepest cost: the human one. (56m 46s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipWhere to Watch The True Cost of Defense
The True Cost of Defense is available to stream on pbs.org and the PBS app.
New Episode- News and Public Affairs
Top journalists deliver compelling original analysis of the hour's headlines.
- News and Public Affairs
FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world.
New Episode
New Episode
Support for PBS provided by:
The True Cost of Defense is presented by your local public television station.