TARIFFS UNDER TRUMP: HOW THEY ARE IMPACTING EACH PART OF THE MILITARY COMMUNITY
By now, you’ve seen the increasingly worrisome tariffs being issued by President Donald Trump. There’s no end in sight, and at the time of this writing, there’s a threat to increase tariffs on China even further by 50%. Regardless of your political view, long-term effects, or any other economic factors, the impact is being felt immediately, with ripple effects hitting the military community in expected and unexpected ways.
What Will Trump’s Tariffs Do to the Economy for the Military?
Dealing with Trump’s tariffs isn’t going to be something only one segment of the population has to deal with, and even within communities, the economic impact is different, yet impactful.
From the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) spending taxpayer money to meet its needs to active duty families trying to make ends meet to retired Vets who are trying to enjoy their Golden Years, here’s how these policies make an impact:
Veterans
Trump’s tariffs threaten to raise the cost of everyday items and services Veterans rely on.
One notable concern is the disruption to global supply chains and the increase in cost for the healthcare industry.
Veterans have enough issues to worry about, and even with VA benefits, the cost of healthcare continues to be a pressing issue for the community.
The tariffs being levied by the Trump administration could get worse and have experts concerned about how far the impact will be on generic medication.
Furthermore, it has taken no time at all to see just how much of an impact the tariffs are having on the stock market.
Losing money is never ideal and the tariffs are impacting much more than just trade-savvy Vets looking to build wealth through the markets.
Retirees rely on their 401k for their financial futures and the gains that have been erased since the beginning of 2025 have many Veterans concerned about the future of their financial stability.
Defense Department
From several raw materials to products manufactured with highly guarded proprietary trade secrets, the DoD is set to spend a lot more on the things it needs to operate.
Even things manufactured stateside are set to take a hit from the tariffs, as raw materials are often imported.
This includes steel for shipbuilding, textiles for uniforms, aluminum for weapons, and microchips for too many things to name.
Many experts are expecting such imports from countries in Asia and South America to rise significantly for consumers and in this case, it includes the U.S. military.
The United States may boast the world’s largest defense budget, but that doesn’t mean we should simply spend for the sake of spending.
Eventually, drops in the bucket add up, and dealing with rising costs means our tax dollars buy less for national defense purposes.
Active Military Members and Their Families
Service members and their families are facing rising costs, a theme that has persisted over the last several years. However, their financial hurdles are unique to that of the civilian population.
Not only are things getting more expensive, but the U.S. military has bases all across the globe.
Living overseas can sometimes mean dealing with a higher cost of living, and even with military allowances, there are several points of stress that households struggle with.
Furthermore, retaliation is expected. This means other countries are likely going to impose their own tariffs in response to Trump’s.
Therefore, even military members living overseas are at risk of facing rising costs both on and off base due to the higher costs imposed on them for entering the country in the first place.
Products Expected to Increase Under Trump’s Tariffs
Plenty of products are going to cost more under the new tariffs America is pushing, and that means your wallet is going to feel the impact.
It doesn’t matter where you fall in the military community, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and many other countries provide us with things like want, need, and however you look at it, ultimately buy.
Passing on the cost to the consumer is a tale as old as time, meaning the more it costs to make, the more you can expect to pay.
Specifically, experts are warning of essentials like laptops, tablets, smartphones, shoes, toys, and clothes all seeing increases in products.
From paying for them at your local base exchanges to late-night shopping on Temu, the impact is widespread.
Trump’s tariffs don’t seem to be going anywhere, but rather than fear the road ahead, it’s important to remain calm, reassess your financial plan, and prepare for the future accordingly.
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