EUGENE, Ore. — People gathered outside the Federal Building in downtown Eugene Wednesday afternoon to protest the ongoing war with Iran as part of a nationwide Tax Day protest.

The protest was organized by the Planet Versus Pentagon activist group.

Alongside a reduction in military spending, the group wants those tax dollars redirected to community and environmental efforts.

They claim that about 50% of our tax dollars go towards the US military.

KMTR – Eugene Tax Day protesters urge shifting military spending to community and environment

In 2024, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the US military budget cost was roughly 13% of the United States’ entire budget.

Military spending has grown in the first two years of President Trump’s second term.

In early April, the Trump administration released it’s 2027 budget goals, which included increasing military spending to $1.5 trillion.

The protest in Eugene was part of nationwide demonstrations, including in Portland, Manhattan, and Oakland, Calif.