Rampant Pentagon Spending Accelerates Under Hegseth

Rampant Pentagon spending under presidents of both parties has accelerated under current secretary Pete Hegseth, a report by Open the Books, a government watchdog site that tracks federal and state government spending, reported Monday.

Pentagon spending, like much federal government spending, is done on a “Spend it or Lose it” basis. The Pentagon and other government agencies typically rush to get money out the door in September before it has to be returned. State and Federal agencies also typically rush money out the door when presidential administrations are about to change.

In September 2025, the Pentagon awarded a record $93.4 billion in grants and contracts, including $50.1 billion spent just in the last five working days of September alone. By way of comparison, the Biden Administration spent almost $80 billion in September 2024.

Items purchased include things like luxury food items, high-end furniture, and IT purchases. Since 2008, the Pentagon has spent an average of $257.6 million on furniture every September, which is 564% above the norm. With that money, the Pentagon could have sent 2,000 switchblade drones, 3-4 HIMARS systems, 1,400 GMLRS rockets, 1,420+ Javelin anti-tank missiles, or 530+ Stinger anti-air missiles to Ukraine.

During Barack Obama’s administration, the Pentagon typically spent $300 to $400 million in furniture every September.

Under Secretary Hegseth, the Pentagon has spent the following on luxury items:

—$2 million on Alaskan king crab;

—$6.9 million of lobster tail;

—$15.1 million of ribeye steak;

—$1 million of salmon;

—272 orders of doughnuts for $139,224. That is around $511 per order of doughnuts. A donut at Casey’s typically costs around $1.60.

—$124,000 for ice cream machines;

—$26,000 for sushi preparation tables;

—$5.9 billion in IT and telecommunications, including $3.5 billion for technical support and cable TV.

This is the tip of the iceberg. Other purchases include a $98,329 piano for the Air Force Chief of Staff’s home, a $26,000 violin, and a $21,750 flute.