Pentagon Faces Scrutiny Over Unusual Research Spending

Clear Facts

• Sen. Joni Ernst requested information on spending for studies like “octopus hypnosis” and “monkey mind-reading.”
• Her 2021 COST Act requires federal study costs to be publicly disclosed.
• The Pentagon has not shared specific study costs as required by law.

Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa formally asked the Department of War Inspector General to provide details on the taxpayer costs of studies such as “octopus hypnosis,” “snail mucus,” and “monkey mind-reading.”

Ernst’s 2021 Cost Openness and Spending Transparency Act mandates that federal studies reveal their costs to the public.

In her letter, Ernst listed several studies funded by the War Department’s research and development budget, questioning their value to national defense.

“Posting a public price tag provides greater accountability for ensuring tax dollars are being spent strengthening our nation’s defenses and not being wasted on projects that are defenseless,” Ernst wrote.

She pointed out that the Pentagon receives over $140 billion annually for R&D, intended to modernize the military and protect the nation.

Ernst detailed that many reports fail to specify amounts spent, preventing full transparency for taxpayers.

“Reviews by my office have found award recipients often acknowledge receiving R&D funds for general purposes in press releases, but also largely omit the dollar amount in public documents related to specific projects paid for with the funds from the Pentagon, such as individual published studies or press releases sharing the findings of the studies,” Ernst wrote.

According to Ernst, none of the highlighted studies—ranging from animal research to social media “doomscrolling”—disclosed their cost to the public.

When asked for comment, a Department of War spokesperson replied, “As with all Congressional correspondence, the Secretary will respond directly to the Senator.”

“The Pentagon diverted defense dollars toward octopus hypnosis, calculating how long seals—the fin-footed, semiaquatic mammals, not Navy SEALs—sleep, and monkey mind reading,” Ernst stated.

She emphasized the need for transparent spending: “Well, monkeys and seals and octopi, oh my! It’s anyone’s guess how much was spent on this questionable research because the price for taxpayers isn’t provided, as required by law.”

Ernst argued her COST Act was designed to “put an end to this shady spending.”

“If we want the Pentagon – the only federal agency that has never passed an audit – to clean up its books, putting public price tags on these funds can no longer be Mission Impossible,” she concluded.

This inquiry calls for more accountability from the Pentagon and underlines the importance of public oversight of defense funds.

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