Pentagon’s Massive September Spending Blitz Sparks Outrage

Clear Facts

• Pentagon spent $93 billion on grants and contracts in September 2025, highest since 2008.
• Over $50 billion expended in last five business days of September.
• $225 million on furniture, including $12,000 fruit basket stands and $60,000 premium chairs.
• $2 million on Alaskan king crab, $130,000 on donuts, $15.1 million on ribeye steak.
• Nearly $6 billion on IT, with $3.5 billion for cable TV and support.
• $1.8 million on musical instruments like $98,329 grand piano.
• $6.6 billion from foreign vendors, topping prior record.

Pentagon officials rushed to spend remaining budget under use-it-or-lose-it rules. This September marked unprecedented waste, drawing criticism from watchdogs.

Senator Joni Ernst labels it binge-buying by bureaucrats. Trump-era spending on furniture was far lower than Obama or Biden years.

Biden officials dropped $3 billion on furniture from 2020-2022 despite pandemic disruptions.

Watchdog urged Secretary Pete Hegseth to prioritize warfighting over frivolities. Yet spending soared beyond past highs.

Trump seeks $1.5 trillion budget for Dream Military.

“Under Secretary Hegseth, the Pentagon has consistently said its mission is to refocus on warfighting and lethality,” OTB CEO John Hart said.

“Last year, we highlighted the problem of wasteful use-it-or-lose-it year-end spending. We noted that this reform is fully within the secretary’s control and is a historic opportunity to make good on that promise.”

“Unfortunately, the Pentagon’s traditional year-end spending spree in 2025 was the worst ever on record at a staggering $93.4 billion. This is unacceptable. American taxpayers expect their dollars to support critical defense priorities, not lavish dinners.”

“Moreover, careless spending emboldens our enemies and puts American lives at risk. We need to focus on replenishing interceptors, not appetizers. American taxpayers voted for change and expect better results.”

Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst demands the Pentagon defend every dollar spent.

Taxpayers demand fiscal discipline to build a lethal military without extravagance.

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