Bullets and lobster tails: Pentagon spends nearly $80 billion in one-month spree

The Washington Times Header

The Defense Department went on its biggest monthlong spending spree since the height of the war on terror, dumping nearly $80 billion in a rush to empty its accounts before the end of the fiscal year.

In just the final five business days of September alone, the Pentagon spent $33.1 billion, according to Open the Books, a watchdog. Thatโ€™s more in five days than nearly every other nation on earth spends in a year on their military.

The big-ticket spending items from September were to be expected: $3 billion on ammunition, and nearly $8 billion spent on aircraft.

But the Pentagonโ€™s books also tallied 147 separate entries for raw lobster tail, at a cost of $6.1 million, and $16.6 million on ribeye steak.

Open the Books said the spending was part of the governmentโ€™s perverse use-it-or-lost-it mentality, which dictates that if a program needs to spend every dollar it was budgeted โ€” whether needed or not โ€” or else Congress will trim its funding in the future. And since losing funding is akin to a bureaucratic plague, agencies find all sorts of creative ways to dump cash.

That means September, the end of the fiscal year, is traditionally the Pentagonโ€™s biggest-spending month.

But last year saw some real doozies in spending, including $113,230 on ice cream and $117,787 on fresh doughnuts.

The report comes just ahead of the confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, who is President-elect Donald Trumpโ€™s pick to be the next defense secretary.

Lockheed Martin Corp. was the biggest winner in Septemberโ€™s spending, collecting $10.8 billion of the $79.1 billion spent. Thatโ€™s twice as much as the runner-up, Raytheon Company, and roughly five times Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, which was No. 3 on the list.

Open the Books said Septemberโ€™s spending spree included:

โ€ข A total of $103.7 million on meat, poultry and fish, including the lobster tails, ribeye and $6.4 million on salmon.

โ€ข $81.1 million on fruit and vegetables.

โ€ข $5.1 million on Apple products.

โ€ข $36,000 on footrests.

โ€ข $12,480 for โ€œpiano tuning.โ€

Open the Books said there was some good news, at least compared to past boondoggles.

In September 2023, the Navy paid a $7,136 parking ticket for Tokyoโ€™s Haneda Airport.

Read the Article on OpenTheBooks.com

The Washington Times
The Washington Timeshttps://www.washingtontimes.com/
The Washington Times is a trusted counterweight to mainstream media, delivering facts and commentary to inform and celebrate the American values of freedom, faith and family.

Beijing and Moscow Double Down on Propping Up Tehran, Threaten to Give It Nukes

As anyone who understands how these things unfold could...

The Looming Threat To Our Homeland

After success of โ€œOperation Midnight Hammer,โ€ where U.S. military bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, the threat to America has never been greater.

Trumpโ€™s Bold Strike on Iran: A Necessary Move for Global Securityย 

Trumpโ€™s airstrikes on Iranโ€™s nuclear facilities have been hailed as a courageous and necessary action to safeguard American interests and global stability.

Groundhog Day came late this year to the Land of Smiles.

itโ€™s the same rigmarole, on whatever pretext, the army commandeers the Thai state with vague promises to restore democracy at some unspecified future date.

Resource number one

Russia has an unsustainable birthrate worsened by mortality rate of Russian males through war and alcoholism. One solution, steal young children from other countries.ย 

Boeing, FAA Share Blame for Door Panel Flying Off During Alaska Airlines Flight: NTSB

The sudden midair door panel blowout on Alaska Airlines flight last year stemmed from failures by Boeing, its supplier Spirit AeroSystems, and the FAA.

RFK Jr. Says Pregnant Women Can Get COVID-19 Vaccine If They Choose To

Pregnant women can get COVID-19 vaccines, even after CDC stopped recommending shots during pregnancy, Sec. RFK, Jr. told members of Congress.

Texas Governor Signs Law Requiring Warning Labels on Some Foods

Texas is requiring companies to add warning labels to some foods, under the Texas MAHA legislation bill signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott.

21.8 Million US Seniors Paying for Expenses With Only Social Security Income: Survey

An estimated 21.8 million senior citizens in America make ends meet solely using their social security funds, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) said.

Trump Arrives in Netherlands for NATO Summit, With Defense Spending High on Agenda

President Donald Trump arrived in Amsterdam on Tuesday to attend the NATO summit, which is being held in The Hague from June 24 to 25.

Major Victory for Trump Administration and the American People on Deporting Criminal Illegal Aliens to Third Countries

Supreme Court decision allows DHS to deport criminal illegal aliens who are not wanted in their home country to third countries who've agreed to accept them.

No Changes Planned for FDAโ€™s Vaccine Advisory Committee โ€˜At This Timeโ€™: Spokesperson

There are no plans to remove any members of the panel that advises the FDA on vaccines, a spokesperson said on June 20.

Trump Says Trade Deals Expected With India and Pakistan

President Trump expects US will sign trade deals with India and Pakistan, signaling growing momentum in push to reshape global trade through tariff diplomacy.
spot_img

Related Articles