"The Pentagon spent more money in September-the end of the 2025 fiscal year-than it had in any other year since 2008. But a good chunk of the budget wasn't used for anything that could be considered a pertinent military expense. The Defense Department burned through $93 billion that month alone, signing checks left and right in order to dry up its congressionally allocated budget, according to a recent analysis by the government watchdog Open the Books."
"Some of the frivolous September purchases made under Secretary Pete Hegseth's stewardship include a $98,329 Steinway & Sons grand piano for the Air Force chief of staff's home, $5.3 million for Apple devices such as the new iPad, and an astronomical amount of shellfish, including $2 million for Alaskan king crab and $6.9 million worth of lobster tail."
"In other pricey food purchases, the government decided to drop $15.1 million for ribeye steak (again, just in September), $124,000 for ice cream machines, and $139,224 on 272 orders of doughnuts."
The Pentagon expended $93 billion in September 2025, the end of the fiscal year, marking the highest monthly spending since 2008. A significant portion of this budget was allocated to non-essential purchases rather than pertinent military expenses. Under Secretary Pete Hegseth's oversight, the Defense Department made questionable acquisitions including a $98,329 Steinway grand piano for the Air Force chief of staff's residence, $5.3 million in Apple devices, and substantial expenditures on luxury foods. These included $2 million for Alaskan king crab, $6.9 million for lobster tail, $15.1 million for ribeye steak, $124,000 for ice cream machines, and $139,224 for doughnuts. The analysis by government watchdog Open the Books revealed these purchases were made to exhaust the congressionally allocated budget.
Read at Esquire
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