Pete Hegseth's Defense Department Blew $22M On Steak and Lobster in a Single Month, Watchdog Claims

"According to an analysis by nonprofit watchdog Open the Books, Hegseth's DoD spent $93.4 billion on grants and contracts in Sept. 2025 alone—nearly 50 percent of which was expended in the last five business days of the month. Per the analysis by Open the Books, in September, the Pentagon spent $2 million on Alaskan king crab, $6.9 million on lobster tail, $15.1 million on ribeye steak, and $1 million on salmon."

"While the Pentagon does not technically have to spend all its congressionally allocated funds, use-it-or-lose-it policies often push it to do so. Any leftover funds could be removed from the budget the following year. So, extravagant sprees are not unusual at the end of a fiscal year."

"Since 2008, the DoD has spent an average of $257.6 million on furniture every September—a 564% increase above the norm. In months besides September, furniture costs the military only $38.8 million on average."

The Defense Department under Secretary Pete Hegseth spent $22 million on luxury food items in September 2025, including $6.9 million on lobster tail, $15.1 million on ribeye steak, $2 million on Alaskan king crab, and $1 million on salmon, plus $139,224 on doughnuts and $124,000 on ice cream machines. This spending occurred as part of a $93.4 billion expenditure in September alone, with nearly 50 percent concentrated in the final five business days. Use-it-or-lose-it budget policies incentivize such end-of-fiscal-year spending sprees to avoid budget reductions. Historical patterns show similar behavior, with the Pentagon averaging $257.6 million on furniture every September since 2008, a 564 percent increase above normal monthly spending.

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