USA12 March, 20262 min read
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Pentagon Spends $93 Billion on Lobster, Ribeye, Recliners
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Pentagon spent $93.4 billion in September 2025. September purchases included millions on lobster, Alaskan king crab, and ribeye steak.
Record September spending
A watchdog analysis published by Open the Books and cited across regional and U.S. outlets found that the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spent a record $93.4 billion in September 2025, making it the largest single-month total for any federal department or agency. The spending surge was highlighted as unprecedented by multiple reports and framed as an end-of-fiscal-year spike tied to standard federal budgeting rules. News outlets from CNN to Daily Jang and The Indian Express all reported the $93.4 billion figure and characterized the month as historically large for Pentagon grants and contracts.
“A bombshell report from watchdog group Open the Books reveals the Pentagon led by Secretary Pete Hegseth burned through a staggering $93.4 billion in September 2025 alone.”
Luxury food line items
The Open the Books breakdown highlighted a string of high-cost and food-related line items that drew immediate attention: millions on shellfish and steak, ice cream machines, and large quantities of doughnuts. Reports itemized $6.9 million on lobster tail, $2 million on Alaskan king crab, more than $15 million on ribeye steaks, $124,000 on ice cream machines and $139,224 on orders of donuts — figures repeated across U.S. and international coverage. These specific purchases became the focal point for critics who said the items looked frivolous in isolation.
Furniture, tech, instruments
The September tab also included large outlays for furniture, technology and musical instruments: reports show roughly $225 million on furniture (including expensive items like Herman Miller chairs and fruit-basket stands), $5.3 million on Apple devices and purchases such as a Steinway grand piano, a violin and a custom-made flute.
“Technology also saw a massive spike with $5.3 million spent on Apple devices including iPads purchased for $788 each, well above the $499 retail price.”
Coverage noted both the high unit costs and that many of the goods were sourced from foreign vendors, contributing to a record for foreign purchases in the month.
Timing and rationale
Reporters and analysts stressed the timing: more than half of the $93.4 billion was booked in the final five working days of September, a pattern critics tied to “use-it-or-lose-it” federal budgeting rules that compel agencies to spend remaining funds before the fiscal year ends.
Coverage quoted watchdogs and budget experts explaining the rule, while defense analysts cautioned some of the food purchases were likely for troops on extended deployments ahead of active operations in the region — a point used by supporters to defend the expenditures.
Reactions and scrutiny
The spending surge prompted scrutiny and mixed reactions in the press: local outlets and national analysts described the optics as difficult for a Pentagon under a secretary who has pushed for larger defense budgets, while watchdogs and some commentators called for reforms to end year-end extravagance.
“Critics say the optics are tough to ignore.”
Coverage also emphasized the scale of foreign-sourced purchases and noted the context of broader White House budget debates, leaving calls for Pentagon comment and watchdog recommendations prominent in reporting.
