US Secretary of Defense breaks record with highest monthly expense seen in 18 years
The US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has reportedly broken a record after spending the highest monthly expense seen since 2008, nearly two decades ago.
As per a new analysis published by government watchdog Open the Books, the 45-year-old American government official approved spending more than $93 billion in September.
According to the spending review, the Defense Department forked out as much as $6.9 million in total on lobster tail and $2 million on Alaskan king crab in the month of September alone, which marked the end of the 2025 fiscal year.
And it wasn't just seafood, as Hegseth reportedly also spent around $15.1 million on ribeye steak that same month, as well as $124,000 for new ice cream machines and $139,224 on doughnut orders.
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He also spent close to $100,000 on a Steinway & Sons grand piano for the home of the Air Force chief of staff. The same report notes $5.3 million spent on Apple devices, including new iPads.
Meanwhile, furniture spending from the United States Department of Defense reached $225.6 million, while $12,540 was spent on fruit basket stands and more than $60,000 on recliners from high-end maker Herman Miller.
It's important to note, however, that the US military has long spent heavily on furniture as, since 2008, the Defense Department has averaged about $257.6 million on furniture every September, around 564 percent higher than its usual monthly spending, per the report.
During Barack Obama’s presidency, for example, September furniture spending often reached $300 to $400 million.
The biggest outlay in September came through grants and contracts, which totalled $90 billion.
During the final five working days of the month alone, the department pushed out $50.1 billion in grants and contracts, according to the Open the Books report.
"Under Secretary Hegseth, the Pentagon has consistently said its mission is to refocus on warfighting and lethality," Open the Books CEO John Hart said in the analysis.
"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."
The news has sparked backlash at a time when many Americans are facing economic difficulties due to the cost-of-living crisis.
California Governor Gavin Newsom shared the news on Tuesday (10 March), taking to X to post an AI image of Hegseth lounging in a recliner chair.
The AI image showed the politician surrounded by a grand piano, several iPads, an ice cream machine, a load of fruit baskets and plates filled with lobster tail and steak.
He captioned the post: "HEGSETH BLOWING $93 BILLION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN 1 MONTH!!"
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Tyla in a statement: "It is a longstanding tradition for the Department of War to serve troops a nice meal when their deployments are announced or extended. It’s shameful that TDS-ravaged 'reporters' are twisting this special gesture for servicemembers who are risking their lives in order to attack President Trump’s administration."
Tyla has also reached out to the US Department of Defense for comment.
Topics: Money, News, Politics, US News, Food and Drink
Rhiannon Ingle