Defense budgets are usually associated with essentials like aircraft, training, and ammunition. But a recent watchdog review suggests a portion of military spending has gone toward far more indulgent items.
A new breakdown from government watchdog Open the Books reports that in September—near the end of the 2025 fiscal year—around $9 million was spent on lobster and crab legs in that single month.
The seafood spending wasn’t limited to one period, either. The analysis also lists more than $7.4 million spent on lobster tail across March, May, June, and October.
Beyond seafood, the report says Defense Secretary Pete Hesgeth approved additional premium purchases, including roughly $15.1 million for ribeye steak in September, $124,000 spent on new ice cream machines, and $139,224 for doughnut orders.
Although these expenses can seem disconnected from national security, one explanation frequently cited in federal budgeting is the pressure to avoid leaving money unspent at the end of a fiscal year.
Under that system, agencies receive a set budget, and significant leftover funds can prompt questions about whether the department needed the full amount—or whether its future allocation should be reduced.
As a result, departments may increase end-of-year spending to ensure they don’t finish with a large surplus.
Food purchases might be easier to justify than some other line items noted in the report. Among the more extravagant examples cited is a $100,000 Steinway & Sons grand piano intended for the home of the Air Force chief of staff.
The review also points to substantial tech-related costs, including $5.3 million spent on Apple products such as new iPads.
On top of that, the Pentagon reportedly directed major funds toward outfitting the Department of Defense headquarters, spending $225.6 million on furniture. The tally includes $12,540 for fruit basket stands and more than $60,000 for recliners from high-end manufacturer Herman Miller, known internationally for ergonomic designs.
Still, the analysis notes that large September furniture spending isn’t new. It states the military has been paying massive furniture bills for decades, averaging roughly $257.6 million each September since 2008.
The report adds that former President Barack Obama regularly saw September furniture spending in the $300 million to $400 million range during his administration.
By contrast, it indicates furniture spending fell significantly during former President Joe Biden’s time in office, a shift the report attributes largely to pandemic-era remote work that reduced in-office needs for a period.
According to the analysis, the biggest September outlay wasn’t for food or furnishings but for grants and contracts, with the Department of Defense spending $90 billion on grants and contracts during the month.
To illustrate the scale, the report says that in the final five days of September alone, the DoD spent $50.1 billion in that category—more than Israel’s annual defense budget.
Hegseth spent $93 billion in one month – roughly the cost of extending the ACA tax credits for THREE YEARS.
But instead of lowering American’s healthcare costs, Hegseth used millions of taxpayer dollars on fruit baskets, Herman Miller recliners, ice cream machines, Alaskan… https://t.co/bdCHRWip3P— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 10, 2026
“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.”
After the findings circulated, politicians weighed in publicly, with a number of Democrats condemning the spending and promising further scrutiny.
Democratic Congressman Chuck Schumer labeled Hegseth a ‘grifter’ in a social media post.
“Hegseth spent $93 billion in one month – roughly the cost of extending the ACA tax credits for THREE YEARS. But instead of lowering Americans’ healthcare costs, Hegseth used millions of taxpayer dollars on fruit baskets, Herman Miller recliners, ice cream machines, Alaskan King Crabs, and a Steinway & Sons grand piano,” he wrote. “A true grifter in every sense of the word.”
Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, a New Mexico Democrat, also responded to the report and said she intended to open an investigation.
In addition to billions of taxpayer dollars being burned in this war in Iran, reports are showing that Sec. Pete Hegseth blew $93 billion in federal DOD funding at the end of last year on:
$3.5 billion for cable TV
$225 million for furniture
$15.1 million for ribeye steaks
$6.9…— Rep. Melanie Stansbury (@Rep_Stansbury) March 10, 2026
“In addition to billions of taxpayer dollars being burned in this war in Iran, reports are showing that Sec. Pete Hegseth blew $93 billion in federal DOD funding at the end of last year,” she wrote on social media before listing his various expenditures. “You better believe we’ll be investigating.”
The Department of Defense has been contacted for comment.