Pentagon spent $93.4 billion in September 2025: Pete Hegseth faces backlash; calls spending 'completely unacceptable'

A newly released analysis of Department of Defense spending showed that the Pentagon spent $93.4 billion in September 2025 as officials moved to exhaust their budget before the fiscal year deadline, drawing criticism over luxury purchases as the US entered a costly conflict with Iran.

According to a report by government watchdog Open The Books, the Department of Defense used the final month of the 2025 fiscal year to spend its remaining budget to avoid future funding cuts, a practice known as "use-it-or-lose-it". Open The Books called the spending "completely unacceptable," and said the $93 billion total was the highest September spending since at least 2008, Fox Los Angeles reported.




The report said that, beyond $6.9 million, or about Rs 6.9 crore, spent on lobster, the Pentagon also spent $15.1 million, or about Rs 15.1 crore, on ribeye steaks, $2 million, or about Rs 2 crore, on Alaskan king crab, nearly $140,000 on doughnuts, more than $124,000 on ice cream machines, $98,329 on a Steinway and Sons grand piano for an Air Force residence, $225 million, or about Rs 225 crore, on furniture including individual chairs costing nearly $1,900, $12,540 on fruit basket stands, and $5.3 million, or about Rs 5.3 crore, on Apple devices.

The findings drew criticism from across the political spectrum. California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth by posting an AI-generated image of him among steaks and lobster with the caption: "HEGSETH BLOWING $93 BILLION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN 1 MONTH !!"

"Reports are showing that Sec. Pete Hegseth blew $93 billion in federal DOD funding at the end of last year," stated Representative Melanie Stansbury on social media, adding, "You better believe we'll be investigating."

Meanwhile, Congressman Chuck Schumer labelled Hegseth a "grifter," saying the $93 billion could have funded ACA tax credits for three years.

In his defence, Hegseth had said in February 2025 that he welcomed a DOGE review. He told Fox News, "We need to know when we spend dollars, we need to know where they’re going." He also said, "We need to know when we spend dollars, we need to know where they're going."

The timeline in the report said the Pentagon spent more than $7.4 million a month on lobster tails from March to June 2025. The spending spree peaked in September 2025 with $93.4 billion in contracts and grants. On September 30, 2025, the fiscal year ended and the Pentagon exhausted remaining funds to avoid forfeiture. In October 2025, the US-Israel war with Iran began. In March 2026, watchdogs made full details of the luxury spending public, reported Fox Angeles.

Congress was expected to hold hearings on the Pentagon's year-end spending habits. As the war in Iran continued, already costing an estimated $5.6 billion, or about Rs 5.6 crore, in munitions in its first two days, lawmakers were expected to use the spending reports to push for stricter oversight and possible reforms to federal "use-it-or-lose-it" funding rules.