What to Know
After seeing a report about the Pentagon’s spending, some people are wondering what ever happened to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)? DOGE was supposedly created to cut excess government spending, but according to a new report from government watchdog Open the Books, Pete Hegseth has some pretty lavish spending habits. In September 2025, the Department of Defense reportedly spent $93.4 billion on grants and contracts.
Splurging during the month of September is not unusual due to “use-it-or-lose-it” funding rules. However, that doesn’t exactly explain why Hegseth’s single-month spending is higher than any other agency’s since at least 2008.
Hegseth purchased lobster tail, Alaskan king crab, and a piano, among other things.
‼️‼️ NEW: HEGSETH BLOWS $93 BILLION IN 1 MONTH— BIGGEST MONTHLY EXPENSE SINCE 2008.
— Maine (@TheMaineWonk) March 10, 2026
$225M Furniture
$15.1M Ribeyes
$5.3M Apple Devices
$6.9M lobster
$2M Crab Legs
$98K Grand Piano for staffer’s Home
$12K Fruit Basket Stands
$140K Doughnuts
$124k Ice Cream Machines pic.twitter.com/dXofBe37Ns
His food purchases have garnered a lot of attention online. In September 2025 alone, Hegseth spent $2 million on Alaskan king crab, $6.9 million on lobster tail, $15.1 million on ribeye steak, $1 million on salmon, and $139,224 on donuts. He also bought ice cream machines for $124,000 and sushi preparation tables for $26,000.
The report noted that these types of purchases are not unheard of for the Trump administration, and they’re also not unique to the month of September. Per the report, the Pentagon actually spent at least $2 million on Alaskan king crab three times in 2025. Additionally, he purchased more than $7.4 million worth of lobster tail in March, May, June, and October as well.
He also bought some musical instruments for $1.8 million.
These included a $26,000 violin and a $21,750 custom handmade flute, along with a $98,329 piano for the Air Force chief of staff’s home. Hegseth’s Department of Defense also spent $5.3 million on Apple products and $225.6 on furniture.
On social media, some people were unfazed by the food spending, noting that it seems “pretty commonplace for the military to do before a big deployment like this.” However, they had questions about some of the other purchases, like a piano for someone’s home?
One Redditor noted, “The fact that it was for someone’s personal home, that’s the big question mark.” Someone else wrote, “So glad my taxes are being spent on what matters while I make $10,000 and struggle to survive.” And several people also mentioned DOGE: “Hey DOGE you were looking for government waste.”
Politicians also called Hegseth out for his spending.
Hegseth spent $93 billion in one month – roughly the cost of extending the ACA tax credits for THREE YEARS.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 10, 2026
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
On X, Congressman Mark Pocan wrote, “Pete Hegseth blew through more money at the Pentagon in a month than any single point since the height of the Iraq War. What did he spend our hard-earned tax dollars on? Ribeye, lobster tails, and a $99,000 piano.” He also called it “the definition of waste, fraud, and abuse.”
Congressman Chuck Schumer actually called Hegseth a “grifter” in his own post. “Hegseth spent $93 billion in one month – roughly the cost of extending the ACA tax credits for THREE YEARS,” he wrote. “But instead of lowering American’s 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. A true grifter in every sense of the word.”
And of course, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office also chimed in.
HEGSETH BLOWING $93 BILLION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN 1 MONTH !! pic.twitter.com/L8GmyWQ2bt
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) March 10, 2026
Newsom’s team has been known to mock the Trump administration’s social media strategy. So, unsurprisingly, they shared an AI-generated image of Hegseth lounging around with tons of food, multiple iPads, and a piano. The post was captioned with, “HEGSETH BLOWING $93 BILLION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN 1 MONTH !!”
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