Killing Last Year’s Defense Budget with Only Months Left

Hegseth’s Department of Defense budget increases by $440.9 billion in planned expenditures. More likely than not, more deficit spending on something which will be obsolete in the near future as technology will outrun that version of Defense technology. We shall see,

The reasoning for this budget?

“For many years, defense spending has prioritized maintenance of aging equipment over investment in next-generation procurement and research and development. The FY 2027 budget breaks this paradigm and directs more than half of the total request into these investment accounts, which exceeds even the Reagan Era buildup. These generational investments will not only rebuild our military of today, but also produce the new capabilities that will prevent, or if necessary win, the next great war.”

There is no great in war. There is anger, loss, and cost beyond what it could create in prosperity for citizens. As the old economic saying goes . . . “guns or butter.” The New Republic (March 2026) itemized some of the spending the War Defense Department indulged in recently. What happened with last year’s remaining budget.

Other Expenditures?

A quick run down by Angry Bear using The New Republic’s documentation.

Hegseth spent the last budget as quickly as he could. “The Defense Department burned through $93 billion September, signing checks left and right. This was done in order to dry up its congressionally allocated budget. (recent analysis by the government watchdog Open the Books). Just a few items.

Money spent on food while millions of citizens lost SNAP benefits during the shutdown. Millions will also permanently lose SNAP benefits due to stricter work requirements to the program, piling on paperwork and documentation mandates.

Hegseth did need new furniture for the office. The bulk expenditures was $225 million for furniture. ~$12,000 for fruit basket stands, and checks totaling $60,000+ for Herman Miller recliners. The last five days of September? DoD blew through $50.1 billion on just grants and contracts. Other countries spend that much on the entirety of their defense budget per year.