Hegseth Spent $93 Billion in One Month. Here’s What That Money Could Have Done for Americans

How Pentagon Spending Could Have Helped Veterans, Children, and Families Instead

In September 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense spent roughly $93 billion in a single month, much of it in the final weeks of the fiscal year as agencies rushed to use funds before the “use-it-or-lose-it” deadline.

Amongst the spend, watchdog analyses found millions of dollars directed toward items such as lobster tail, ribeye steak, crab legs, high-end furniture, Apple devices, and luxury musical instruments.

Examples included:

• $15.1 million on ribeye steak

• $6.9 million on lobster tails

• $2 million on Alaskan king crab

• $124,000 on ice cream machines

• $139,224 on donuts

• $5.3 million on Apple devices

• $98,329 Steinway grand piano

• $225 million on furniture

• $12,540 fruit basket stands

This kind of decadent spending comes at a time when millions of Americans are skipping meals just to be able to afford to live. Redirecting those funds could have made a meaningful difference for families in need and strengthened communities here at home.

Below are examples of how the same funds could have been used to support Americans. 

1. Healthcare for Millions of Americans

In a recent survey, roughly one third of Americans (equivalent to 82 million people) said they have had to cut back on at least one daily living expense to cover their health care bills. Instead of lavish steak and lobster dinners for top brass, $93 billion could have dramatically expanded access to healthcare for millions. 

For example, that amount could have funded:

• Health coverage for millions of uninsured Americans

• 20 years worth of funding for Community Health Centers

• Subsidies to reduce insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act

To put it in perspective, $93 billion is roughly comparable to several years of expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies, which lower healthcare costs for millions of families.

2. Ending Veteran Homelessness Nationwide

Veterans remain one of the most visible populations facing housing instability.

With $93 billion, the federal government could have supported the veterans who fought for our country by:

• Fully funded the VA’s program veteran homelessness budget for nearly 30 years

• Expanded VA mental health services and PTSD treatment

• Eliminated waiting lists for VA disability claims

• Built thousands of supportive housing units for veterans and their families

Even a small portion of that amount — just $3 billion — would double the VA’s budget for fighting veteran homelessness. But instead, the top brass ate steak and lobster while those who served our country are living on the streets.

3. Feeding American Families

Millions of Americans, including 13 million children, rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to put food on the table. The Trump administration has cut $9 billion from the program this year alone. 

Redirecting $93 billion could have:

• Funded SNAP for nearly an entire year

• Funded free school meals for every child in America for four years

• Provided over 900 billion meals for Americans

1 in 5 children in America goes to bed hungry every night. With $93 billion, those kids could have been fed for years.

4. Childcare and Early Education

Childcare costs remain one of the biggest financial burdens for working families.

$93 billion could have funded:

• Universal preschool programs

• Childcare subsidies for working parents

• Early childhood education centers in rural communities

• Fully funded Head Start for over seven years

This would dramatically increase workforce participation and reduce family poverty.

A Broader Question About Federal Spending

The Pentagon’s spending surge was driven in part by a longstanding federal budgeting rule known as “use it or lose it,” which incentivizes agencies to spend their entire budget before the fiscal year ends or risk receiving less funding the following year.

Critics argue that this system encourages unnecessary spending rather than thoughtful investment.

When billions of dollars are spent in a rush at the end of the fiscal year, the opportunity cost becomes stark: every dollar spent on luxury purchases is a dollar not spent on healthcare, housing, food assistance, or support for veterans and families.

The Real Cost of Opportunity

The $93 billion spent by Pete Hegseth in a single month represents more than a budget line item.

It represents:

• Healthcare coverage that could have reached millions

• Homes that could have sheltered veterans

• Food that could have kept our children from starving

• Mental health care that could have saved lives

In a nation where millions still struggle with housing, healthcare costs, and food insecurity, the debate over how federal dollars are spent is not just about budgets.

It is about priorities.