The United States Department of Defense, commonly known as the Pentagon, reportedly spent tens of billions of dollars in the final weeks of the 2025 fiscal year after being left with roughly $93 billion in unused funds.
According to watchdog group Open the Books, the agency rushed to spend large portions of its remaining budget on a wide range of purchases, including seafood, technology products, furniture, and musical instruments.
The spending surge has sparked debate in Washington over how federal agencies manage large budgets and whether the current system encourages wasteful last-minute purchases.
Why the Pentagon had to spend $93 billion before the deadline
The spending spree stems from a long-standing rule in the US federal budgeting process known as the “use it or lose it” principle.
Under this system, government agencies must spend their allocated funds within the fiscal year. If they fail to do so, the remaining money returns to the Treasury, and the agency risks receiving a smaller budget the following year.
The US fiscal year ends on September 30, which often triggers a surge in spending across federal departments.
In fiscal year 2025, the Pentagon’s total budget was about $849.8 billion, making it the largest budget of any US government agency.
When the fiscal year approached its end, roughly $93 billion of that allocation remained unspent.
Instead of returning the funds, officials accelerated procurement and purchases across various departments.
A surge of spending in the final days of the fiscal year
Data cited by Open the Books suggests the United States Department of Defense dramatically increased spending in the final days before the deadline.
More than $50 billion was reportedly spent during the last five working days of September 2025 alone.
That surge made September the single highest spending month of the year for the Pentagon.
Analysts say such spikes are common across federal agencies, but the scale of this one has drawn particular attention because of the size of the defense budget.
What the Pentagon reportedly spent the money on
Among the most widely discussed purchases were large quantities of food and catering supplies.
Reported spending included:
• $2 million on Alaskan king crab
• $15.1 million on ribeye steaks
• $6.9 million on lobster tails
• $1 million on salmon
• $26,000 on sushi preparation tables
Desserts and kitchen equipment were also reportedly included in the spending surge.
The Pentagon spent:
• $124,000 on ice cream machines
• $139,224 on doughnuts
While food purchases are common for military bases, critics argue the scale and timing of the spending raised questions about budget discipline.
Technology purchases and Apple products
The Pentagon also spent billions on technology and communications equipment.
According to reports, roughly $5.9 billion went toward technology purchases.
Among those purchases were products from Apple, totaling about $5.3 million.
These purchases included approximately 400 new iPads, costing more than $315,000.
Technology upgrades are common in government agencies, but critics argue the timing suggests the purchases were accelerated to meet the fiscal deadline.
The more unusual purchases are drawing attention
Beyond food and technology, several purchases have drawn public scrutiny because they appear unrelated to defense operations.
These reportedly include:
• A Steinway & Sons grand piano placed at the residence of the Air Force chief of staff
• A custom flute built by Muramatsu valued at $21,750
• $3,160 spent on stickers featuring children’s shows like PAW Patrol and Dora the Explorer
The Pentagon also reportedly spent heavily on furniture purchases.
More than $225 million was spent on furniture in September alone, including Herman Miller chairs worth tens of thousands of dollars.
A portion of the spending reportedly went to foreign companies, totaling about $6.6 billion.
Political reaction to the spending
The spending reports quickly sparked criticism from several political leaders.
Among them was Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, who criticized the purchases on social media.
He accused Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, of allowing taxpayer funds to be spent on luxury items instead of addressing domestic priorities such as healthcare costs.
Supporters of defense spending argue that the Pentagon’s budget supports a vast global military infrastructure, and that many purchases categorized as unusual may serve logistical or ceremonial purposes.
However, critics say the situation illustrates deeper problems in how federal budgets are structured.
Why the “use it or lose it” system is controversial
Budget experts have long debated whether the federal spending structure encourages inefficient behavior.
Because agencies risk future funding cuts if they return unused money, they often rush to spend remaining funds before the fiscal year ends.
Critics say the system creates several problems:
• Incentives to spend quickly rather than strategically
• Purchases made without long-term planning
• Limited accountability for last-minute spending decisions
Some policymakers have proposed reforms that would allow agencies to carry forward unspent funds into the next fiscal year.
Supporters of that approach argue it would encourage more responsible budgeting.
How unusual is this level of spending?
While end-of-year spending spikes are common across federal agencies, the Pentagon’s scale is unmatched due to its massive budget.
According to watchdog analysis, the United States Department of Defense spent about $79.1 billion in September 2024.
The 2025 figure rose to roughly $93 billion, representing an increase of about 18 percent.
Because defense spending represents one of the largest categories in the US federal budget, even small percentage increases translate into tens of billions of dollars.
TL;DR
The United States Department of Defense reportedly rushed to spend about $93 billion before the fiscal year deadline due to the federal government’s “use it or lose it” budgeting rule. According to watchdog Open the Books, the spending included millions on seafood, steaks, technology, furniture, and even a Steinway & Sons grand piano. The surge has sparked criticism from politicians like Chuck Schumer and renewed debate over whether the federal budgeting system encourages wasteful last-minute spending.
