Wasting Billions: The Truth About Pentagon Spending DOGE Won’t Tell You
The Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) initial findings on wasteful spending at the Department of Defense (DOD) have identified $80 million in programs deemed “non-essential” to the military’s core mission. Among the cuts are diversity and inclusion initiatives, academic research partnerships, and climate-related studies. However, while these line items may be easy political targets, they represent a fraction of the real costs that exists within the Pentagon’s bloated budget.
If the goal is truly to trim the fat and preserve the muscle, DOGE should look beyond ideological cuts and focus on the documented areas of wasteful defense spending—where billions, not just millions, are squandered.
Below are the real areas where meaningful cuts should be made to ensure the DOD is both fiscally responsible and mission-ready.
1. The F-35 Program: A $1.7 Trillion Disaster
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has become the poster child of Pentagon waste. Originally projected to cost around $200 billion, the full lifetime cost of the program has ballooned to an astronomical $1.7 trillion. Despite this, the aircraft has suffered from major technical failures, including engine problems, software malfunctions, and an inability to operate effectively in combat scenarios.
Where DOGE Should Cut:
- Reduce F-35 procurement and invest in upgraded versions of proven aircraft like the F-15EX and F/A-18 Super Hornet.
- Shift resources toward unmanned aerial systems and modernizing existing platforms that are more cost-effective and reliable.
Potential Savings: Up to $10 billion annually in reduced F-35 sustainment costs.
2. The Bloated Nuclear Weapons Budget
While deterrence remains a key aspect of national defense, the U.S. is overspending on nuclear modernization in ways that go beyond strategic necessity. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the U.S. will spend $756 billion over the next 10 years on nuclear weapons programs, including an unnecessary replacement of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Where DOGE Should Cut:
- Cancel the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program, a $264 billion replacement for the Minuteman III ICBMs that many defense experts argue is unnecessary.
- Reduce the planned fleet of Columbia-class nuclear submarines, each costing $9 billion, and maintain a more strategic nuclear posture.
Potential Savings: Up to $20 billion per year.
3. Excessive Overseas Military Bases
The U.S. maintains around 750 military bases in more than 80 countries, many of which no longer serve a clear strategic purpose. The annual cost of maintaining these bases runs into the tens of billions of dollars, with massive spending going toward outdated Cold War-era deployments.
Where DOGE Should Cut:
- Close or consolidate bases in countries where U.S. presence is redundant (e.g., multiple bases in Germany, Japan, and South Korea).
- Reallocate resources toward forward-operating concepts that reduce permanent overseas footprints while maintaining rapid response capabilities.
Potential Savings: $10 billion to $15 billion annually.
4. Overpriced Private Military Contractors
The DOD increasingly relies on private contractors for everything from logistics to intelligence analysis, often paying them three to five times more than what it would cost to use military personnel or civilian employees. Reports show that contractor spending reached $400 billion in 2022 alone—nearly half of the entire defense budget.
Where DOGE Should Cut:
- Reduce dependency on high-cost private security and logistics firms, such as Halliburton and Lockheed Martin subsidiaries.
- Shift mission-support roles back to federal employees and military personnel where possible.
Potential Savings: $20 billion per year.
5. Pentagon Audit Failures and Financial Black Holes
Despite having a budget exceeding $850 billion, the Pentagon has never passed a full audit. In its most recent audit attempt in 2024, the DOD failed for the seventh consecutive year, unable to account for more than half of its assets. This rampant lack of oversight means billions of taxpayer dollars simply go missing every year.
Where DOGE Should Cut:
- Implement strict financial accountability measures, including independent oversight of procurement and supply chain management.
- Halt new major weapons contracts until past spending can be accounted for.
Potential Savings: $5 billion to $10 billion annually from fraud, waste, and mismanagement.
The Bottom Line: Real Defense Reform vs. Political Optics
While DOGE has pointed to $80 million in spending as a distraction from the Pentagon’s core mission, these cuts pale in comparison to the hundreds of billions of dollars wasted on outdated weapons programs, unnecessary bases, overpriced contractors, and financial mismanagement.
If the goal is truly to make the U.S. military more accountable, and effective, then the focus should be on big-ticket waste, not ideological pet projects. Cutting funding for research partnerships and diversity initiatives may make for good soundbites, but eliminating a few million dollars in spending does little when the real sources of waste amount to tens of billions every year.
Instead of performative budget trimming, DOGE should take real action by demanding:
✅ A full-scale audit and financial accountability reforms
✅ A reassessment of failing weapons programs like the F-35
✅ A responsible reduction in the nuclear weapons budget
✅ A streamlined overseas military footprint
✅ A shift away from wasteful contractor spending
Until the DOD addresses these fundamental sources of inefficiency, American taxpayers will continue to foot the bill for a military-industrial complex that prioritizes contractor profits over genuine national security needs. If DOGE is serious about eliminating waste, it should start where the real money is being lost.
What the defense budget could buy?
