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Pentagon Slashes Over $580 Million In Wasteful Spending: Hegseth
Charlie Kirk Staff
03/21/2025
The Department of Defense has announced major budget cuts, eliminating over $580 million in contracts deemed unnecessary. The move is part of an ongoing effort to reduce wasteful spending, spearheaded by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in collaboration with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
On Thursday, Hegseth provided an update on the initiative, stating, “We’re back with another quick update on our efforts to cut wasteful spending and cut it quickly at the Department of Defense so we get the dollars to the things that the war fighters need. So today I’m signing a memo directing the termination of over $580 million in DoD contracts, in grants that do not match the priorities of this president or this department.”
He further emphasized the importance of responsible budgeting, saying, “In other words, they are not a good use of taxpayer dollars. Ultimately, that’s who funds us. We owe you transparency and making sure we’re using it well.” Hegseth then broke down the specific contracts being cut, explaining the reasoning behind each decision.
Among the programs being terminated is an HR software project that was originally planned to take one year and cost $36 million but has instead dragged on for eight years, now exceeding its budget by $280 million—an increase of 780 percent. “We’re not doing that anymore,” Hegseth stated firmly.
Another $360 million in Department of Defense grants is being cut. Hegseth highlighted some of the specific programs affected, including $6 million earmarked for “decarbonizing emissions from Navy ships,” which he criticized as part of the “Obama-Biden green agenda.” Additionally, a $5.2 million DEI program and a $9 million university research project focused on “equitable AI and machine learning models” have been eliminated. “I need lethal machine learning models, not equitable machine learning models,” Hegseth remarked.
Further cuts include $30 million in spending on consulting firms, specifically McKinsey & Co. and Gartner Consulting, reports The Hill.
“Total cuts, running total $800 million in wasteful spending canceled over the first few weeks as DoD partners with DOGE here to make sure that our war fighters have what they need by cutting the waste, fraud, and abuse,” Hegseth said. He concluded his remarks by assuring that more budget reductions are on the way as part of the department’s ongoing efforts to prioritize military readiness over bureaucratic inefficiencies.
