Late‑Night Hosts Roast Pentagon’s Luxury Food Spending Linked to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
This week, late-night TV shows focused on the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issue caused by a government watchdog report revealing millions spent on luxury food and equipment by the Pentagon. Comedians used their nightly shows to criticize excessive purchases made before a major government shutdown that harmed hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
A report released earlier this month by OpenTheBooks evaluated government expenditure data and showed how the Department of Defense used their budget in September 2025. The Pentagon spent a significant amount on luxury food and hospitality goods in the last month of the fiscal year, according per the report.
Major expenses were $1 million for salmon, $2 million for Alaskan king crab, $6.9 million for lobster tail, and $15 million for ribeye steak. The study revealed unexpected purchases such as $12,540 for fruit basket stands, $139,224 for donuts, $124,000 for ice-cream machines, and $26,000 for sushi tables. The research also noted $60,719 for Herman Miller office chairs and $315,200 for iPads.
These purchases were made before the October 2025 government shutdown, when 670,000 Department of Defense employees were furloughed. The pricey purchases and furloughs sparked TV and social media debate.
During his monologue on “The Late Show,” Stephen Colbert joked about a “shellfish splurge.” Colbert joked on the huge seafood and steak purchases. He also joked about buying fruit basket stands, saying they were more complex than office supplies.
In the episode, Colbert noted that the war in Iran has cost billions of dollars and highlighted another example of government expenditures under examination. Much of the feedback was humorous, but it showed increased public interest in how government agencies manage enormous budgets.
The same night, Jimmy Kimmel mentioned the report. One late-night comedian joked about the Department of Defense buying a lot of expensive cuisine after reviewing spending figures. Kimmel also joked about the fruit basket stand purchase vs the administration’s military-strength message.
The Pentagon routinely increases expenditure in September because federal agencies must use assigned monies before the fiscal year closes, according to OpenTheBooks. The money must be used or agencies risk losing it in future budgets. This system is known as “use-it-or-lose-it” spending.
The investigation found that September 2025 Defense grants and contracts cost $93.4 billion. The watchdog group said that was the most spending in a month since 2008. The Pentagon released $50.1 billion in grants and contracts in the last five days of the month, the report said.
The budget estimate comes as the administration considers asking Congress for $50 billion more for the Iran conflict. Lawmakers from both parties have opposed that notion, especially since polls show most Americans oppose expanding the conflict.
Washington debates government budgeting due to the disparity between substantial defense spending requests and luxury purchases. Critics say such spending appears excessive, especially during federal worker furloughs or budget uncertainty.
Late-night commentary on the problem generated worries about fiscal accountability among policy analysts and lawmakers, notwithstanding its comic approach. Federal spending patterns are monitored by watchdog groups, especially in the last weeks of the fiscal year when agencies rush to use leftover funds.
Government spending decisions can swiftly migrate from budget reports to the national limelight, especially when they include huge sums and unique acquisitions. A financial study became a topic of public controversy and late-night TV humor.
For many, the controversy highlights the larger debate over transparency, oversight, and how federal agencies allocate taxpayer resources in a system with hundreds of billions of dollars.
Sources
OpenTheBooks
U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Congress
