Pentagon's 'Review' Is a Ritual, Not a Reckoning
THE ACTORS: Who runs the show? The Pentagon: Ostensibly the oversight body, but its leadership often rotates into lucrative positions within the defense industry post-service. This revolving door creates an undeniable conflict of interest. Defense Contractors (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon Technologies, Northrop Grumman): The beneficiaries of astronomical, often cost-plus contracts. They
have outsized lobbying power and directly fund political campaigns. Congressional Armed Services Committees: Key arbiters of defense spending, many members receive significant campaign contributions from defense PACs and executives. THE FUNDING: A guaranteed stream The U.S. defense budget for fiscal year 2021 was a staggering $740 billion. A substantial portion of this, estimated at over half,
flows directly to private contractors. For instance, in 2020, the Pentagon spent $427 billion on contracts. Defense contractors are among the largest corporate donors to political campaigns. For example, Lockheed Martin alone spent over $13 million on lobbying in 2021 and contributed millions to candidates across both parties (OpenSecrets, 2021). This ensures that regardless of performance issues,
the funding spigot remains open. The 'cost-plus' contract model, prevalent in defense, guarantees a profit margin for contractors even as project costs balloon – effectively rewarding inefficiency. THE INCENTIVES: Why no 'name and shame'? Maintaining the Illusion of Competence: Publicly shaming major contractors would expose systemic failures and raise uncomfortable questions about the budgeting