Democrats decry move by Pentagon to pause $800 million in nearly done software projects
The reason for the move was an effort by some officials at the services to steer new projects to companies like Salesforce (CRM.N), opens new tab and Palantir (PLTR.O), opens new tab, in what could amount to a costly do-over.
'The Pentagon has yet to show that it had a good reason for halting these contracts in the last inning and scrapping work American tax dollars have already paid for," Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said in an emailed statement. "If it can't show its homework, then this announcement - just days after Palantir's CEO spoke at Mike Johnson's Wyoming donor retreat - reeks of corruption.'
Punchbowl reported earlier this month that Palantir CEO Alex Karp planned to address Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson's annual big-donor retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
The Pentagon and Air Force did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Navy declined to comment.
Trump officials say the administration is striving to make the contracting process more efficient. Trump took office vowing to rid the government of what he calls waste and abuse. The website of the Department of Government Efficiency, the agency he created to spearhead those efforts, lists over $14 billion in Defense Department contracts it claims to have canceled.
But seven months into his presidency, some of his own actions have complicated DOGE's work, from firing the Pentagon's inspector general to issuing an executive order prioritizing speed and risk-taking in defense acquisitions.
'If you're serious about cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse, the last thing you'd do is cancel $800 million in projects that are nearly ready to roll out just to turn around and steer the same work to corporations of your choosing," said Democratic Representative Maggie Goodlander, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee and served as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve for over a decade.
"This maneuver is an insult to taxpayers and servicemembers across America," she added.
Salud Carbajal, another House Democrat who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, said the behavior was part of a pattern of waste at the Pentagon under Trump.
'I understand that our military's acquisition and procurement processes aren't flawless, but this administration has repeatedly shown a blatant disregard for the responsible use of taxpayer dollars,' said Carbajal.
'From lavish military parades to unnecessary troop deployments in Los Angeles, President Trump has used our armed forces to inflate his own ego and enrich his allies," he said, adding that he would continue to call out mismanagement and press for accountability.
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The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
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The Guardian
17 minutes ago
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Daily Mail
34 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
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Yesterday, President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: 'The best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up. 'President Zelensky will be coming to [Washington] DC, the Oval Office, on Monday afternoon. If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with president Putin.' Writing on his Truth Social platform, the US president said: 'The best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a peace agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere ceasefire agreement, which often times do not hold up.' Following the summit, Dr Neil Melvin, director of international security at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), said: 'Vladimir Putin came to the Alaska summit with the principal goal of stalling any pressure on Russia to end the war. 'He will consider the summit outcome as mission accomplished.' 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He said: 'He will be asked to put his head in a vice, with Vladimir Putin pushing from one side and Donald Trump from the other. 'The Ukrainian president will be presented with a 'take it or leave it' deal: surrender territory to Russia or face the blame for wrecking peace. 'And if Mr Zelensky refuses, Trump will walk away, declaring that America is done with the talks. 'It's the classic gangster deal – one you can't refuse. Except he must.' Mr Johnson, writing in today's MoS, describes the summit as 'the most vomit-inducing episode in all the tawdry history of international diplomacy'. He says: 'Imagine how it felt to be one of those embattled heroes in a dug-out near Pokrovsk, fighting for your country's freedom, and to hear the President of the United States – the ex officio team captain of the Free World – refer to Vladimir Putin as 'the boss'. Retch. 'Think of the tens of thousands of Ukrainian widows and orphans. 'Think of the maimed and mutilated; think of the Ukrainian civilians living in daily and nightly terror of Putin's bombs and missiles still raining down, even though the so-called negotiations were taking place in Alaska.' But he adds: 'Like so many of the most objectionable pieces of historic diplomacy, that meeting was also, of course, justifiable and even essential. 'Puke-making though it was, Trump was right to try. He was right to meet Putin, because if millions of Ukrainians were watching with horror at the red-carpet rehabilitation of the Russian tyrant, they were also watching with hope... One day this war will end with a peace that protects Ukrainian freedom; but as Trump said in Alaska, the Europeans – led by Britain – will have to step up.' The proposed deal was greeted with dismay in Ukraine. Volodymyr Dubovyk, a professor of international relations in Odesa, described it as 'a nothing-burger with a sour aftertaste'. He said: 'As a Ukrainian, it was pretty disgusting to see what was going on, all this red carpet, all this clapping and smiles and being chummy.' Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a long-time ally of Trump, said of the US President: 'At least he is trying to find peace.' But former Tory defence secretary Ben Wallace hit out at the 1980's-style 'pantomime' of the summit between the two leaders. He said: 'Putin got what he wanted and I think President Trump got a trip to Alaska.'
