Washington, D.C. – Taxpayers for Common Sense has released a new report titled, “Political Footprint of the Military Industry.” This report documents trends in political contributions and lobbying expenditures by the military industry over the past 25 years and reveals the significant number of “revolving door” lobbyists—those previously employed in federal agencies, congressional offices, or committees—now working for the industry. The report argues that this political influence has enabled the military industry to secure taxpayer-funded bailouts for expenses other sectors typically bear themselves, as well as congressional budget increases for projects the Pentagon did not request.

“The military industry has a huge amount of influence in shaping the Pentagon budget, and believe it or not, its interests don’t always align with the national interest,” said Taxpayers for Common Sense President Steve Ellis. “It’s incumbent on policymakers to assess industry proposals with clear eyes and several grains of salt rather than blind deference and blank checks.”

The report highlights examples of taxpayer-funded bailouts responding to inflation, production challenges, and workforce development struggles—expenses that most industries have to cover on their own. It also shows that companies pushing for these bailouts have been cashing in, buying back their own stocks to boost shareholder profits and executive compensation packages while turning to taxpayers for financial support.

Alongside these bailouts, lawmakers have proposed some 1,500 program increases to the Pentagon’s FY2025 budget for Procurement and Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E), 72 percent of which were for projects the Pentagon did not seek any funding for.

“Each year, Congress adds hundreds of program increases to the Pentagon budget for projects the Pentagon didn’t fund at all in its budget request,” said Ellis. “Lawmakers aren’t pulling these unrequested projects out of thin air. They’re getting them from Pentagon contractors that often work in their districts and fund their campaigns.”

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Taxpayers for Common Sense is a nonpartisan budget watchdog calling out wasteful spending and advocating for transparency.