Pentagon Spent $1B Meant For COVID-19 PPE On Body Armor & Jet Engines
Per The Washington Post, the Pentagon frivolously used taxpayer money meant for COVID-19 PPE (personal protection equipment: masks, gloves, etc.) on body armor and jet engines.
Shortly after Congress passed the Cares Act, and via the Defense Production Act — which was to “prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus — the Defense Department began reallocating the pandemic-related funding to defense contractors, who were already benefiting off of the Paycheck Protection Program.
RELATED: Trump Ousts Inspector General Who Oversees $2 Trillion Stimulus Package
While breaking down how the funding was spent, the WaPo says, $183 million went to firms like Rolls-Royce and ArcelorMittal to maintain the shipbuilding industry; tens of millions were used for satellite, drone and space surveillance technology; $80 million used for a Kansas aircraft parts business hurt from the Boeing 737 Max grounding and global travel slowdown; and $2 million sent to domestic manufactures of Army dress uniform fabric.
Moreover, as Congress continues to negotiate passing another stimulus package, the Pentagon and its defense contractors are reportedly requesting an additional $11 billion on the second go-round.
RELATED: Appeals Court Confirms Trump Illegally Used Funds For US-Mexico Border Wall