Fact Check: Did Pete Hegseth Spend $20M of Taxpayer Money on Steak and Lobster Dinners for US Troops?

A viral claim has recently drawn attention within political and media circles, alleging that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth spent $20 million (approximately £15 million) in taxpayer money on steak and lobster dinners for US troops. According to a government watchdog, the numbers being cited are real, but the way they've been presented has led to confusion.

The claim stems from a watchdog report examining Pentagon spending patterns, which was later amplified during a heated CNN TV debate, where it was emphasised that Hegseth allegedly spent it all on himself. The moment has raised questions about what was actually purchased, who it was for, and how the money was spent.

Where the $20 Million Figure Comes From

The figure traces back to a March 2026 report by OpenTheBooks, which analysed Department of Defence spending at the end of the 2025 fiscal year.

According to the report, the Pentagon spent about $15.1 million (approximately £11.3 million) on ribeye steak and $6.9 million (approximately £5.2 million) on lobster tail in September alone, bringing the combined total to roughly $22 million (approximately £16 million) in just one month.

That spending happened during what's commonly referred to as a 'use-it-or-lose-it' period, when federal agencies rush to allocate remaining funds before budgets reset.

In total, the Defence Department obligated a record $93.4 billion (approximately £70 billion) in contracts and grants that month, with nearly half of it spent in the final days.

What Did CNN Claim On-Air

The numbers gained wider attention after a CNN segment featuring commentator Paul Begala criticised the scale of the spending and suggested it was excessive. During the exchange, he framed the purchases as if they were being used by Hegseth personally, a claim that was immediately challenged by another panellist.

However, clips from that discussion circulated quickly online, often without the pushback included, helping fuel the idea that the spending was tied directly to the Defence Secretary rather than the department as a whole.

What The Spending Actually Covered

Available data does not show that Pete Hegseth personally used or directed the meals. According to reports, the purchases were made through standard Pentagon procurement systems and were understood to be part of broader food supply orders for military dining facilities.

The watchdog report itself questioned the scale and timing of the spending but did not claim the food was intended for leadership or personal use.

US Troops Come Up With Receipts

Service members have since offered a clearer picture of how the food was actually used. According to reports, photos shared from dining facilities show steak and lobster served in a standard, cafeteria-style setting rather than anything resembling high-end dining.

Some described the meals as occasional morale boosts, particularly during periods of long hours or ahead of potential deployments.

Others noted that such meals are not unusual and have been part of military tradition for years, especially during high-tempo operations.

'We're not crushing lobster tails and Delmonicos Tony Soprano–style here and passing the bill off to the American public—they're not even that good to begin with,' a service member told The Daily Mail.

The timing also lines up with heightened military activity involving Iran, when troops were preparing for or engaged in extended operations.

What the data shows is a snapshot of how the Pentagon allocates funds at the end of a fiscal year, a process that has faced scrutiny for years. As of now, the White House has yet to comment on the watchdog report or provide further clarification regarding the numbers.