The Pentagon’s recent audit revealed continued financial struggles, with the Air Force under scrutiny for wasteful spending. In 2018, a congressional investigation found the Air Force spent excessive amounts replacing coffee cups with broken handles instead of repairing them, which led to criticism from Senator Chuck Grassley. In response, the Air Force acknowledged halting the purchase of these cups,
Additionally, a 2024 audit revealed the Air Force overpaid $1 million for soap dispensers and replacement parts for its C-17 transport planes, with Boeing accused of charging nearly 8,000% more than necessary. Boeing disputed the findings, stating their prices met aircraft specifications.These financial issues sparked public outrage, with figures like Trump calling the department wasteful and inefficient, as part of a larger effort to cut costs and address fraud.