Part 8/11:
Musk’s Doge is pushing for efficiency, criticizing costly programs like the F-35 stealth fighter, which has faced criticism for well over a trillion dollars in overruns. While these proposals promise to optimize military spending, they face stiff opposition from lawmakers who rely on defense contracts that generate significant employment across numerous states—most notably the F-35 program, which is spread over 48 states.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed support for these initiatives, emphasizing the importance of rooting out waste and inefficiency. Nonetheless, asymmetric opposition from defense contractors, lobbyists, and congressional districts makes budget reductions politically sensitive.