By Isabelle Khurshudyan, CNN
(CNN) – In September, the Pentagon’s spending included nearly $9 million on Alaskan king crab and lobster tails, over $200 million on furniture, and $5.3 million on Apple devices – just a few examples of expenses that totaled a record-breaking $93 billion for the month, according to new analysis from government watchdog Open the Books.
Government agencies typically see their spending surge in September since it’s the end of the fiscal year. This is when “use it or lose it” funding rules come into play for departments eager to spend what’s left in their budget so they don’t have to return unspent money to the Treasury Department.
According to Open the Books, no federal agency has ever spent as much on grants and contracts in one month as the Pentagon did with $93.4 billion in September 2025. More than half of this was spent during the last five working days of that month, the watchdog noted.
This pricey month comes as President Donald Trump has focused on reducing government expenditures during his second term while also calling for significant increases to the Pentagon’s budget. In January, he stated that he wants the budget for fiscal year 2027 to be $1.5 trillion – roughly a 50% increase.
“This will allow us to build the ‘Dream Military’ that we have long been entitled to and, more importantly, that will keep us SAFE and SECURE, regardless of foe,” Trump said.
The spending in September 2025 featured a record-setting $6.6 billion on purchases from foreign governments and foreign-owned businesses, exceeding the previous high of $5.2 billion recorded in September 2023.
The funds used for shellfish and steak – which included over $15 million spent on ribeye steaks according to Open the Books – were likely intended for troops deployed ahead of ongoing operations in Iran, experts suggested.
“These are not for parties for (Secretary Pete) Hegseth and his buddies,” said Jerry Mc Ginn, director of the Center for Industrial Base at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.
“You’re doing something nice for the troops,” Mc Ginn added.
Often referred to as a “surf and turf” meal, it’s a tradition within military culture symbolizing preparation before deployments or combat missions. The food items purchased in September are also meant to cover holiday meals such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day for service members who are deployed during those times.
The steak-and-lobster dinners serve as an appreciation gesture towards troops. When asked if serving lobster during deployments helped boost morale, one retired Army officer with multiple combat tours told CNN, “I mean, it’s always disgusting, but I guess.”
Apart from furniture costs totaling $225.6 million – which typically spike every September regardless of administration according to Open the Books – musical instruments accounted for another $1.8 million in expenditures. This included a grand piano from Steinway & Sons costing $98,329 meant for Air Force Chief of Staff’s home along with a violin priced at $26,000 and a custom handmade flute from luxury Japanese brand Muramatsu worth $21,750.
Mc Ginn explained that government agencies usually plan bulk orders of furniture and tech gear for September so they can use up remaining budgets adding “this is not uncommon.”
Since much of 2025 saw Department of Defense operating under a continuing resolution-a temporary funding measure maintaining last year’s budget levels until approval comes through-it likely limited some Pentagon expenditures early in the year resulting in leftover funds being available later on during 2025 according to Mc Ginn.
CNN’s Haley Britzky contributed to this report.
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