🛡️Defense Secretary's Military Contractor Ties Under Scrutiny

When defense officials have financial ties to contractors, the $816 billion Pentagon budget becomes a source of personal profit rather than national security—historically, this led to disasters like the F-35 fighter jet program that's $183 billion over budget

Ethics rules exist because defense officials previously steered contracts to friends, like Dick Cheney's Halliburton receiving $39.5 billion in no-bid Iraq contracts—your tax dollars should buy the best equipment, not enrich connected insiders

When procurement decisions favor profitable contracts over effective weapons, soldiers die with faulty equipment—like the M16 rifle jamming in Vietnam because contractors cut corners to boost profits

The Pentagon's budget equals the next 10 countries combined, making contractor influence a threat to both fiscal responsibility and national security—citizens must know whether defense decisions serve America or private bank accounts