A friend who used to work in the Pentagon told me about the end of year budget meetings he had to attend. There, military personnel would frantically brainstorm ideas on how to spend the rest of their budgets. If they didn’t spend every cent, next year’s budget would be cut.

“Popcorn makers?” someone suggested. “Or perhaps some sort of group outings, to an event or a show.”

“Why don’t we return the extra money, since we clearly don’t need it,” my friend suggested.

The way he tells it, the tension in the room was palpable. Who was this asshole suggesting that they don’t use their entire budget?

I can’t remember what they decided to spend the money on. But they definitely used it. He said he would often come across unused equipment in the Pentagon that seemed out of place… and conclude that it must have been to eat up budget surpluses.

This anecdote shouldn’t be surprising. The military only seems to pinch pennies when it comes to taking caring of veterans who have sacrificed their physical and mental health for the Pentagon.