At least 15 lawmakers, who hold influential positions on two committees of the House of Representatives and the US Senate, as well as control Washington’s military policy, are associated with prominent defense contractors, writes Business Insider.
“Throughout 2021, both Democrats and Republicans on the Armed Services Committees of Congress continued to invest in or withdraw money from the most important players in the military and defense industry,” the newspaper said.
The annual financial statements cited weapons manufacturers and defense technology developers such as Lockheed Martin Corp., Boeing Co., Raytheon Technologies Corp., Honeywell & General Electric. These are all companies that also spend millions of dollars annually lobbying the federal government to nudge elected officials, shape policy and win lucrative government contracts, Insider said.
“Legislators whose investments depend on the well-being of defense contractors – some of them in excess of five figures – include seasoned Capitol Hill veterans and newcomers from Washington. Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed its version of the nearly $770 billion national defense authorization bill. Now he is awaiting a vote in the Senate and the signature of the US President”, the journalists said.
Dylan Hedtler-Godett, government relations manager for a nonpartisan government oversight project, emphasized that there is significant value to be gained from the bill by investing in any of the leading defense contractors.
“That’s why every year you see an increase in the Pentagon’s spending budget. At worst, it is a sign of blatant corruption. At best, it distracts – even for well-meaning politicians from the work they really have to do: pass laws and exercise oversight”, he concluded.