Pentagon under fire for using $1 billion coronavirus fund for weapons contractors

The Pentagon has been slammed for its use of $1 billion fund, meant for the coronavirus pandemic response, for military purposes; in a move that has sparked outrage among Democrats, who described it as a violation of congressional intent.

Late in March, President Donald Trump signed a $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill as his administration was trying to blunt economic destruction from the virus outbreak across the US.

In a report earlier this week, the Washington Post reported that military contractors and the military-industrial complex were awarded "hundreds of millions of dollars from the fund, mostly for projects that have little to do with the coronavirus response.”

The Pentagon claimed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act does not require all the money distributed to be spent on medical resources, according to Pentagon spokesperson Jessica Maxwell.

This is while reports warned earlier this week about “multiple serious consequences” of medical supply shortages amid the pandemic.

'Supply shortages,' US watchdog reports on coronavirus pandemic

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reported "supply shortages" in the US response to the covid-19 pandemic.

The Pentagon received $1.2 billion for the National Guard's coronavirus response through the package.

But firms like Rolls-Royce and ArcelorMittal received $183 million to "maintain the shipbuilding industry" and "tens of millions of dollars" were given for space surveillance, drone and satellite technology, according to the Post.

The report said that some military contractors were given the funds from the Pentagon while they were also tapped into the Paycheck Protection Program, which allocated billions of dollars in forgivable loans to the small businesses amid the health crisis.

Pentagon spokesperson Jessica Maxwell said the CARES Act does not require all the money distributed to be spent on medical resources.

"The Department of Defense is using the $1 billion appropriated by the 'CARES' Act to the Defense Production Act, which made $1B available 'to prepare for, prevent and respond to the coronavirus',” Maxwell said.

The US coronavirus death toll has surpassed 200,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University,

As the country continues to lead the world in both total confirmed cases and fatalities — which are at 6,934,233 and 201,910 respectively — health experts have warned that the US was heading for another wave of infections this fall, especially as flu season emerges.

‘Trump administration exploiting trust of American people’

Democrats have sharply criticized the Pentagon decision, which they say violated congressional intent, with two lawmakers having called for an investigation into the spending.

Senator Bernie Sanders lashed out at the Trump administration, saying that it has “awarded $183 million to companies like Rolls-Royce to build more warships, ️$155 million to Boeing & General Electric for more fighter jets, 10s of millions for more drones.

“All this money was meant to be used for more masks and tests, “he said. “Disgusting”

The Trump administration awarded:

➡️$183 million to companies like Rolls-Royce to build more warships
➡️$155 million to Boeing & General Electric for more fighter jets
➡10s of millions for more drones

All this money was meant to be used for more masks and tests.

Disgusting. https://t.co/6NpdX8XzEF

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 22, 2020

Democratic representative Mark Pocan of Wisconsin and Barbara Lee of California have demanded a formal investigation, challenging the legality of the Pentagon's actions.

US virus deaths top 200k amid warnings current toll ‘tip of the iceberg’

The coronavirus has killed more than 200,000 people across the United States, with health experts saying it is just "the tip of the iceberg."

“Over 200,000 people are dead,” Mark Pocan wrote on Twitter. “But the Pentagon used taxpayer $ to line the pockets of defense contractors instead of producing medical supplies.”

Over 200,000 people are dead.

But the Pentagon used taxpayer $ to line the pockets of defense contractors instead of producing medical supplies.@RepBarbaraLee & I are demanding a Congressional investigation & public hearings about the Pentagon's actions.https://t.co/MDZ2ONKcc7

— Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) September 23, 2020

House Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith condemned the Trump administration for "continu[ing] to exploit the trust of the American people" and spending three times as much on defense contractors as on expanding the country's pandemic defenses.

Missouri House candidate Cori Bush has even gone further with calling for de-funding the Pentagon.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk