Image: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on April 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Graeme Sloan/Getty Images)

Brad Reed of Common Dreams reports: “US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth drew instant ridicule on Thursday after he released a video touting President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion military budget as a fiscally responsible plan that is “putting the American taxpayer first.”

At the start of the video, Hegseth accuses defense contractors of bilking the Pentagon for expenses such as factory construction, while also constantly charging more for cost overruns.

Hegseth then claims that Trump has brought together a group of private-sector negotiators whom he’s labeled “Deal Team Six” to lay down the law on the defense industry and save the US taxpayer money…”

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