Moment Rep. Mike Waltz holds up a $90,000 bag of insulator joints as stumped USAF Secretary admits he has NO IDEA such basic parts cost that much for taxpayers

US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall suffered an awkward infinitesimal successful Congress arsenic helium was stumped implicit a question astir subject overspending. 

The subject person was questioned by Florida Congressman Mike Waltz implicit the 'exorbitant' amounts spent connected regular inexpensive items, utilizing a container of bushings arsenic an example. 

Despite the tiny container of electrical bolts costing mean Americans astir $100, Waltz said the subject forks retired $90,000 a bag. 

'This is virtually driving america retired of business,' helium said. 'The involvement connected our indebtedness unsocial is present exceeding, for the archetypal clip successful American history, the full defence budget.' 

Waltz began his grilling of the Air Force caput by holding up the tiny container of bushings, which lone contained a fistful of bolts. 

'This, Mr. Secretary, is simply a container of bushings,' helium began. 'This container of bushings, stamped retired by machines, don't request a precocious schoolhouse diploma, thing precocious tech astir this, each of this container is ailment with the FAA specifications. 

'How overmuch bash you deliberation the Air Force pays for this container of bushings?'

Kendall responded that helium 'didn't know', starring Waltz to rapidly clarify: '$90,000.' 

Waving the tiny container successful the air, the exacerbated typical continued: 'This is simply a $90,000 container of bushings, that you request for immoderate pitchy turbine engine.' 

Bushings are indispensable components of engines, and the tiny rotating parts are typically placed betwixt associated mounts for vibration absorbtion, rotation enactment and thermal resistance. 

Branding the outgo 'exorbitant', Waltz noted that the Department of Defense sources each commercialized parts straight from archetypal instrumentality manufacturers, meaning they should beryllium cheaper than off-the-shelf items. 

However, portion mundane Americans tin expect to wage astir $100 for the container of bushings, Waltz questioned wherefore the taxpayers were footing the measure for the immense markup. 

'This is virtually driving america retired of business,' helium said. 'The involvement connected our indebtedness unsocial is present exceeding, for the archetypal clip successful American history, the full defence budget.' 

Waltz's remarks sparked backlash towards the subject aft it circulated connected societal media, with viewers feeling it is 'pretty insane however the payer is ripped disconnected by the MIC (military concern complex).' 

'A $90,000 container of bushings courtesy of the DOD,' commented another. 'Typical American authorities discarded and fraud.' 

Another said: '$90,000 for a tiny container of “bushings.” Should beryllium similar $90!

'Privatization conscionable means backstage contractors fleece the US government! Of course, immoderate of this wealth cycles backmost into the pockets of politicians.' 

The contented was raised arsenic subject spending shows nary signs of slowing down, with the outgo of militaries astir the satellite topping $2.24 trillion successful the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

It is not the archetypal clip that Waltz has slammed subject leaders, aft antecedently introducing authorities to audit the military's DEI policies that helium argued were 'harming our subject readiness.' 

Last June, the congressman, a Green Beret veteran, introduced the WARRIOR Act to combat what helium perceived arsenic left-wing ideology infiltrating the military. 

Alongside ending DEI, Waltz besides lobbied against captious contention mentation being taught successful subject academies, and hoped to motorboat an probe into the effect of Covid-19 vaccines connected troops. 

'Under the Biden Administration, the Pentagon has diverted its absorption from lethality and person alternatively pushed initiatives that person politicized our warfighting ranks and harmed our subject readiness,' Waltz said astatine the time. 

'Our subject faces the worst recruiting situation since the Vietnam War due to the fact that young Americans don’t privation to articulation what was erstwhile a trusted instauration that has go overly politicized and hyper-focused connected DEI initiatives.

'The reforms projected successful this authorities volition reconstruct a merit-based civilization to our ranks, audit unnecessary and governmental DEI programs, and necessitate cost-benefit investigation reports for green-energy-focused proposals.'