Even the term "defense" is so misused. I'd consider N95 masks a sort of defense, just as much as tanks and battleships. Masks are not a boondoggle for a possible future war, they are the defense for our current one (against COVID)

I read it differently. "Congress, knowing they have almost zero control over defense expenditures, are aghast to find out the DoD spent money how the DoD sees fit, rather than what Congress hoped they would spend the money on."

This is just like the bailout money. No meaningful way to control how it's spent, that's why AIG all got golden parachutes. It's a body of dumb people making decisions in haste at best, or entirely corrupt (my vote).

I would really like to consider my mask body armor but I am having a really hard time connecting the two.