Democratic senator receives defense industry funding after gaining spending role.

Democratic Senator Jon Tester, who once attacked his Republican opponent for close ties to lobbyists, has received over $160,000 in campaign contributions from employees and committees representing the defense industry since becoming chair of the Senate Defense Appropriations subcommittee in 2021. The donations came at a crucial juncture for both the defense budget and Lockheed Martin, as senators were crafting an $858 billion military package and the Defense Department had submitted a late request for $1.4 billion for its F-35 fighter jet program. Tester's subcommittee successfully pushed to add $1.8 billion "for the restoration of all 19 at-risk aircraft."