Elizabeth Warren partners with Mike Lee in push to curb defense CEO payouts

Published August 11, 2026 1:13pm ET | Updated August 11, 2026 1:13pm ET



Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Mike Lee (R-UT) urged the Pentagon on Monday to make President Donald Trump’s restrictions on stock buybacks for defense contractors permanent. 

The lawmakers urged War Secretary Pete Hegseth to support their Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting Act, which would codify key provisions of Trump’s January executive order, such as tying executive incentives to on-time delivery and production improvements rather than short-term financial metrics, according to Fox News. A keystone of the executive action also allows the Pentagon, where law permits, to cap the base salaries of executives at underperforming contractors.

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