Ben Cohen Chainsaws Pentagon Model in Capitol Protest Against Military Spending

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, led a protest called the Department of Pentagon Excess (DOPE) to criticize what he and others describe as wasteful military spending by the Pentagon. During the event near the U.S. Capitol, Cohen used a chainsaw to cut through a model of the Pentagon, releasing prop money representing funds he argues could be returned to taxpayers by cutting 30% of the Pentagon budget. Retired Army Col. Larry Wilkerson and former intelligence analyst Josephine Guilbeau joined Cohen, highlighting concerns about military spending fueling war and imperialism rather than national security. The protest came amid discussions of a potential government shutdown and the Trump administration's push for a historic trillion-dollar defense budget, which would increase military spending by about 13% for fiscal year 2026. Pentagon officials counter that internal efforts have already identified and eliminated billions in wasteful contracts. The event also stirred debate, with critics noting Cohen's wealth and political stance, and emphasizing that under President Trump, the U.S. has not entered new wars in his terms.