A Pentagon inspector general audit found the Department of Defense failed to properly track large portions of the $13.4 billion in U.S. military aid sent to Israel after the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. As of November 2024, only 44% of items subject to Enhanced End-Use Monitoring (EEUM) were documented, down from 69% pre-war. Investigators cited staffing shortfalls and operational changes and warned the lapses could allow adversaries access to sensitive U.S. weapons technology. The IG recommended a FY2026 inspection of the Office of Defense Cooperation–Israel; CENTCOM agreed to comply.
Pentagon IG: $13.4B in U.S. Military Aid To Israel Largely Untracked, Raising Security Risks
Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in the northern Gaza Strip, seen from southern Israel, Oct. 8, 2025. (Emilio Morenatti/AP)
A Pentagon inspector general report released last week found that the Department of Defense did not adequately account for large portions of the $13.4 billion in military assistance sent to Israel after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack.
By November 2024, the Pentagon maintained records for just 44% of defense articles subject to Enhanced End-Use Monitoring (EEUM), a steep drop from 69% before the Gaza war began. Investigators attributed the shortfall to staffing constraints and changes in Israel’s operational environment, and warned that the gaps raise the risk that sensitive U.S. weapons technology could fall into the hands of hostile actors.
Key Findings
Tracking Shortfalls: The audit found the Defense Department had records for only 44% of EEUM-covered items as of November 2024. That figure represented a marked decline from pre-war tracking levels of 69%.
Untracked Deliveries: Between October 2023 and April 2024, officials were unable to track 42 deliveries containing more than four million munitions because much of the equipment had already been deployed in Israel’s military operations.
“Without effective accountability, these [enhanced end-use monitoring, or EEUM] defense articles could be acquired by adversaries in the region,” the report stated. “Adversaries who obtain EEUM defense articles would have firsthand access and knowledge of sensitive U.S. weapon systems technology, decreasing the technological advantage in the battlefield and increasing the risk to the United States, partner nations, and allies.”
Oversight Failures
The audit concluded that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) did not provide adequate oversight of the EEUM program in Israel. Investigators pointed to staffing shortages and the changed operational environment as primary causes that limited effective monitoring and accountability.
Recommendations and Next Steps
The Inspector General recommended that CENTCOM perform either an in-person or remote Security Cooperation Organization inspection of the Office of Defense Cooperation–Israel in fiscal year 2026. CENTCOM has agreed to implement that inspection recommendation.
Legal and Strategic Context
Federal law under the Arms Export Control Act requires end-use monitoring for defense articles sold, leased, or exported to foreign partners. The partially redacted audit did not specify the exact types of defense articles or identify particular weapon systems involved.
These findings arrive as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, which took effect in mid-October 2024, led to the release of the last 20 surviving hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The United States has provided Israel with more than $200 billion in military and economic assistance since World War II.
Implications
Observers say the report highlights persistent challenges in tracking defense materiel in active conflict zones and underscores congressional and agency concerns about safeguarding sensitive U.S. technology and maintaining accountability for foreign military assistance.
