WASHINGTON — In a significant revelation, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) disclosed to The Post on Wednesday that she has identified more than $77 billion in Pentagon research and development expenditures that have been obscured from public view.

This substantial figure encompasses investments in a variety of projects, including radio equipment, shipbuilding, and COVID-19-related developments such as vaccines, test kits, and therapeutics. These funds were allocated to corporations such as AstraZeneca and Microsoft over the fiscal years from 2021 to 2025.

“Transparency is crucial, and I am committed to exposing any clandestine government spending,” Ernst declared. “Now that we’ve unveiled over $77 billion in Pentagon expenditures that were illicitly concealed from taxpayers, it’s time to bring this into the open.”

She emphasized the importance of her legislative proposal, the Stop Secret Spending Act, which is currently advancing through the House Government Oversight Committee. “This act is essential,” she stated, “so that Americans have a clear understanding of exactly where every penny of their hard-earned money is going.”

The concealment of these funds was facilitated through a mechanism known as Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), which allows federal agencies to bypass the transparency typically required by procurement laws and regulations.

To address this issue, Ernst is pushing for an amendment to be included in the upcoming defense bill. This amendment would mandate full disclosure of such expenditures in the future, ensuring that taxpayers are informed about how their dollars are being allocated.

In 2024, the retired lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard uncovered $18 billion in similar off-the-books spending.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has also found more than $40 billion shelled out between fiscal years 2020 and 2022 out of sight of taxpayers.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 forces the government to disclose all contracts, grants, loans and most financial assistance that exceeds $25,000.

Aides noted that even as a sitting US senator, Ernst had to jump through hoops just to determine where the funding was going when digging into the past five fiscal years.

The Senate DOGE Caucus boss has also led multiple efforts to trim federal spending, often by highlighting excessive costs paid by various agencies.

In September, Ernst announced that she would not seek re-election to a third term in 2026.

“It has been an honor to dedicate my life to the service of our great state and country,” she told supporters in a video statement, thanking them for providing “so much love and support” during her career in the military and public service.

“We’ve cut waste, fraud and abuse across the federal government and [reined] in overburdensome rules and regulations,” Ernst added.

“We’ve protected the lives of the unborn; prevented violence against women; supported our hard-working farmers, families and small businesses; honored and fought for our fellow veterans; and strengthened our military and the brave men and women who chose to serve,”