Trump Sons’ Investments Yield Billions in Pentagon Contracts Since 2025

Since the 2025 election of President Donald Trump, companies with investment ties to his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, have secured billions of dollars in Pentagon contracts. The most recent announcement on October 6, 2026, highlighted a $6.6 billion government investment in AI defense company Anduril Industries, a firm backed by the Trump family through the venture capital firm 1789 Capital.

Major Investment in Anduril Industries

On October 6, 2026, President Donald Trump announced a $6.6 billion investment in Anduril Industries, a defense technology company with ties to his sons. The Navy is contributing $2.9 billion to build a new manufacturing facility in Baltimore County, Maryland, aimed at producing critical components for Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines. The facility, named Arsenal-2, will focus on next-generation American submarines, including autonomous subs and torpedo tubes.

President Trump described the project as “a tremendous victory for our country and for the city of Baltimore,” emphasizing the strategic importance of the shipyard at Sparrows Point.

1789 Capital’s Role and Contract Awards

The Trump sons are connected to Anduril through 1789 Capital, a venture capital firm where Donald Trump Jr. is one of six partners. In June 2025, 1789 Capital led a $2.5 billion investment round in Anduril, securing a major stake in the company. Since that investment, Anduril has been awarded 135 government contracts totaling approximately $1.8 billion, according to active defense contracts listed on SAM.gov.

Anduril has also received contracts dating back to 2019, per USASpending.gov data, although the company declined to comment on its relationship with 1789 Capital and related contracts.

Broader Impact of Trump-Backed Defense Companies

Anduril is among the largest defense manufacturers backed by the Trump sons, but not the only one. An ABC News analysis found that defense companies with investments from Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have collectively secured over $6 billion in government contracts, either active or promised, since their investments began.

This surge in defense contracts has drawn scrutiny from Congressional Oversight Democrats, who have called for an investigation by the Pentagon’s inspector general. In May, lawmakers including Richard Blumenthal, Elizabeth Warren, Robert Garcia, and Tammy Duckworth sent a letter warning that refusal to investigate would raise concerns about the Pentagon’s independence and oversight capabilities.

Responding to allegations, a spokesperson for the Trump brothers stated, “Don and Eric are experienced business leaders who have built and invested in businesses across a wide range of industries for decades, long before their father first ran for public office. Their investment decisions are based solely on their independent business judgment and personal convictions and they do not seek to influence, direct, or participate in any government decision, procurement, award, regulatory action, or other governmental process. Attempts to portray their ordinary investment activities as improper are a deliberate distortion of the facts.” The White House declined to comment.

Drone Industry Deals Linked to Trump Family

In addition to Anduril, the Trump sons have invested in emerging drone manufacturers. Donald Trump Jr. was named an adviser to Florida-based Unusual Machines shortly after the 2024 election. Previously without government contracts, Unusual Machines won a Department of Defense order in October 2025 for 3,500 National Defense Authorization Act-compliant motors, with a potential follow-up order of 20,000 units expected in 2026.

In March 2026, the Trump brothers were named notable investors in Powerus, a U.S. drone company. Just one month later, Powerus secured its first Air Force purchase order for an undisclosed amount. By July, the company was awarded up to $90 million in contracts for aerial-denial unmanned aircraft systems from the U.S. Air Force.

When asked about concerns over the Trump family’s involvement, a Powerus spokesperson told ABC News, “Defense procurement is merit-based. You can’t sell the government something that won’t protect a soldier, and nobody in the procurement chain risks their career routing a contract to a company whose equipment doesn’t work.”

The Trump sons’ investments in defense technology companies have thus become a significant part of Pentagon contracting activity, raising questions and calls for oversight amid the ongoing administration.