Not Sequestered: Defense Department Signs Contract For $146 Flashlights

Yesterday tuition assistance for members of the military was cut off with officials blaming the sequester spending reductions. Many, including myself, questioned the move arguing that there was surely lower-priority spending than that to cut.

And, as proof, comes news that just five days ago the Department of Defense awarded a contact worth $331,000 to Giga, Inc., for 2,256 flashlights. Which works out to a not-so-cheap $146 per unit (via Jim Geraghty):

So, in summary, the sequester has resulted in the military pulling the rug out from under service members who are receiving tuition assistance as a part of their compensation, but not in the Department of Defense overpaying defense contractors.

Because priorities.