The U.S. Department of Defense paid 14 different National Football League teams a total of $5.4 million in taxpayer money between 2011 and 2014 to honor U.S. soldiers and veterans at football games, according to government records obtained by NJ.com.
The majority of the money was supplied by the National Guard, with the rest paid by the Army and Air Force, according to the report.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., called the spending an "egregious and unnecessary waste of taxpayer dollars."
Flake added that the general public should be aware that the heartfelt halftime segments were actually advertisement campaigns paid for with their money, rather than military tributes conducted on behalf of the football team.
"Those of us go to sporting events and see them honoring the heroes," Flake said in an interview, reported NJ.com. "You get a good feeling in your heart. Then to find out they're doing it because they're compensated for it, it leaves you underwhelmed. It seems a little unseemly."
Flake continued: "They realize the public believes they're doing it as a public service or a sense of patriotism. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth."
For example, in New Jersey, the Defense Department and the New Jersey Army National Guard paid the New York Jets $377,000 over the four-year period, according to the report. The arrangement included the display of a Hometown Heroes segment on the stadium's Jumbotron, as well as box seat tickets for soldiers and their friends.
Patrick Daugherty, a spokesman for the National Guard, said in a statement that the agreement was a useful recruiting tool which also helped retain soldiers.
"Promoting and increasing the public's understanding and appreciation of military service in the New Jersey National Guard increases the propensity for service in our ranks and garners public support for our Hometown Team," Daugherty said.
The Atlanta Falcons received the most money from the military, a total of $1,049,500, while the Green Bay Packers received the single largest payment of $400,000.
Other teams paid with taxpayer money were the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and St. Louis Rams.
