Susan Collins’s Committee Bought Trucks the Army Didn’t Want. Then Campaign Donations Poured In.

In an unusual turn of events, the U.S. Army's decision to cancel a particular model of armored vehicle in 2025 led to a surge in campaign donations for key members of Congress. The Army had initially announced a sufficient number of these vehicles, deeming any further deliveries "excess." Despite this, Congress found ways to maintain funding for the vehicle.

The company producing the vehicle, AM General, saw employees and its political action committee (PAC) donate tens of thousands of dollars to both U.S. Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Representative Ken Calvert, R-Calif., in the weeks following Congress's appropriations bill passed.

Senator Collins, facing scrutiny over a ProPublica report on an alleged pay-to-play scheme involving a major defense contractor, denied any such arrangement and cooperated fully with the FBI. AM General's CEO, John Chadbourne, stated that all donations complied with Federal Election Commission (FEC) rules and regulations. The company's primary focus, however, remains on providing the best light tactical vehicle capabilities to the Joint Forces.

The Army's order cancellation was initially sparked by then-Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, as part of a broader effort to eliminate waste and obsolete programs. However, Congress swiftly intervened to save the program, with lawmakers from both parties supporting the revival. This demonstrates how government contractors like AM General often leverage broken campaign finance systems to their advantage, influencing lawmakers who can steer massive sums of money to private companies.