Trump Wants to Cap Defense CEO Pay. Here's How Much They Make Now.
Business Insider••business
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting defense contractor CEOs by banning stock buybacks and dividends until companies deliver superior products on time and on budget, while also limiting executive compensation tied to short-term financial metrics.
- The order caps executive base salaries at current levels if the Secretary of War is dissatisfied with a company's performance and ties future compensation to timely delivery, increased production, and operational improvements.
- Trump criticized defense industry executive pay on Truth Social, proposing a $5 million cap on compensation until production and maintenance improve, though the order itself does not specify this cap.
- The top five defense contractors’ CEOs earned over $18 million in 2024, far exceeding Trump's proposed cap but still less than some CEOs in other industries, such
