Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's latest appointments to the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board are drawing scrutiny from government ethics watchdogs, who warned they have direct financial stakes in the defense industry. The firm Andreessen Horowitz co-invests alongside 1789 Capital in at least three major defense contractors, including autonomous weapons maker Anduril Industries and SpaceX, and Masters sits on three boards connected to 1789 Capital through blank-check companies tied to the fund's co-founder. Companies jointly backed by a16z and 1789 Capital have already collected billions in federal contracts and loans since the start of Trump's second term. “A lot of the people appointed to [advisory committees] are seeking government business – specifically seeking business with the agency they’re serving,” Amey said. The Department of Defense did not respond to requests for comment on the new appointments, and Andreessen Horowitz also did not respond.