Comment by freedomben

> There's not much more justification for people in uniform building software tools than there is having them design and build artillery guns or transport jets.

Yes exactly. I don't have much to add but that was such a great point I wanted to emphasize it.

Also important to consider that as wasteful and expensive as it is to have contractors build stuff, there's at least important market functions in there doing some things and the contractor can be held accountable.