Ex-Bush official claims US spent \$21T on elite bunkers.

The Alleged Underground “Cities” for the Elite: Fact or Conspiracy?

Key Claims by Catherine Austin Fitts

1. $21 Trillion in “Unauthorized Spending”

   • Fitts, a former HUD official under Bush Sr., cites research by economist Mark Skidmore, who identified $21trillioninunaccountedPentagonandHUDexpenditures\ast \ast (1998–2015),including\ast \ast$6.5 trillion in Army adjustments in 2015 alone—54 times its authorized budget 713.

   • She alleges these funds financed 170+ underground bases and transit systems, some beneath oceans, for elite survival during a “near-extinction event” 7.

2. Elite Bunkers and Covert Programs

   • Fitts claims the facilities could host a “secret space program” and operate on advanced energy tech, citing “fast ships” not reliant on conventional electricity 7.

   • Tucker Carlson added anecdotal “evidence” from a contractor about a hidden tunnel exit disguised as a transformer box on Constitution Avenue, D.C. 7.

3. Luxury Bunker Boom Corroborates Elite Preparedness

   • Virginia-based SAFE is building $300million“Aerie“bunkers\ast \ast (opening2026)withAImedicalcare,gourmetdining,andEMPshielding.Membershipscost\ast \ast$20 million, targeting “ultra-rich” clients near D.C. 67.

   • SAFE’s founder stated Virginia is “ground zero for the finest demographic,” hinting at demand among power elites 7.

Context and Skepticism

• No Concrete Proof: Fitts’ claims rely on budgetary anomalies and speculation. Skidmore’s findings were disputed, and no government agency has acknowledged underground cities 7.

• Historical Precedents: Known bunkers like Mount Weather (Virginia) and Raven Rock (Pennsylvania) exist for continuity of government, but their scale is limited compared to Fitts’ allegations 8.

• Luxury Survivalism Trend: The rise of projects like Vivos xPoint (575 bunkers in South Dakota) and SAFE’s Aerie reflects private-sector catering to wealthy preppers, not confirmed government involvement 69.

Why This Matters

• Transparency Concerns: If true, Fitts’ claims suggest unprecedented misuse of public funds and a shadow infrastructure for elites.

• Geopolitical Tensions: With nuclear threats rising (e.g., Ukraine, North Korea), demand for bunkers has surged, fueling paranoia about unequal access to survival resources 615.

• Ethical Dilemmas: Projects like Aerie highlight extreme inequality—Oxfam reports billionaires gained $2 trillion in 2024 while most lack basic disaster preparedness 6.

Between Conspiracy and Reality

While Fitts’ allegations remain unverified, they tap into documented truths:
✔ Classified spending: The Pentagon’s budget gaps are real, though their purpose is unclear 7.
✔ Elite preparedness: From Cold War-era Greenbrier bunkers to SAFE’s Aerie, the wealthy are investing in doomsday shelters 26.
✔ Government secrecy: Sites like Area 51 and Mount Weather prove the U.S. operates clandestine facilities—but their scope is debated 8.

Whether Fitts exposed a hidden reality or a fantastical narrative, her claims underscore a growing distrust in institutions and the stark divide between the powerful and the public. For now, the underground “cities” remain in the realm of speculation—or a well-guarded secret