A Chicago aerospace company is hoping to capitalise on Doge-inspired cost-cutting fervour and persuade the US military to embrace a seemingly surprising practice: buying used spare parts for its commercial-style planes.

For years, AAR, which services aircraft for government and commercial clients, has maintained the military could save billions by buying overhauled parts, also known as “used serviceable material”, rather than defaulting to new for hundreds of its aircraft.

The company’s lobbyist has pitched the so-called Department of Government Efficiency in the hope that newfound thrift in Washington may finally work in its favour. But in doing so, the company faces a higher hurdle than overcoming armrest-clutching sceptics. Instead, the biggest obstacle appears to be changing how the Pentagon’s massive bureaucracy does business.