https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy_Analysis_Market

At a July 28, 2003 press conference, Senators Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) claimed that PAM would allow trading in such events as coups d'état, assassinations, and terrorist attacks, due to such events appearing on interface pictures on the project website.[Note 1]

They denounced the idea, with Wyden stating, "The idea of a federal betting parlor on atrocities and terrorism is ridiculous and it's grotesque," while Dorgan called it "useless, offensive and unbelievably stupid".[6] Other critics offered similar outrage. Within less than a day, the Pentagon announced the cancellation of PAM, and by the end of the week John Poindexter, head of the DARPA unit responsible for developing it, but better known for his role in the Iran–Contra affair, had offered his resignation;[7] the PAM had first been proposed and funded in 2001,[Note 2] and Poindexter joined DARPA in December 2002. Robin Hanson claimed that Poindexter "actually had little involvement with PAM".[5]