GAO Blasts Pentagon Spending

[rainbow4321]

http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=14520&hed=GAO+Blasts+Pentagon+Spending

Spending at the Pentagon is out of control, with massive cost overruns, missed deadlines, failed weapons systems, and intractable management problems, according to a report released Wednesday by the U.S. Congress’ research arm.

The Government Accountability Office report charges the U.S. Department of Defense with irresponsibly overseeing a portfolio of weapons systems totaling $1.3 trillion at a time when the price of two wars is taking an ever-increasing share of a diminishing defense budget. “If DoD cannot discipline itself now to execute programs within fiscal realities, then draconian, budget-driven decisions may have to be made later,” the report said.

To correct what the GAO sees as a culture of fiscal irresponsibility in the Pentagon, the research arms made recommendations including calls for the Department of Defense to stick to budget on individual programs. It also recommended that the DoD make a clear business case for each investment and make it possible for “science and technology organizations to shoulder the technology burden.”


It’s not the first time the Pentagon has been accused of poor money management, and the report was tinged with a note of exasperation: “GAO has issued hundreds of reports. … These reports have included many recommendations.”

[indepat]

1. Tis only a microcosm of rampant fiscal irresponsibility pervading this

administration in every respect with every dollar the Congress appropriates. Complete unaccountability is the hallmark of this administration, thanks to a Congress that requires no accountability.