More F-22s Wasteful Spending, Irresponsible Budgeting Say Accountability Groups

Contact: Mandy Smithberger, Project On Government Oversight, 202-347-1122 or

Laura Peterson, Taxpayers for Common Sense, 202-546-8500

Today the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) and Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) sent a letter to the Senate asking them to eliminate funding for seven unneeded F-22s from the National Defense Authorization Act of 2010, saying that the funding for the fighters would use “smoke and mirrors” budgeting to procure a fighter that the Pentagon doesn’t even want.

In the letter, the good government groups raise concerns about how money for the F-22 relies upon anticipated savings from defense procurement reform and funds from operations and maintenance (O&M) accounts. “[This is] a common budgeting gimmick that directly impacts our soldiers in the field,” they said.

The groups also question the decision to take funds from the Joint Strike Fighter’s management reserve fund, which could disrupt the program’s development.

“Considering the extraordinary budgetary pressures our country is facing, wasting billions on unneeded weapons is unconscionable,” said Ms. Ryan Alexander, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense. “The Senate needs to step up to the budgetary plate and finally ground this multibillion-dollar boondoggle.”

“The broken defense procurement system is in desperate need of discipline,” said POGO Executive Director Danielle Brian. “If Congress wants to be part of the solution, it must start with stopping the F-22.”