Video: The Fight Over the Pentagon's Newest Jet

July 25, 2013

In this NBC Nightly News clip, the Project On Government Oversight’s Winslow Wheeler discusses the failings of the F-35, a fighter program that has taken seven years longer and cost nearly twice as much money as originally planned. Wheeler, who is the Director of the Straus Military Reform Project at POGO, has railed against the F-35’s cost, schedule, and performance in the past, including calling it “The Jet that Ate the Pentagon.”

This jet is an extreme example of unnecessary taxpayer spending. Unfortunately, politicians have refused to cut—or even cut back—the program because 133,000 employees in 45 states are involved in the supply of parts. The most expensive weapons system in history is considered too big to fail, and taxpayers have to bear the burden.

Topics: National Security

Related Content: Defense, Joint Strike Fighter, Videos

Authors: Jana Persky

Submitted by Dfens at: July 28, 2013

POGO loved this jet when Lockheed was building the F-22. As soon as the F-22 was cancelled, POGO started in on the F-35. Obviously to POGO every program is a winner until it goes into production, then it has to die. That's what they call "looking out for your interests." If they keep looking out for your interests, we won't have any weapons pretty soon.

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