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Wasteful Defense Spending
Related Resources (government documents and letters)
POGO Files
Obama’s and Panetta’s Spending Plan Reassures Defense Contractors, But What About Taxpayers?
January 5, 2012
Obama’s and Panetta’s Spending Plan Reassures Defense Contractors, But What About Taxpayers?
January 5, 2012
POGO's Ben Freeman's testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Personnel on “General and Flag Officer Requirements”
September 14, 2011
Navy Deserves Praise for Cutting Carriers
August 8, 2011
With Debt Ceiling Agreement at Hand, Congress, President Obama Must Target Wasteful National Security Spending
August 1, 2011
Spending Less, Spending Smarter: Recommendations for National Security Savings FY 2012 to FY 2021 U.S. spending (adjusted for inflation) on national security is higher than at any point during the Cold War and accounts for more than half of all discretionary spending.[1] Yet the U.S. faces no existential threats as we did then, and we are drawing down in Iraq and Afghanistan, by far the two biggest wars abroad. Even leaving aside war-related spending, the Department of Defense’s (DoD) base budget has increased 60 percent since 2001, adjusted for inflation. Nuclear weapons spending at the Department of Energy (DOE) is growing by leaps and bounds. And the federal government’s reliance on contractors, most of whom work on national security-related work and who usually cost significantly more than federal workers do to do the same tasks, is also driving budgets through the roof. Therefore, any serious proposal to shrink our deficit must include cuts to our national security budget.
July 21, 2011
DoD Needs to Expand Proposed Award Fee Rule
January 11, 2011
Podcast: On the Hunt for Savings at the Pentagon Winslow Wheeler, director of the Center for Defense Information, joins POGO for a discussion of the new Pentagon savings initiatives proposed by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
August 13, 2010
POGO Launches (Re-Opens) Defense Resource Website
July 12, 2010
DCAA auditors need independence
April 4, 2010
POGO Requests End of KBR's Monopolistic LOGCAP III Contract
March 29, 2010
Army Considers Continuing KBR Monopoly in Iraq
March 29, 2010
Portions of the Pentagon's Department of Operational Test and Evaluation 2009 Annual Report
February 1, 2010
Defense Budget Demonstrates Department Increasing Accountability
February 1, 2010
POGO Urges Pentagon To Create Strong Regulations Against Conflicts of Interest On Systems Engineering
December 8, 2009
Removing DCAA Director Won't Fix the Agency's Problems
October 26, 2009
Groups Urge Gates to Curb Congressional Earmarks
October 14, 2009
Groups Strongly Urge Gates to Curb Congressional Earmarks
October 14, 2009
POGO letter to Senate; Combating Waste: C-17 Resources Needed for Troops in Afghanistan
October 6, 2009
Combating Waste: C-17 Resources Needed for Troops in Afghanistan
October 6, 2009
POGO Letter to Senate Leadership Expressing Serious Concern Over F-22 Solicitation Request
July 9, 2009
POGO Supports DOD Financial Accountability Act Of 2009
June 18, 2009
Good Government Groups Urge Congress to Preserve Key Procurement Reforms in S. 454 and H.R. 2101
May 5, 2009
Can the Pentagon Be Fixed? Cato Institute Forum Most defense analysts agree: the Pentagon is in serious need of reform. Acquisition programs run above cost and behind schedule. The U.S. defense budget is higher than at any point during the Cold War, but capability has not kept pace. We field fewer ships, aircraft, and tanks than we did in the days of lower procurement spending. And our defense spending prepares us better for the conventional wars we imagine than the unconventional conflicts we fight. The question is what to do about these problems. Should we give more power over budgets to civilians or combatant commanders? Should we change procurement rules or push the services to buy cheaper but less capable weapons? Should we continue to reform the ground forces to fight small wars or simply avoid them? Should we slash defense spending?
March 13, 2009
Pentagon Reform Briefing Papers
February 23, 2009
Photos Show the Brass and Troops are Worlds of Class Apart
August 21, 2008
POGO Letter to Senate Armed Services Committee regarding misleading testimony by General McNabb before the Committee
July 24, 2008
POGO urges the DOD IG to investigate CIRCUITS and an apparent employee retaliation action
July 23, 2008
SLICC Deal for Pentagon Brass
July 18, 2008
POGO Letter to DoD Secretary Robert Gates regarding extravagant "Senior Leader In-Transit Comfort Capsules"
July 17, 2008
POGO Urges Navy to Study Utility Cost Program
July 7, 2008
Flawed Thunderbirds Contract Tainted with Improper Influence
April 18, 2008
GAO: Bad Problems Worsen with Pentagon Programs
March 31, 2008
POGO's letter to Senators Levin and McCain regarding protecting the integrity of earmark reform
May 23, 2007
Concern Over Rumsfeld Transformation Grows
May 13, 2003
Economic Impacts of the National Security Build-up: Government Procurement Practices
November 8, 2002
Analysts Critique Pentagon's Strategic Defense Review Breakfast Briefing
May 8, 2001
Holeman Lounge, National Press Building
(13th Floor -- 529 14th St., NW)
Monday, May 14, 9 am - 10:30 am
Are We Buying the Right Weapons in the Best Way? The Pentagon's Weapons Buying Systems: Lessons Learned," transcript of panel discussion featuring: Dr. Jacques Gansler, former Undersecretary for Acquisition and Technology, Mr. Philip E. Coyle, III, former Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, Dr. Kenneth Oscar, Acting Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology and moderated by Mr. James Doyle, a founder of Defense News and former executive editor of Army, Navy, and Air Force Times.
April 3, 2001
Are We Buying the Right Weapons in the Best Way? The Pentagon's Weapons Buying Systems: Lessons Learned
April 2, 2001
Letter to Members of Congress on Defense Budget
March 8, 2001
Defense Waste & Fraud Camouflaged As Reinventing Government
September 1, 1999
Acquisition DeForm: A Study In Hasty Deregulation
October 27, 1997
Testimony of POGO's Danielle Brian Before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Acquisition and Technology
April 15, 1997
Waste and Abuse in Military Spending
March 1, 1997
Concerns and Questions: The A-12 Aircraft Financial Fiasco
October 2, 1996
The Army's M1 Tank: Has It Lived Up To Expectations?
January 1, 1990
Officer Inflation: Its Cost To The Taxpayer And To Military Effectiveness In 1982, the Department of Defense proposed to the Senate Armed Services Committee the need for new legislation to manage the number of general and flag officers better. Specifically, the Department wanted to justify approximately 60 more positions for Generals and Admirals for the four services. In the "Department of Defense Manpower Requirements Report FY 1985," the Pentagon reported the need to increase the number of officers in the Army by 9,599, in the Navy by 9,379, in the Marine Corps by 1,668, and in the Air Force by 9,053 in Fiscal Year 1985.
October 1, 1987
Related Resources
Joint Strike Fighter: Significant Challenges Remain as DOD Restructures Program
Statement of Michael Sullivan, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Managment, Government Accountability Office (GAO-10-520T)
March 11, 2010
Results in Brief: Contracted Advisory and Assistance Services for the U.S. Army Future Combat Systems
Inspector General, Department of Defense, Department of Defense Report No. D-2010-024
November 24, 2009
VH-71 Presidential Helicopter Program: Background and Issues for Congress
By Ronald O'Rourke, Specialist in Naval Affairs, Congressional Research Service (RS22103)
June 5, 2009
Three Former Testing Directors Tell Senate to Keep Provision to Re-establish DDT&E
John E. Krings, Thomas P. Christie and Charles E. Adolph, Former Directors of Operational Test & Evaluation and Former Director Developmental Test & Evaluation
May 5, 2009
Defense Contract Management Agency's Letter re: Sikorsky Aircraft
By Dorothy J. Freer, Captain, United States Navy Commander, Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)
November 22, 2006
Subcommittee on National Security Chairman Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Ranking Member Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) Letter
Subcommittee on National Security Chairman Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Ranking Member Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) ,
April 27, 2001
POGO in the News
Pentagon moves against conversion of in-house work to contractors, Charles S. Clark, Government Executive (govexec.com), December 7, 2011
Pentagon use of retired generals as 'mentors' plummets, Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, November 7, 2011
Windfalls of War: Taxpayers Get Hammered by Pentagon’s Attempts to “One-stop Shop”, Sharon Weinberger writes for iWatch News, a project of the Center for Public Integrity, The Cutting Edge, October 28, 2011
Lawmakers push Defense fraud, waste report to influence supercommittee cuts, John T. Bennett, The Hill, October 23, 2011
Taxpayers Have Been Getting Robbed On Fuel Deliveries To U.S. Troops, Robert Johnson , Business Insider, September 26, 2011
The Navy Is Poised To Have More Admirals Than Ships, Robert Johnson, Business Insider, September 16, 2011
Washcall: Brass creep - Fewer going postal - No free lunch, Lisa Hoffman, The Republic; Scripps Howard News Service, September 16, 2011
Leaders Outline Projected Senior Officer Cuts, Karen Parrish, U.S. Department of Defense; American Forces Press Service, September 15, 2011
Lawmakers question CERP funds in Afghanistan, Michelle Stein - Medill News Service, Army Times, August 4, 2011
Shoot the Moon: Missile Defense Costs as Much as Apollo Program, Adam Rawnsley, Wired; Danger Room, August 4, 2011
The winners and losers in the debt ceiling deal, Amy Goodman, Guardian.co.uk, August 3, 2011
Defense takes big cuts in debt deal, Amber Corrin, Alice Lipowicz, Matthew Weigelt, Federal Computer Week, August 2, 2011
Vice Chief Nominee Hints At Program Cuts Ahead, Jen DiMascio, Aviation Week, July 23, 2011
Balloon Goes Up In Budget Battle, Mark Thompson, Time, July 22, 2011
Watchdog groups call for cuts to Defense health benefits, contract spending, Emily Long, Government Executive (GovExec.com), July 21, 2011
How to help DOD with couples therapy, Matthew Weigelt, Federal Computer Week, June 9, 2011
Grassley gives failing marks to Pentagon inspector general, Charles S. Clark, Government Executive.com, June 7, 2011
HIPA Hawaii Military Spending Study Tied to Fundraiser with Military Contractor?, Op-Ed By POGO's Mandy Smithberger, Hawai'i Free Press, June 2, 2011
Pricey Pentagon Programs and the "Kill Fee", By Laura Strickler, CBS News, February 15, 2011
Defense industry says Sen. Lieberman will be ‘hard to replace’, By John T. Bennett, The Hill, January 20, 2011
Pentagon cost-cutting drive faces uphill battle, By Andrea Shalal-Esa (Reuters), FoxBuisness.com, September 14, 2010
Defense Panel: Go For Broke, By Mandy Smithberger, Defence Professionals, August 4, 2010
DCAA auditors need independence, By POGO's Danielle Brian and Mandy Smithberger, Federal Times, April 4, 2010
After yearlong study, House acquisition reform report called "symbolic" , By Kevin Baron, Stars and Stripes, March 25, 2010
Pentagon panel has contractor contacts, By Ray Locker and Ken Dilanian, USA Today, March 1, 2010
DoD’s Proposed Budget for FY 2011; Podcast with Robert Hale, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer, , DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable, February 2, 2010
The Pentagon’s Latest Body Armor Debacle, By Corbin Hiar, , December 9, 2009
New rules chafe defense industry, By Jen DiMascio, Politico, December 3, 2009
Air Force Base overspent by nearly $1M, By John Nolan, Dayton Daily News, November 13, 2009
Earmarks’ cash flow lifts firms, lobbyists, lawmakers, By Brian Bender, Boston Globe, November 12, 2009
Analysts: Ethics probe won't imperil Defense earmarks, By Megan Scully, Congress Daily, November 3, 2009
Firms that donate to Inouye receive his earmarks, By Herbert Sample, Associated Press, The Buffalo News, November 2, 2009
Top Pentagon auditor reassigned, By Elise Castelli, NavyTimes.com, October 27, 2009
Embattled DCAA director reassigned, By Elise Castelli, Federal Times, October 26, 2009
Senators Raid Troop Funding for Pet Projects, Watchdog Groups Say, By Judson Berger, FoxNews.com, October 16, 2009
Price Soars on President's Helicopter Marine One, With Wolfe Blitzer, CNN - The Situation Room, October 7, 2009
POGO Teams Up With McCain to Get Special Forces in Afghanistan More Helicopters, Spencer Ackerman, The Washington Independent, October 5, 2009
The F-22 Vote and the Future of Pentagon Spending, By William Hartung , Talking Points Memo, July 28, 2009
Try, Try Again; BENS report on acquisition reform adds a new twist to a very old debate, By Michael Bruno Joseph C. Anselmo, Aviation Week & Space (By Subscription Only), July 27, 2009
The Great Audit, By Alyssa Rosenberg & Elizabeth Newell, Government Executive Magazine, June 19, 2009
Senate Nears Approval Of Changes To Acquisition System, By Megan Scully, National Journal, May 7, 2009
Senate acts on Pentagon's weapons buying practices, By Jim Anrams, Associated Press, May 7, 2009
Senate Prepares to Pass Acquisitions Overhaul as House Starts Markup, By Josh Rogin and Matthew M. Johnson, Congressional Quarterly, May 6, 2009
Did Pentagon lose billions, pennies at a time?, By Benjamin Shors, MSNBC, May 1, 2009
Arms plan has pain, some gain for N.E., By Bryan Bender and Todd Wallack , The Boston Globe, April 7, 2009
Why The Heat Is On Robert Gates Over The Pentagon's Big-Ticket Weapons, By Anna Mulrine, U.S. News & World Report (USNews.com), March 25, 2009
Analysts 'Not Confident' Procurement System Headed in Right Direction, By Matthew M. Johnson, CQ Homeland Security (subscription only), March 13, 2009
Critics say DoD spending more, getting less, By Antonie Boessenkool, Army Times, February 20, 2009
F-22 Raptor plagued by stealth maintenance woes, , Congress Daily On-line, February 20, 2009
Outrageous: Hall of Shame - Air Farce One, By Michael Crowley, Reader’s Digest, January 1, 2009
Lawmakers Hit U.S. Air Force's VIP Capsules, By Erik Holmes and Michael Hoffman, Defense News, July 28, 2008
GAO report sparks call for DCAA resignations, , Washington Technology, July 25, 2008
Analysis - US Navy ship cancellation seen good first step, By Andrea Shalal-Esa, Reuters News, July 25, 2008
I'm Comfortable. How About You?, Editorial, New York Times, July 24, 2008
Letters: “McCain’s Oversight at Boeing” , POGO's Danielle Brian, Newsweek, July 21, 2008
Making defense cuts seen tough for McCain, Obama, By Andrea Shalal-Esa, Reuters, July 21, 2008
Pimp my glide, , St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 20, 2008
Criticism over luxury capsules, , CNN, July 19, 2008
Terrorism Funds May Let Brass Fly in Style, By R. Jeffrey Smith, The Washington Post, July 18, 2008
Air force sought anti-terror funds so generals could fly in comfort, , Agence France-Presse, July 18, 2008
Air Force uses counterterror funds to pay for VIP 'comfort capsules', By Mike Carney, USA Today, July 18, 2008
A new travel style for Washington VIPs? It's SLICC, By David Morgan, Reuters, July 18, 2008
Air Force defends 'luxury' travel capsules, By Courtney Kube, NBC News, July 18, 2008
Pentagon Report: High-Flying Spy Drones Hobbled, By Noah Shachtman, Wired News: Danger Room, December 20, 2007
Pentagon report dings N. M. Guard's Gen. Montoya, Larry Barker Reports, KRQE, July 16, 2007
Hawks and Hogs: Why no one dares attack the waste in defense spending, By David Weigel, Reason Magazine, July 1, 2007
Heady days for makers of weapons, By Leslie Wayne, New York Times, December 26, 2006
Study sees no need to replace Air Force tankers, By Megan Scully, GovExec.com, January 27, 2006
New Pentagon Panel Reviews Acquisition, by Renae Merle, Washington Post, July 18, 2005
Tuning Up Weaponry Budgets: House Will Get Recommendations to Slash Some Programs, Build Up Others, By Renae Merle, Washington Post, June 15, 2005
Tanker Backers Come Up Empty, By Alan Bjerga, Wichita Eagle, June 13, 2005
Rooney: Too Many Weapons?; Andy Rooney Takes A Look At Pentagon Spending , By Andy Rooney, CBS, October 24, 2004
Report: Pentagon Wasted $100 Million; Commercial airline tickets purchased but never used, By Chip Reid, NBC Nightly News, June 8, 2004
Military waste under fire $1 trillion missing -- Bush plan targets Pentagon accounting, By Tom Abate, San Francisco Chronicle, May 18, 2003
Kamen Skunks the Garden Party, By Al Kamen, Washington Post, February 24, 2003
More money won't end the war , Op-ed by POGO's Eric Miller, Albany Times Union, January 29, 2002
Reforms Need Reforming: Commercial Acquisition Fails To Cure Overpricing, Op-ed by POGO's Marcus Corbin, Defense News, July 13, 1998
