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 May 12, 2003 POGO letter to Senate and House Armed Service Committee on the F/A-22 |
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| May 12, 2003 Senator John Warner, Chairman Senator Carl Levin, Ranking Member Senate Armed Services Committee 228 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Representative Duncan Hunter, Chairman Representative Ike Skelton, Ranking Member House Armed Services Committee 2120 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Senators Warner and Levin and Representatives Hunter and Skelton: The Project On Government Oversight commends your efforts in the Armed Services Committees to cut funding and bring greater accountability to the overpriced and under tested F/A-22 fighter aircraft program. Not only is the F/A-22 experiencing mammoth technological problems, but its costs continue to increase while the number of aircraft planned for purchase has significantly declined. According to Pentagon figures released last month, program costs increased by more than $2 billion during the last quarter of 2002 even as the number of aircraft to be purchased declined by 63. As you know, the per aircraft cost of the F/A-22 has now reached $258 million and is a recognized poster child of sorts for bad acquisition practices, according to U.S. Comptroller General David Walker. We understand that Under Secretary of Defense E.C. "Pete" Aldridge was only a half-step from recommending cancellation of the F/A-22 program but was unable to muster adequate support within the Department of Defense. It appears that now Congress is on the brink of taking a number of measures to ensure the taxpayers and the nation's fighting men and women get the product they were promised. The DoD hasn't been able to bring the F/A-22 program into line. We are encouraged now more than ever that Congress will restore accountability to a weapons system that is overpriced, under tested and unneeded to fight the wars of the present and future. Sincerely, Danielle Brian Executive Director
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