POGO Letter to Senate Armed Services Committee Concerning Rear Admiral Joe Tofalo's Potential Violation of Anti-Lobbying Restrictions

June 8, 2015

The Honorable John McCain

Chairman

Senate Armed Services Committee

Russell Senate Building, Room 228

Washington, DC 20510-6050

The Honorable Jack Reed

Ranking Member

Senate Armed Services Committee

Russell Senate Building, Room 228

Washington, DC 20510-6050

Dear Chairman McCain and Ranking Member Reed:

I wanted to share with you a letter the Project On Government Oversight sent to the Government Accountability Office calling for an investigation of Navy officials’ potential violation of the Antideficiency Act and statutory lobbying bans. Specifically, we are concerned that these officials spent taxpayer funds on publicity or propaganda to engage in grassroots lobbying on the proposed procurement of the Ohio Replacement Program (SSBN(X)) and the creation of a separate sea-based deterrence fund to support the program.

It is our understanding that your committee is currently considering appointing one of the officials that possibly engaged in this activity, Admiral John Richardson, to become the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), and the other, Rear Admiral Joe Tofalo, to the rank of vice admiral and to be assigned commander, Naval Submarine Forces; commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; and commander, Allied Submarine Command, Norfolk, Virginia. We hope you will take this letter into consideration as you evaluate his nomination.

Sincerely,

Danielle Brian

Executive Director