Search Documents and Resources

  • Impeachment
  • Whistleblowers
  • Conflicts of Interest
  • More Topics
  • About
  • Mission & History
  • Board & Staff
  • Financials
  • Take Action
  • For Federal Employees
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
Project On Government Oversight
    • Mission & History
    • Board & Staff
    • Financials
    • Take Action
    • For Federal Employees
    • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • Impeachment
  • More Topics
  • About
  • Mission & History
  • Board & Staff
  • Financials
  • Take Action
  • For Federal Employees
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
Project On Government Oversight
    • Mission & History
    • Board & Staff
    • Financials
    • Take Action
    • For Federal Employees
    • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
Accountability

POGO Joins Groups Calling for Congress To Reject Defense Authorization Bill

By POGO Staff | Filed under letter | September 30, 2015

September 30, 2015

Dear Senator:

We, the undersigned groups, are writing to urge a “no” vote on the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act as reported out of conference. We are deeply troubled by the $38 billion added to the Overseas Contingency Operations slush fund. The disregard for the goal of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA) caps on discretionary spending, the use of a budget gimmick to flout the budget ceiling’s caps, and the lack of transparency surrounding the bill all make the passage of this NDAA irresponsible.

The Armed Services Committees have indicated that the conferenced NDAA uses extra funds added to the Overseas Contingency Operations account to pay for base budget priorities. This is a cynical maneuver that enables lawmakers to claim they maintained the statutory cap on defense spending, while exploiting BCA provisions that allow OCO or emergency spending outside of the caps.

The NDAA plays an important role in Congress’ oversight of the Pentagon and its responsibility to our troops and safety. When it is used to create a slush fund of unaccountable cash to fund pet projects in and out of the Pentagon’s budget, it grievously undermines the budget process.

We urge you to vote no.

Sincerely,

American Friends Service Committee

Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

Center for Defense Information

Center for International Policy

Council for a Livable World

London Center for Policy Research

Niskanen Center

Peace Action

Pentagon Budget Campaign

Progressive Democrats of America

Project on Government Oversight

Taxpayers Protection Alliance

United for Peace and Justice

U.S. Labor Against the War

Win Without War

Women’s Action for New Directions

Author

  • Author

    POGO Staff

Related Tags

    Accountability National Security Transparency National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Department of Defense (DOD) Waste

Related Content

  • Accountability

    Discussion Meeting Critiquing Pentagon's Strategic Defense Review

  • Accountability

    Testimony of POGO's Danielle Brian, before the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology and Procurement Policy Hearing on "Moving Forward with Services Acquisition Reform: A Legislative Approach to Utilizing Commercial Best Practices"

  • Accountability

    Testimony of Eric Miller, Senior Defense Investigator, Project On Government Oversight, on Missile Defense Oversight Before the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans' Affairs, and International Relations

  • Accountability

    Testimony of POGO's Danielle Brian for the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology and Procurement Policy Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3832, The Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2002 (SARA)

Site Footer

  • Press Center
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Training
  • Newsletters & Publications
  • Take Action
  • Report Corruption
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity Great Nonprofits 2019 Top-Rated Charity Navigator Four-Star Charity

©2019 POGO | Privacy Policy

Project On Government Oversight logo

Project On Government Oversight

Oversight in your inbox.

Sign up to receive POGO’s latest updates and newsletters via email.