Boeing is set to miss a significant contractual deadline in its KC-46 tanker program. According to a May 27, 2016 Defense News article, the contractor was supposed to deliver 18 aircraft to the Air Force by August 2017, the latest (and most significant) of many delays in the KC-46 program. The planes will now arrive […]
Fiscal Year 2017 Appropriations: Poor Track Record, Poor Outlook
In January 2016, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) declared their intention to punctually approve the 12 appropriations bills that fund the federal government. Perhaps this declaration was designed to mark the ten-year anniversary of the last time this feat was accomplished, in fiscal year (FY) 2006.
Questionable Justification for Noncompetitive Huey Replacement
The Air Force currently operates 62 Bell UH-1N Twin Huey helicopters, which serve two purposes: they provide security for the country’s nuclear missile fields, and perform the continuity of government mission, whereby designated senior officials would be transported out of the nation’s capital in the event of an emergency.
Status Quo for Obama’s Last Budget
The record-setting $4 trillion budget proposed by President Obama for fiscal year (FY) 2017, released on February 9, 2016 contains the usual suspect spending suggestions that he has made for the past seven years, along with a list of proposed cuts.
This is What Ash Carter’s Reform Looks Like
Upon assuming the office of Secretary of Defense in February 2015, Ashton Carter prioritized recruiting private sector companies – especially those in technology industries – to bid on contracts awarded by the Department of Defense (DOD). Carter, who holds a PhD in theoretical physics and lectured at Stanford, had the chops to appeal to Silicon Valley tech mavens.
Dr. Tom Coburn’s Legacy
From 2008 until he retired from the Senate in January 2015, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) provided an invaluable resource for taxpayers by publishing compilations of the worst wasteful spending. Between 2011 and 2014, the annual publication was called “The Wastebook.” The October 2014 version of this report revealed an $856,000 grant to train mountain lions […]
Congressional Appropriations 101
As schools across the country open for another year, students will learn about the division of powers in the federal government. Teachers will describe the role of Congress and the power of the purse. They will likely teach what should happen during the budget and appropriations process.
F-35 Approved for Combat, Problems Persist
The acquisition misadventures of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program have been well-documented. In development for nearly 15 years and four years behind schedule, the program is currently projected to cost $391.1 billion for 2,457 aircraft, or 68 percent more than its original estimate of $233 billion. An April 2015 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report noted that the lifetime operation and maintenance costs of the most expensive weapon system in history will total approximately $1 trillion.
Acquisition Reform Proposal Makes Waves
Acquisition horror stories are nothing new at the Department of Defense (DOD). The three most costly recent mishaps include the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which is approximately $170 billion over budget and has encountered numerous problems with its software and engine design. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (ATL) Frank Kendall referred to the purchase of the F-35 as “acquisition malpractice” in February 2014. The Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship has also faced its share of problems, including concerns over its survivability, inadequate firepower, and corrosion due to a design flaw.
End the Pentagon Slush Fund
Created in 2001 to fund the war in Afghanistan and other associated costs of the Global War on Terror, the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account was intended to be a one-time emergency supplemental. Instead, it has been used as an annual funding measure, including in 2003, when the U.S. invaded Iraq.