Ten Questions That USASpending.Gov Can’t Answer →
USASpending.gov is supposed to be a hub for citizens to find information about government spending, but it comes up short when trying to answer some key questions.
The Ugly End to the Largest Service Contract in U.S History →
Dealings between KBR and the Army have gotten “very nasty” as the two try to close out the largest government services contract in U.S. history, according to an article in Federal Times.
“Pentagon math like this, where reductions in increases are counted as savings while actual budget levels rise, doesn’t actually save taxpayers a dime. This gimmick isn’t too dissimilar from claiming a raise you didn’t receive as lost income on your tax returns (do not attempt).”
Air Force Budget Seeks to Buy More F-35s, Reduce Ranks →
The 2014 budget request from the Air Force includes funding for 19 additional F-35 fighter jets and cuts active-duty personnel by 1,900 airmen, according to an article in DoD Buzz.
The Air Force is already the most top-heavy branch in a military that for years has been cutting enlisted personnel while increasing top officers, a phenomenon known as “brass creep.” The Project On Government Oversight has long been a critic of both brass creep and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Budget Breakdown: Rolling Analysis of Obama's FY 2014 Budget →
We’ve started our analysis of President Obama’s budget request. We will be continuing to roll out information for the next couple days on key programs. Check back to see what wasteful programs are still receiving money and what is happening to the budgets of federal watchdogs.
Most efforts to cut government spending are aimed at that little sliver of yellow while ignoring the huge costs of contracts and grants in discretionary spending.
“This is a weapons system that the Pentagon won’t use and Congress doesn’t want to fund. We shouldn’t waste any more money on a ‘missile to nowhere’ that will never reach the battlefield.”
Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H. on Lockheed Martin’s latest missile defense system.
Read more: The Missile Defense System That Won’t Die
(Source: dodbuzz.com)
Tell Your Representative to Join the Congressional Watchdog Caucus
This is a no-brainer. There is a new bipartisan caucus that is going to help whistleblowers and work to reduce waste in the government.
Everyone’s Representative should be in this caucus. So tell them to join.
