Pentagon fails 7th audit in a row but says progress made

[nitpicked]

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4992913-pentagon-fails-7th-audit-in-a-row-but-says-progress-made/

The Pentagon on Friday failed its seventh audit in a row, with the nation’s largest government agency still unable to fully account for its more than $824 billion budget, though officials stress they are making good progress toward a clean audit in 2028.

The Department of Defense technically earned a disclaimer of opinion, meaning it failed to provide sufficient information to auditors to form an accurate opinion.

The goal is to earn an unmodified audit opinion, or a clean audit that says the financial statements are accurate. A qualified opinion says there are omissions and concerns but the finances are generally reliable.
(snip)

The Pentagon has never passed an audit since the agency became legally obligated to carry them out in 2018. A major challenge in auditing remains a full accounting of the sheer number of systems the Defense Department employs.
(snip)

[Jit423]

1. Well then, it seems to me this is the Executive Agency that needs to be cut. Right?

But all those RW private contractors that the GOP love are making out like bandits. The military industrial complex (MIC) is just another cash cow for RW hawks

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Well, the obvious feeling is that the Pentagon has been siphoning off that money for

nefarious purposes. It is disgusting. I didn't know their budget until now, and wasn't aware of this problem.

[Irish_Dem]

6. It has been well known that the Pentagon can never pass an audit.

It is legend in Washington DC.

Auditors leave the building with their heads spinning, stumbling out in a daze.

[Lonestarblue]

8. The last number I remember from a few years ago was nearly $3 billion unaccounted for.

It’s the top shareholders of companies like Raytheon and the private contractors who overcharge for everything who are the beneficiaries of the always increasing military budget.

The other culprit may be the budgeting requirements because the DOD operates with a zero base budget, which means they lose what they don’t spend by the end of their budget year. A few years ago, one group spent thousands of dollars buying lobster for staff since they hadn’t used all their budget. Remember the Tailhook fiasco from years ago? There’s plenty of room to do some cutting in the DOD.

Unfortunately, all Trump will do is fire every minority military leader and anyone refusing yo sign his loyalty pledge and replace them with his sycophant leaders.

[Irish_Dem]

9. $3B is pocket change for the pentagon.

Yes the military industrial complex robs us blind.

Many retired generals sit on the boards of these private companies and retired military work there too.

All double dipping and getting rich.

Yes all the over runs and producing stuff that is totally out of date and just thrown away.
Giant boondoggle.

Yes on the zero based budget. It is a disgrace what they do to waste money to make sure they get it again next year.

These are the things that should be cut.
Not SS and medicare.

[MrWowWow]

3. The DOD Will Never Pass an Audit

It was set up that way. Biggest Black Hole moneypit around.

[GreenWave]

4. We need to send them folks who are rough, tough and hard to bluff to show them we mean business.

[Irish_Dem]

7. That's been tried too. Didn't work.

[EarthFirst]

5. I'm sure we could clean up a few black budget files relating to Russian intelligence programs...

…and extoll it as a win for the American taxpayer.

[republianmushroom]

10. I'll remember this April 15th 2025. Thank you Defense Dept. (7th ?)

chuckle chuckle 7th chuckle wonder how the 8th will fair. chuckle