Reuters news service reports that Air Force acquisition official Charles Reichers, who apparently committed suicide last week, left a note addressed to Air Force acquisition chief Sue Payton that “expressed remorse” over his part in a new wave of acquisition-related questions. The Washington Post first surfaced an arrangement the Air Force made with Commonwealth Research Institute to hire and pay Reichers for two months while he awaited Senate confirmation. He reportedly worked on non-CRI Air Force projects. Subsequently, questions have arisen about a possible conflict of interest related to a Boeing contract. There is lawmaker interest and an ongoing Government Accountability Office review.
President Donald Trump on July 4 signed into law $150 billion in defense funds as part of the tax-and-spending package known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” after congressional Republicans approved the legislation in narrow, drawn-out votes earlier this week.
