The House Armed Services Committee is forming a special bipartisan panel to address the ongoing challenge of financial management in the Defense Department, announced Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), committee chairman, and Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), ranking member, Tuesday. Leading this effort will be Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Tex.) and Rep. Rob Andrews (D-N.J.). “In these difficult fiscal times, making every penny in the defense budget count must be a top national security priority,” said Conaway. Andrews added, “Improving accountability and reducing waste within the DOD will save taxpayers money and it is essential to reducing our deficit.” Among the topics that the panel will explore will be the Pentagon’s ability “to identify efficiencies and waste utilizing financial management systems,” according to the McKeon-Smith release.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.