Sunday, November 19, 2023

Pentagon Would Hit Panic Button As It Fails 6th Audit In A Row If Anyone Cared

 According to the Congressional Research Service, despite nearly two decades of advance notice, "DOD received a disclaimer of opinion-meaning auditors could not express an opinion on the financial statements because the financial information was not sufficiently reliable." The Pentagon was upset.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan fell to his knees and, through teary eyes, whimpered, "We failed the audit. But we never expected to pass it." Okay, I lied about DOD being upset.

In 2021, Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord was asked about his predecessor's prediction that DOD would pass the audit by 2027; he replied, "We're just not close enough, in my opinion, to say that I know for sure it's going to be 2027 or it's not."

In fairness, the audit is not strictly a dollars-in-dollars-out affair, though that gets most of the focus.

Like when the Navy discovered nearly $1 billion worth of spare parts it didn't know it had. Part of the audit is how well DOD implements efficiencies and security systems.

The reason we are approaching the 30th anniversary of the requirement that DOD submit its programs to an audit without having passed is simple.

Until high-ranking people find their careers in jeopardy because of failing an audit, it will remain a bulls**t requirement that generates a press release that hardly anyone reads.

https://redstate.com/streiff/2023/11/18/pentagon-would-panic-button-as-it-fails-its-6th-audit-in-a-row-and-funding-is-jeopardized-if-anyone-cared-n2166530

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