For the sevenmth time in a row, the Pentagon has failed to fully account for its $824 billion dollar budget, though officials were confident the Department of Defense “has turned a corner” in understanding its budgetary challenges going forward, Fox News reports.
The audits resulted in a disclaimer of opinion, which means auditors were provided with insufficient information to form an accurate opinion of the accounts.
From Fox News:
Of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) 28 reporting entities that had standalone audits, 9 received an unmodified audit opinion, 1 received a qualified opinion, 15 received disclaimers, and 3 opinions remain pending, the Pentagon said.
But with the goal of achieving a clean audit by 2028, Michael McCord, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer, said the agency “has turned a corner in its understanding of the depth and breadth of its challenges.”
“Momentum is on our side, and throughout the Department there is strong commitment—and belief in our ability—to achieve an unmodified audit opinion,” he said in a statement.
…
“Significant work remains and challenges lie ahead, but our annual audit continues to be a catalyst for Department-wide financial management reform, resulting in greater financial integrity, transparency, and better-supported warfighters,” he said.
Last year, comedian and host of The Daily Show Jon Stewart asked Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks about the Pentagon’s history of failed audits; “There is a lot of waste, fraud, and abuse,” Steawrt said.
Watch the clip below:
NEW: Department of defense official laughs in Jon Stewart’s face when questioned about the waste, fraud and abuse there.
Stewart is a liberal but is stunned at Democrat Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks’ smug answer when he questions her about the rampant waste, fraud and… pic.twitter.com/DFeDsjt3kv
— MAGA Resource (@MAGAResource) November 17, 2024
Donald Trump has nominated Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, to lead the Defense Department; sweeping changes are expected.
More over at Fox News:
DISAPPEARING ACT: The Pentagon has failed its seventh consecutive audit, unable to fully account for its $824 billion budget. Despite this, officials assert the Department of Defense "has turned a corner" in addressing its financial management challenges. https://t.co/h4osgMVEi5 pic.twitter.com/afHM52fbo8
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 17, 2024
