U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) criticized the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) on Thursday after the federal agency failed its sixth audit in a row.
According to reports, the DOD holds $3.8 trillion in assets and $4 trillion in liabilities around the U.S. and the world. Out of the nearly 30 sub-audits performed by independent auditors, only seven were rated clean, and 18 received failing grades as of Wednesday. Some sub-audits are still ongoing, but all sub-audits must pass for an audit to receive approval.
Though federal law has long required federal agencies to conduct audits, the DOD did not start until 2018. Since then, improvement has been slow.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told the press that a successful audit is still years away.
The House GOP Oversight Committee tweeted about the revelation on Thursday morning.
"The Pentagon receives a trillion in taxpayer funds annually but can't pass a simple audit," Moore Tweeted, sharing the Committee's post. "No wonder we're nearly $34 trillion in debt."
The Pentagon receives a trillion in taxpayer funds annually but can't pass a simple audit.
— Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) November 16, 2023
No wonder we're nearly $34 trillion in debt. https://t.co/cIBFZPbrqE
The DOD already receives over half of the U.S.'s discretionary spending.
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), introduced legislation earlier this year to force the Pentagon to pass a clean audit next year.
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