Grothman, Sessions: Financial Accountability at Department of Defense Critical to Safeguarding Taxpayer Dollars

WASHINGTON—Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs Chairman Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) and Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) delivered opening remarks at today’s joint hearing titled “Beyond the Budget: Addressing Financial Accountability in the Department of Defense.” Subcommittee Chairs Grothman and Sessions highlighted how fiscal mismanagement at the Department of Defense (DOD) continues to result in the astronomical loss of U.S. taxpayer funds. The Subcommittee Chairs emphasized that DOD must get their financial house in order and institute proper controls and oversight to prevent the waste of taxpayer dollars.

Below are key excerpts from National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Glenn Grothman’s remarks as prepared for delivery.

“Today, it is vital that we assess the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of DOD’s financial practices. The auditors and evaluators that work to bring transparency and accountability to light, are working with numbers that will make your head spin faster than a fighter jet.

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“The U.S. spends more on defense than China, Russia, India, Saudia Arabia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, South Korea, Japan, and Ukraine combined. The American people work diligently to earn every dollar, but it seems the DOD has become a master of squandering those funds without batting an eye.

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“But by ensuring the good stewardship of U.S. taxpayer dollars to the Department of Defense, we can ultimately enhance our nation’s national security and safeguard the interest of the American people. I hope to hear from our panelists today how their agencies work together to identify ways to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse at the Pentagon.”

Below are key excerpts from Government Operations and the Federal Workforce Subcommittee Chairman Pete Sessions remarks as prepared for delivery.

“Financial transparency of the military is crucial.  The ability to properly monitor and assess financial performance is vital for Congress and the American people to remain confident in DOD’s ability to protect America’s interests around the world.

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“DOD has established audit priorities and corrective action plans (CAPs) and is working to replace old IT systems. But these plans are not enough. GAO noted that DOD’s remediation plans were not sufficiently detailed to achieve its clean audit goals, focusing on high-level financial management priorities instead of the steps needed to achieve a clean audit.

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“One theme I want to drive home in today’s hearing is the need to stick to clear, well-articulated goals. And, if DOD falls short of its own goals, they must be able to explain clearly and succinctly to Congress why it missed the mark.”