The Department of Defense Failed Its Audit. Again.
Meanwhile, approximately one-quarter of active duty troops are food insecure.
The “United States Department of Defense Agency Financial Report Fiscal Year 2022” is a splashy and flashy 294 page – um – document. (1)
I first call it a “document” in order to be polite. Upon second take, I actually think that it comes off as a shameless effort to dress a troupe of rats in tuxedos.
One must wallow all the way to page 67 in order to find the first terse indication of the DOD inspector general’s overall findings.
“We were unable to obtain sufficient, appropriate audit evidence to provide a basis for an audit opinion on the financial statements. Accordingly, we did not express an opinion on the financial statements.” (1)
That’s accountant-speak, I believe, for “epic fail.”
And ya gotta love the headline on the department’s concurrent press release: “DOD Completes Department-Wide Financial Statement Audit; Essential Catalyst for Business Transformation and Modernization”. (2)
Wow. Turning a failed audit into an “essential catalyst.” Now that’s alchemy with words!
Despite the spectacular (and chronic) accounting problems, Congress can’t seem to throw money at the Department quickly enough.
Says DOD: “(T)he Fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act….allotting $816.7 billion to the Defense Department….includes $45 billion more than originally requested.” (3)
There’s more. On January 17, 2023, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled “DOD Financial Management: Greater Attention and Accountability Needed Over Government-Furnished Property.” (4)
“The DOD has struggled for decades to accurately account for government property in the possession of its contractors. DOD estimated that the value of such unaccounted property is over $220 billion—but that amount is likely significantly understated.” (5)
Meanwhile……….meanwhile, as I observed in a prior post, troops are going hungry. Yes. Hungry, as in not enough to eat.
From a Rand report summary: “(a)pproximately 15.4 percent of all active duty personnel would be classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as having low food security in 2018. Another 10.4 percent would be classified as having very low food security.” (6)
About a quarter of active service troops. Going hungry.
Shocking. Disgusting.
And stupid, too.
Memo to the Department of Defense from Napoleon Bonaparte: “An army marches on its stomach.” (7)
Sources:
(1) https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/afr/fy2022/DoD_FY22_Agency_Financial_Report.pdf
(4) https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-105198.pdf
(5) https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105198
(6) https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1230-1.html
(7) https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/napoleon_bonaparte_130788
Background:
https://www.defensedaily.com/after-dod-fails-fifth-audit-comptroller-says-not-the-progress-i-would-have-hoped-for/pentagon/
https://defensecommunities.org/2022/11/dod-fails-fifth-audit-mccord-sees-progress/
I've known many people in the military none are going hungry. If fact I've been on naval ships as a guest of lowly ranked sailors and have eatin in the mess hall, there was no lack of food. The real problem with the military is it seems to me, we don't win anymore.