Tester Statement on Confirmation of Top Watchdog for the Department of Defense

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement on the confirmation of Robert Philip Storch as Inspector General of the Department of Defense (DOD), the agency’s top taxpayer watchdog.  

“Montanans expect taxpayer dollars to be spent efficiently and effectively, especially when it comes to our national security. The Inspector General is our eyes and ears in the Defense Department, rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. After going nearly seven years without a Senate-confirmed nominee in this role, the Senate took a critical step towards holding the federal government accountable.”

Mr. Storch was confirmed by the Senate earlier this week 92-3. Mr. Storch previously served as the presidentially-appointed Inspector General at the National Security Agency.

Last month, Tester, in his capacity as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, spent a week meeting with American troops stationed across Europe and conducting in-depth, on-the-ground oversight of the Department of Defense in the region. Chairman Tester also held official discussions and briefings with U.S. and European allies on challenges presented by Russian aggression in Ukraine, the influx of Ukrainian refugees to the region, and other security and economic concerns.