Tester Blasts Pentagon for Hiding Information About How to Reduce Spending

Senator Calls for Defense Department Audit and Hiring of Agency Watchdog

(U.S. Senate) – Following a Washington Post investigation, Senator Jon Tester is blasting the Pentagon for its troubling decision to bury an internal study which exposed as much as $125 billion in potential savings for U.S. taxpayers.

“This is a complete slap in the face to the American taxpayer. As teachers, border patrol agents, and firefighters tighten their belts, and as our deficits grow, the Pentagon is avoiding transparency and irresponsibly shoving billions of taxpayer dollars into dark corners of the Pentagon,” said Tester, a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. “I am demanding a full, public, audit of the Defense Department budget and calling on Congress to immediately fill the vacant Inspector General position at the agency so we can hold these folks accountable.”

The Washington Post reports that this plan to save billions “would not have required layoffs of civil servants or reductions in military personnel. Instead, it would have streamlined the bureaucracy through attrition and early retirements, curtailed high-priced contractors, and made better use of information technology.”

Just last week, Senator Tester called on Senate leadership to confirm the eight pending Inspectors General nominees.