Bases and Infrastructure
Bases and Infrastructure

Enhance the oversight of contingency construction projects

Since involvement began in Iraq and Afghanistan, DOD has not separately tracked costs of contingency construction projects in those nations. DOD officials have said that they are not required to track these projects According to senior DOD officials, the department does not have to track these projects separately from other DOD projects, but the department has generated specific data on contingency construction projects in the past. GAO recommended that the department track these projects and review them to ensure funds were not improperly used, among other goals. As of 2018, DOD has taken some steps toward improving flexibility and responsiveness, but further work remains.

The Problem

Readiness versus Waste

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    “If we are going to effectively tackle the long-term national security threat posed by our national debt, then we need to seriously examine how our defense dollars are being spent. Waste and inefficiency within the Pentagon not only contributes to our nation’s debt and deficit, it also diminishes the effectiveness of our nation’s armed forces."

    Dan Caldwell, USMC (ret.)
    Concerned Veterans for America
    Dan Caldwell, USMC (ret.)
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    “I'm concerned that our increasing fractious political process, particularly with respect to federal spending, is threatening our ability to properly defend our nation both in the short term and especially in the long term."

    Dan Coats
    Director of National Intelligence
    Dan Coats
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    “This guide is a much-needed first step toward encouraging politicians to consider all available options for substantive Pentagon reform. Our troops deserve better than broken bureaucracy, and politicians shouldn't fool themselves into thinking that throwing money at the problem is the solution."

    Capt. Dan Grazier, USMC (ret.)
    Project on Government Oversight
    Capt. Dan Grazier, USMC (ret.)