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Pentagon Big Guns Late, Way Over Budget

Overruns hit $295B, says GAO report

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 1, 2008 12:46 PM CDT

(Newser) – Some 95 of the Pentagon's biggest weapons systems are a total of $295 billion over budget and arrive an average of 2 years late, according to the Government Accountability Office. But GAO auditors say the Pentagon is getting sloppier, not better, reports the Washington Post. "It's taking longer and costing more," says a GAO director.

"In most cases, programs also failed to deliver capabilities when promised—often forcing war fighters to spend additional funds on maintaining" existing systems, the report says. Since 2000, the Pentagon has doubled the funds allocated to new weapons systems. "We'd like to look at what GAO has said, and then at the appropriate time make an informed comment," says a Pentagon spokesman.

This photo provided by the US Navy, Thursday Sept. 21, 2006 shows the first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS 1) under construction.
This photo provided by the US Navy, Thursday Sept. 21, 2006 shows the first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS 1) under construction.   (AP Photo/Lockheed Martin Corporation, file)
The Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter is unveiled during a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas,in this July 7, 2006 file photo.
The Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter is unveiled during a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas,in this July 7, 2006 file photo.   (AP Photo/LM Otero, file)
This photo provided by the US Navy, Thursday Sept. 21, 2006 shows the first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS 1) under construction.
This photo provided by the US Navy, Thursday Sept. 21, 2006 shows the first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS 1) under construction.   (AP Photo/Lockheed Martin Corporation, file)
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