CargoAdmin, Bureaucrats, Moderators (CommentStreams), fileuploaders, Interface administrators, newuser, Push subscription managers, Suppressors, Administrators
5,230
edits
Department of Defense: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| (5 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Organization | {{Organization | ||
|OrganizationName= | |OrganizationName=Department of Defense | ||
|OrganizationType=Executive Departments | |OrganizationType=Executive Departments | ||
|Mission=The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country. Its mission is to ensure the defense readiness and capability to protect national interests through military and other means. | |Mission=The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country. Its mission is to ensure the defense readiness and capability to protect national interests through military and other means. | ||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
|Website=https://www.defense.gov | |Website=https://www.defense.gov | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Infobox government agency | {{Infobox government agency | ||
| agency_name = United States Department of Defense | | agency_name = United States Department of Defense | ||
| Line 30: | Line 29: | ||
| agency_type = [[United States Federal Executive Departments|Executive Department]] | | agency_type = [[United States Federal Executive Departments|Executive Department]] | ||
| jurisdiction = [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. federal government]] | | jurisdiction = [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. federal government]] | ||
| headquarters = [[The Pentagon]]<br /> | | headquarters = [[The Pentagon]]<br />Arlington County, Virginia, U.S. | ||
| coordinates = {{coord|38|52|16|N|77|3|21|W|type:landmark_region:US-VA|display=inline,title}} | | coordinates = {{coord|38|52|16|N|77|3|21|W|type:landmark_region:US-VA|display=inline,title}} | ||
| region_code = US | | region_code = US | ||
| Line 36: | Line 35: | ||
2,870,235 total (June 2022)}} | 2,870,235 total (June 2022)}} | ||
| budget = $842 billion FY2024 | | budget = $842 billion FY2024 | ||
| chief1_name = | | chief1_name = | ||
| chief1_position = [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary]] | | chief1_position = [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary]] | ||
| chief2_name = [[Kathleen Hicks]] | | chief2_name = [[Kathleen Hicks]] | ||
| Line 70: | Line 69: | ||
The Department of Defense is headed by the [[United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense]], a cabinet-level head who reports directly to the [[president of the United States]], the latter of which is also the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces. Beneath the Department of Defense are three subordinate military departments: the [[United States Department of the Army|Department of the Army]], the [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]], and the [[United States Department of the Air Force|Department of the Air Force]]. In addition, four [[United States Intelligence Community|national intelligence services]] are subordinate to the Department of Defense: the Defense Intelligence Agency ([[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]), the National Security Agency ([[National Security Agency|NSA]]), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency ([[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency|NGA]]), and the National Reconnaissance Office ([[National Reconnaissance Office|NRO]]). Other Defense agencies include the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ([[DARPA]]), the Defense Logistics Agency ([[Defense Logistics Agency|DLA]]), the Missile Defense Agency ([[Missile Defense Agency|MDA]]), the Defense Health Agency ([[Defense Health Agency|DHA]]), Defense Threat Reduction Agency ([[Defense Threat Reduction Agency|DTRA]]), the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency ([[Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency|DCSA]]), the Space Development Agency (SDA) and the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA), all of which are subordinate to the secretary of defense. Additionally, the Defense Contract Management Agency ([[Defense Contract Management Agency|DCMA]]) is responsible for administering contracts for the Department of Defense. Military operations are managed by eleven regional or functional unified combatant commands. The Department of Defense also operates several joint services schools, including the Eisenhower School (ES) and the National War College (NWC). | The Department of Defense is headed by the [[United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense]], a cabinet-level head who reports directly to the [[president of the United States]], the latter of which is also the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces. Beneath the Department of Defense are three subordinate military departments: the [[United States Department of the Army|Department of the Army]], the [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]], and the [[United States Department of the Air Force|Department of the Air Force]]. In addition, four [[United States Intelligence Community|national intelligence services]] are subordinate to the Department of Defense: the Defense Intelligence Agency ([[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]), the National Security Agency ([[National Security Agency|NSA]]), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency ([[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency|NGA]]), and the National Reconnaissance Office ([[National Reconnaissance Office|NRO]]). Other Defense agencies include the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ([[DARPA]]), the Defense Logistics Agency ([[Defense Logistics Agency|DLA]]), the Missile Defense Agency ([[Missile Defense Agency|MDA]]), the Defense Health Agency ([[Defense Health Agency|DHA]]), Defense Threat Reduction Agency ([[Defense Threat Reduction Agency|DTRA]]), the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency ([[Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency|DCSA]]), the Space Development Agency (SDA) and the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA), all of which are subordinate to the secretary of defense. Additionally, the Defense Contract Management Agency ([[Defense Contract Management Agency|DCMA]]) is responsible for administering contracts for the Department of Defense. Military operations are managed by eleven regional or functional unified combatant commands. The Department of Defense also operates several joint services schools, including the Eisenhower School (ES) and the National War College (NWC). | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
{{See also|National Security Act of 1947}} | {{See also|National Security Act of 1947}} | ||
Faced with rising tensions between the [[Thirteen Colonies]] and the [[Parliament of Great Britain|British government]], one of the first actions taken by the [[First Continental Congress]] in September 1774 was to recommend that the colonies begin defensive military preparations. In mid-June 1775, after the outbreak of the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], the [[Second Continental Congress]], recognizing the necessity of having a national army that could move about and fight beyond the boundaries of any particular colony, organized the [[Continental Army]] on June 14, 1775.<ref>{{cite book |title=For the Common Defense: A Military History of the United States from 1607 to 2012 |last1=Millett |first1=Allan R. |last2=Maslowski |first2=Peter |last3=Feis |first3=William B. |edition=3rd |year=2012 |orig-year=1984 |isbn=978-1451623536 |publisher=The Free Press (a division of Simon & Schuster) |chapter=The American Revolution, 1763–1783}}</ref><ref name="June 14">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/faq/birth.html |title=June 14th: The Birthday of the U.S. Army |publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History |date=June 14, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2014 |author=Maass, John R. |archive-date=October 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001214256/https://history.army.mil/html/faq/birth.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> This momentous event is commemorated in the U.S. annually as [[Flag Day (United States)|Flag Day]]. Later that year, Congress would charter the [[Continental Navy]] on October 13,<ref name="Navy Birthday">{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/birthday.htm |title=Navy Birthday Information – October 13, 1775 |access-date=June 19, 2014 |author=Naval History and Heritage Command |archive-date=January 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101222021/http://www.history.navy.mil/birthday.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[Continental Marines]] on November 10. | Faced with rising tensions between the [[Thirteen Colonies]] and the [[Parliament of Great Britain|British government]], one of the first actions taken by the [[First Continental Congress]] in September 1774 was to recommend that the colonies begin defensive military preparations. In mid-June 1775, after the outbreak of the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], the [[Second Continental Congress]], recognizing the necessity of having a national army that could move about and fight beyond the boundaries of any particular colony, organized the [[Continental Army]] on June 14, 1775.<ref>{{cite book |title=For the Common Defense: A Military History of the United States from 1607 to 2012 |last1=Millett |first1=Allan R. |last2=Maslowski |first2=Peter |last3=Feis |first3=William B. |edition=3rd |year=2012 |orig-year=1984 |isbn=978-1451623536 |publisher=The Free Press (a division of Simon & Schuster) |chapter=The American Revolution, 1763–1783}}</ref><ref name="June 14">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/faq/birth.html |title=June 14th: The Birthday of the U.S. Army |publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History |date=June 14, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2014 |author=Maass, John R. |archive-date=October 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001214256/https://history.army.mil/html/faq/birth.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> This momentous event is commemorated in the U.S. annually as [[Flag Day (United States)|Flag Day]]. Later that year, Congress would charter the [[Continental Navy]] on October 13,<ref name="Navy Birthday">{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/birthday.htm |title=Navy Birthday Information – October 13, 1775 |access-date=June 19, 2014 |author=Naval History and Heritage Command |archive-date=January 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101222021/http://www.history.navy.mil/birthday.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[Continental Marines]] on November 10. | ||
| Line 196: | Line 194: | ||
The Department of Defense accounts for the majority of federal discretionary spending. In FY 2017, the Department of Defense budgeted spending accounted for 15% of the U.S. federal budget, and 49% of federal [[discretionary spending]], which represents funds not accounted for by pre-existing obligations. However, this does not include many military-related items that are outside the Department of Defense budget, such as nuclear weapons research, maintenance, cleanup, and production, which is in the Department of Energy budget, Veterans Affairs, the Treasury Department's payments in pensions to military retirees and widows and their families, interest on debt incurred in past wars, or State Department financing of foreign arms sales and militarily-related development assistance. Neither does it include defense spending that is not military, such as the Department of Homeland Security, counter-terrorism spending by the FBI, and intelligence-gathering spending by the NSA. | The Department of Defense accounts for the majority of federal discretionary spending. In FY 2017, the Department of Defense budgeted spending accounted for 15% of the U.S. federal budget, and 49% of federal [[discretionary spending]], which represents funds not accounted for by pre-existing obligations. However, this does not include many military-related items that are outside the Department of Defense budget, such as nuclear weapons research, maintenance, cleanup, and production, which is in the Department of Energy budget, Veterans Affairs, the Treasury Department's payments in pensions to military retirees and widows and their families, interest on debt incurred in past wars, or State Department financing of foreign arms sales and militarily-related development assistance. Neither does it include defense spending that is not military, such as the Department of Homeland Security, counter-terrorism spending by the FBI, and intelligence-gathering spending by the NSA. | ||
In the [[2010 United States federal budget]], the Department of Defense was allocated a base budget of $533.7 billion, with a further $75.5 billion adjustment in respect of 2009, and $130 billion for overseas contingencies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy10/pdf/fy10-newera.pdf |title=United States Federal Budget for Fiscal Year 2010 (''vid.'' p.53) |publisher=[[United States Government Printing Office|Government Printing Office]] |access-date=January 9, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205005029/http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy10/pdf/fy10-newera.pdf |archive-date=February 5, 2011}}</ref> The subsequent 2010 Department of Defense Financial Report shows the total budgetary resources for | In the [[2010 United States federal budget]], the Department of Defense was allocated a base budget of $533.7 billion, with a further $75.5 billion adjustment in respect of 2009, and $130 billion for overseas contingencies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy10/pdf/fy10-newera.pdf |title=United States Federal Budget for Fiscal Year 2010 (''vid.'' p.53) |publisher=[[United States Government Printing Office|Government Printing Office]] |access-date=January 9, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205005029/http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy10/pdf/fy10-newera.pdf |archive-date=February 5, 2011}}</ref> The subsequent 2010 Department of Defense Financial Report shows the total budgetary resources for fiscal year 2010 were $1.2 trillion.<ref name="DoD FR 25">{{cite web|url=http://comptroller.defense.gov/cfs/fy2010/01_DoD_Agency-Wide/Fiscal_Year_2010_DoD_Agencywide_Agency%20Financial%20Report.pdf |title=FY 2010 DoD Agencywide Agency Financial Report (''vid.'' p.25) |publisher=US Department of Defense |access-date=January 7, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214071610/http://comptroller.defense.gov/cfs/fy2010/01_DoD_Agency-Wide/Fiscal_Year_2010_DoD_Agencywide_Agency%20Financial%20Report.pdf |archive-date=December 14, 2010}}</ref> Of these resources, $1.1 trillion were obligated and $994 billion were disbursed, with the remaining resources relating to multi-year modernization projects requiring additional time to procure.<ref name="DoD FR 25" /> After over a decade of [[US military expenditure#GAO audits|non-compliance]], [[United States Congress|Congress]] has established a deadline of [[Fiscal year]] 2017 for the Department of Defense to achieve [[Audit#Accounting|audit readiness]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fiar/FIAR_Plan_May_2011.pdf |title=Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness (FIAR) Plan Status Report |publisher=[[Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)|Comptroller, Department of Defense]] |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429225208/https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fiar/FIAR_Plan_May_2011.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
In 2015 the allocation for the Department of Defense was $585 billion,<ref>{{cite web |title=Current & Future Defense Capabilities of the U.S. |url=http://online.utep.edu/resources/webinars-and-infographics/current-future-defense-capabilities-of-the-u-s/ |website=UTEP |access-date=August 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802225421/http://online.utep.edu/resources/webinars-and-infographics/current-future-defense-capabilities-of-the-u-s/ |archive-date=August 2, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[Military budget of the United States|highest level of budgetary resources]] among all federal agencies, and this amounts to more than one-half of the annual federal expenditures in the United States federal budget [[Discretionary spending|discretionary budget]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Federal Spending: Where Does the Money Go|url=https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/spending/ |website=National Priorities Project |access-date=August 18, 2015 |archive-date=August 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814004718/https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/spending/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | In 2015 the allocation for the Department of Defense was $585 billion,<ref>{{cite web |title=Current & Future Defense Capabilities of the U.S. |url=http://online.utep.edu/resources/webinars-and-infographics/current-future-defense-capabilities-of-the-u-s/ |website=UTEP |access-date=August 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802225421/http://online.utep.edu/resources/webinars-and-infographics/current-future-defense-capabilities-of-the-u-s/ |archive-date=August 2, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[Military budget of the United States|highest level of budgetary resources]] among all federal agencies, and this amounts to more than one-half of the annual federal expenditures in the United States federal budget [[Discretionary spending|discretionary budget]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Federal Spending: Where Does the Money Go|url=https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/spending/ |website=National Priorities Project |access-date=August 18, 2015 |archive-date=August 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814004718/https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/spending/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
| Line 250: | Line 248: | ||
=== FY2024 === | === FY2024 === | ||
As of 10 March 2023 the | As of 10 March 2023 the fiscal year 2024 (FY2024) presidential budget request was $842{{nbsp}}billion.{{efn|name="FY2024Agreement" |The Senate agreed to the debt ceiling arrangement for 2023–2025 on 2 June 2023.<ref name="ppbe24">Ashley Roque [https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/white-house-requests-842-billion-to-fund-pentagon-in-2024/ (10 March 2023) White House requests $842 billion to fund Pentagon in 2024] PPBE "request to Congress includes $6{{nbsp}}billion to support Ukraine, NATO, and other European partner states, and $9.1{{nbsp}}billion for DoD's Pacific Deterrence Initiative".</ref><ref name="debtCeilingFix2Year">Nicola Slawson [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/02/first-thing-us-debt-ceiling-deal-passes-senate-averting-catastrophic-federal-default (2 Jun 2023) First Thing: US debt ceiling deal passes Senate, averting catastrophic federal default ]</ref> }} In January 2023 Treasury Secretary [[Janet Yellen]] announced the US government would hit its $31.4{{nbsp}}trillion [[debt ceiling]] on 19 January 2023;<ref name="31teraUSD">{{Cite news |last1=Morgan |first1=David |last2=Lawder |first2=David |date=2023-01-20 |title=U.S. hits debt ceiling as partisan standoff sparks economic worries |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-govt-touches-debt-limit-amid-standoff-between-republicans-democrats-2023-01-19/ |access-date=2023-08-18}}</ref> the date on which the US government would no longer be able to use [[United States debt ceiling#Extraordinary measures|extraordinary measures]] such as issuance of [[Treasury securities]] is estimated to be in June 2023.<ref name="yellen">Victor Reklaitis [https://www.marketwatch.com/story/u-s-to-hit-debt-limit-thursday-heres-what-it-means-11673983940 (17 January 2023) U.S. to hit debt limit Thursday: Here's what that means] | ||
*Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget [https://www.crfb.org/papers/qa-everything-you-should-know-about-debt-ceiling (28 Oct 2022) Q&A: Everything You Should Know About the Debt Ceiling] | *Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget [https://www.crfb.org/papers/qa-everything-you-should-know-about-debt-ceiling (28 Oct 2022) Q&A: Everything You Should Know About the Debt Ceiling] | ||
*Stephen Collinson [https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/18/politics/biden-ukraine-new-tipping-point/index.html (18 Jan 2023) Russia's war in Ukraine reaches a critical moment] in [[power projection]] in light of the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]]</ref> On 3 June 2023, the debt ceiling was suspended until 2025.<ref name="dorn">{{Cite web |last=Dorn |first=Sara |title=Biden Signs Debt Ceiling Bill Into Law—Lifts Borrowing Limit Until 2025 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/06/03/biden-signs-debt-ceiling-bill-into-law-lifts-borrowing-limit-until-2025/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Forbes |language=en}} [[Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023]]</ref> The $886{{nbsp}}billion [[2024 NDAA|National Defense Authorization Act]] is facing reconciliation of the [[United States House of Representatives|House]] and [[United States Senate|Senate]] bills after passing both houses 27 July 2023; the conferees have to be chosen, next.<ref name="facingReconcil2023">{{Cite web |last=Katz |first=Justin |date=2023-07-28 |title=Ducking the culture wars, Senate passes NDAA 86–11 |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2023/07/ducking-the-culture-wars-senate-passes-ndaa-86-11/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="ndaa2023">{{Cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=Connor |last2=Gould |first2=Joe |date=2023-07-02 |title=The Pentagon policy bill's next big stumbling block: Kevin McCarthy |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/02/pentagon-policy-ndaa-kevin-mccarthy-00104466 |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="harris2023">{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Bryant |date=2023-06-23 |title=Senate defense bill pushes for spending over debt ceiling cap |url=https://www.defensenews.com/congress/budget/2023/06/23/senate-defense-bill-pushes-for-spending-over-debt-ceiling-cap/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Defense News |language=en}}</ref> As of September 2023, a [[Continuing resolution]] is needed to prevent a [[Government shutdowns in the United States|Government shutdown]].<ref name= 2023ShutdownThreat >Bryant Harris [https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2023/09/13/freedom-caucus-derails-pentagon-spending-bill-foreshadowing-shutdown/ (13 Sep 2023) Freedom Caucus derails Pentagon spending bill, foreshadowing shutdown] 30 Sep 2023 is looming date for shutdown. | *Stephen Collinson [https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/18/politics/biden-ukraine-new-tipping-point/index.html (18 Jan 2023) Russia's war in Ukraine reaches a critical moment] in [[power projection]] in light of the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]]</ref> On 3 June 2023, the debt ceiling was suspended until 2025.<ref name="dorn">{{Cite web |last=Dorn |first=Sara |title=Biden Signs Debt Ceiling Bill Into Law—Lifts Borrowing Limit Until 2025 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/06/03/biden-signs-debt-ceiling-bill-into-law-lifts-borrowing-limit-until-2025/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Forbes |language=en}} [[Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023]]</ref> The $886{{nbsp}}billion [[2024 NDAA|National Defense Authorization Act]] is facing reconciliation of the [[United States House of Representatives|House]] and [[United States Senate|Senate]] bills after passing both houses 27 July 2023; the conferees have to be chosen, next.<ref name="facingReconcil2023">{{Cite web |last=Katz |first=Justin |date=2023-07-28 |title=Ducking the culture wars, Senate passes NDAA 86–11 |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2023/07/ducking-the-culture-wars-senate-passes-ndaa-86-11/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="ndaa2023">{{Cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=Connor |last2=Gould |first2=Joe |date=2023-07-02 |title=The Pentagon policy bill's next big stumbling block: Kevin McCarthy |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/02/pentagon-policy-ndaa-kevin-mccarthy-00104466 |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="harris2023">{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Bryant |date=2023-06-23 |title=Senate defense bill pushes for spending over debt ceiling cap |url=https://www.defensenews.com/congress/budget/2023/06/23/senate-defense-bill-pushes-for-spending-over-debt-ceiling-cap/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Defense News |language=en}}</ref> As of September 2023, a [[Continuing resolution]] is needed to prevent a [[Government shutdowns in the United States|Government shutdown]].<ref name= 2023ShutdownThreat >Bryant Harris [https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2023/09/13/freedom-caucus-derails-pentagon-spending-bill-foreshadowing-shutdown/ (13 Sep 2023) Freedom Caucus derails Pentagon spending bill, foreshadowing shutdown] 30 Sep 2023 is looming date for shutdown. | ||
| Line 256: | Line 254: | ||
=== Criticism of finances === | === Criticism of finances === | ||
A 2013 ''Reuters'' investigation concluded that [[Defense Finance and Accounting Service|Defense Finance & Accounting Service]], the Department of Defense's primary financial management arm, implements monthly "unsubstantiated change actions"—illegal, inaccurate "plugs"—that forcibly make DoD's books match Treasury's books.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paltrow |first=Scot J. |date=November 18, 2013 |title=Special Report: The Pentagon's doctored ledgers conceal epic waste |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-waste-specialreport-idUSBRE9AH0LQ20131118 |access-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204112723/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-waste-specialreport-idUSBRE9AH0LQ20131118 |url-status=live }}</ref> | A 2013 ''Reuters'' investigation concluded that [[Defense Finance and Accounting Service|Defense Finance & Accounting Service]], the Department of Defense's primary financial management arm, implements monthly "unsubstantiated change actions"—illegal, inaccurate "plugs"—that forcibly make DoD's books match Treasury's books.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paltrow |first=Scot J. |date=November 18, 2013 |title=Special Report: The Pentagon's doctored ledgers conceal epic waste |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-waste-specialreport-idUSBRE9AH0LQ20131118 |access-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204112723/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-waste-specialreport-idUSBRE9AH0LQ20131118 |url-status=live }}</ref> Reuters reported that [[the Pentagon]] was the only federal agency that had not released annual audits as required by a 1992 law. According to Reuters, the Pentagon "annually reports to Congress that its books are in such disarray that an audit is impossible".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Paltrow |first1=Scot J. |last2=Carr |first2=Kelly |date=July 2, 2013 |title=Reuters Investigates – Unaccountable: The Pentagon's bad bookkeeping |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/pentagon/#article/part1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106192706/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/pentagon/#article/part1 |archive-date=January 6, 2020 |access-date=December 24, 2019 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Paltrow |first=Scot J. |date=2013-11-18 |title=Special Report: The Pentagon's doctored ledgers conceal epic waste |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-waste-specialreport-idUSBRE9AH0LQ20131118 |access-date=2021-02-16 |archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204112723/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pentagon-waste-specialreport-idUSBRE9AH0LQ20131118 |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
In 2015, a Pentagon consulting firm performed an audit on the Department of Defense's budget. It found that there was $125 billion in wasteful spending that could be saved over the next five years without layoffs or reduction in military personnel. In 2016, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' uncovered that rather than taking the advice of the auditing firm, senior defense officials suppressed and hid the report from the public to avoid political scrutiny.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/pentagon-buries-evidence-of-125-billion-in-bureaucratic-waste/2016/12/05/e0668c76-9af6-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html |title=Pentagon buries evidence of $125 billion in bureaucratic waste |last1=Whitlock |first1=Craig |date=December 5, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=December 18, 2017 |last2=Woodward |first2=Bob |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=December 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218070634/https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/pentagon-buries-evidence-of-125-billion-in-bureaucratic-waste/2016/12/05/e0668c76-9af6-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2016, the [[Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense|Office of the Inspector General]] released a report stating that the Army made $6.5 trillion in wrongful adjustments to its accounting entries in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Paltrow |first1=Scot J. |date=August 19, 2016 |title=U.S. Army fudged its accounts by trillions of dollars, auditor finds |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-audit-army/u-s-army-fudged-its-accounts-by-trillions-of-dollars-auditor-finds-idUSKCN10U1IG |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221045604/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-audit-army/u-s-army-fudged-its-accounts-by-trillions-of-dollars-auditor-finds-idUSKCN10U1IG |archive-date=December 21, 2017 |access-date=December 18, 2017 |work=Reuters}}</ref> The Department of Defense failed its fifth audit in 2022, and could not account for more than 60% of its $3.5 trillion in assets.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Ellen |date=November 17, 2022 |title=Defense Department fails another audit, but makes progress|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3740921-defense-department-fails-another-audit-but-makes-progress/ |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |location= |access-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-date=January 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119050754/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3740921-defense-department-fails-another-audit-but-makes-progress/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | In 2015, a Pentagon consulting firm performed an audit on the Department of Defense's budget. It found that there was $125 billion in wasteful spending that could be saved over the next five years without layoffs or reduction in military personnel. In 2016, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' uncovered that rather than taking the advice of the auditing firm, senior defense officials suppressed and hid the report from the public to avoid political scrutiny.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/pentagon-buries-evidence-of-125-billion-in-bureaucratic-waste/2016/12/05/e0668c76-9af6-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html |title=Pentagon buries evidence of $125 billion in bureaucratic waste |last1=Whitlock |first1=Craig |date=December 5, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=December 18, 2017 |last2=Woodward |first2=Bob |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=December 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218070634/https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/pentagon-buries-evidence-of-125-billion-in-bureaucratic-waste/2016/12/05/e0668c76-9af6-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2016, the [[Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense|Office of the Inspector General]] released a report stating that the Army made $6.5 trillion in wrongful adjustments to its accounting entries in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Paltrow |first1=Scot J. |date=August 19, 2016 |title=U.S. Army fudged its accounts by trillions of dollars, auditor finds |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-audit-army/u-s-army-fudged-its-accounts-by-trillions-of-dollars-auditor-finds-idUSKCN10U1IG |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221045604/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-audit-army/u-s-army-fudged-its-accounts-by-trillions-of-dollars-auditor-finds-idUSKCN10U1IG |archive-date=December 21, 2017 |access-date=December 18, 2017 |work=Reuters}}</ref> The Department of Defense failed its fifth audit in 2022, and could not account for more than 60% of its $3.5 trillion in assets.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Ellen |date=November 17, 2022 |title=Defense Department fails another audit, but makes progress|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3740921-defense-department-fails-another-audit-but-makes-progress/ |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |location= |access-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-date=January 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119050754/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3740921-defense-department-fails-another-audit-but-makes-progress/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||