Two Aviation Programs Specifically Mentioned As Wasteful

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) released its preliminary analysis of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act Thursday. There are 1,719 projects worth $7.6 billion in the bill. FY 2010 marks the first time that defense earmarks are below $9 billion since FY 2002, when the total was $8.8 billion.

Despite this decrease, the bill contains programs the group considers to be a "waste".  CAGW specifically points to $2,500,000,000 added anonymously for ten additional C-17 aircraft. CAGW points to a floor statement posted on his website, in which Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) voiced his opposition to the C-17 funding: “[w]hat we would do in this bill is effectively fund the purchase of new aircraft that we neither need nor can afford with critical sustainment money. That would have a significant impact on our ability to provide the day-to-day operational funding that our servicemen and women and their families deserve.” 

It also cites $465,000,000 added anonymously for the F136 alternate engine program. In a news release, CAGW says "According to a November 10, 2009 Reuters article, deliveries of the F136 alternate engine will be delayed by one year. Built by General Electric and Rolls-Royce, the alternate engine program has had two major setbacks in as many months. In October, F136 testing was halted when a nut came loose, damaging turbine blades in the engine. Top military officials, former President Bush, President Obama, the Office of Management and Budget, and independent analysts all agree that the alternate engine should be eliminated. The project is expensive, unnecessary, and only survives because of pork-barrel politics."

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.

FMI: www.cagw.org