The Pentagon has once again failed its audit, marking the seventh consecutive year it has been unable to properly account for its massive budget of $824 billion. The latest audit, which cost taxpayers $178 million, uncovered serious financial management issues within the Department of Defense (DoD), despite assurances from Pentagon officials that progress is being made.
A team of 1,700 auditors reviewed the financial statements of the DoD and its reporting entities, but only nine out of 28 entities received an unmodified audit opinion, the desired outcome. The majority of entities either received disclaimers of opinion or qualified opinions, indicating that the auditors could not fully verify the department’s financial practices.
The Pentagon failed its 7th straight audit. Our healthcare system siphons billions into waste & fraud. Our Dept of Education blows $$ without accountability. Unelected bureaucrats are the core problem. DOGE is coming. pic.twitter.com/OmtP81i3ch
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) November 17, 2024
Despite the disappointing results, Michael McCord, the Pentagon’s chief financial officer, stated that the department was making strides toward achieving a clean audit by 2028. McCord expressed confidence that the DoD was “turning a corner” in its efforts to improve its financial management and transparency. He credited this supposed momentum to strong leadership from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Who else thinks Pete Hegseth will find out why the Pentagon cannot pass an audit?
There should be accountability for $824 billion dollar budget. pic.twitter.com/jbTqd0Rpn8
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) November 17, 2024
However, the failed audit has sparked outrage among taxpayers, many of whom fund the $824 billion defense budget. The lack of accountability over such a massive sum of money has led to calls for greater transparency and reform within the Pentagon. Critics argue that the DoD’s continued failures demonstrate a need for significant changes to how government agencies manage taxpayer dollars.
The audit’s failure has also caught the attention of new government efficiency leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who were appointed to help cut down on government waste. Musk, known for his unconventional remarks, took to social media to suggest that the Pentagon’s audit issues could be addressed with cryptocurrency, calling it “a job for DOGE.”
🚨Joe Rogan laughs hysterically when he realizes the Pentagon has never passed an audit:
"How many times have they missed their audit? WAIT, THEY'VE NEVER PASSED AN AUDIT? REALLY? NEVER?" 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/aH6aYYuAJ1
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) November 17, 2024
Some say it was legit.
Some say it was staged.
Some say it was humiliation ritual.But I found it wild that the most anticipated fight of the year just happened to be on the same day the Pentagon failed yet another audit. pic.twitter.com/tTMz7cdcbC
— Shipwreck (@shipwreckshow) November 16, 2024
As the Pentagon works toward its 2028 goal, many remain skeptical that the department will be able to meet its target without a more comprehensive overhaul of its financial management practices. The DoD’s repeated failures to properly account for its funds continue to fuel frustration and calls for accountability at the highest levels.
The dismissiveness of Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks in this clip is simply astounding. Jon Stewart points out the Pentagon keeps failing its audits & she literally tries to laugh it off. This is the entrenched mentality the next SecDef will face.pic.twitter.com/2PGjZuxsRC
— Jerry Dunleavy IV 🇺🇸 (@JerryDunleavy) November 16, 2024
