"U.S. Air Force Nonchalant About $25 Billion Accounting Error"

RallyPoint Shared Content — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 09:50:48 -0400

From: HNGN

In 2014, the Air Force estimated that its secretive Long-Range Strike Bomber program, likely to be labeled B-3, would cost approximately $33.1 billion from 2015 to 2024. This year, the Air Force has a new figure for fiscal years 2016 to 2026: $58.2 billion, an increase of 76 percent or $27 billion. And the Air Force hierarchy seems completely unfazed by this quantum miscalculation, reported the Washington Merry-Go-Round.

In fact, the service said the actual cost should have been $41.7 billion all along.

"There has been no change in the costing factors over the last two years... it was a mistake. It was a regrettable mistake. It occurred, in part, because of human error and, in part, because of process error, meaning a couple of people got the figures wrong and the process of coordination was not fully carried out in this case. The key thing is there has been no change in those cost figures," said Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James during a Pentagon press briefing, reported the Fiscal Times.

"We were surprised by the number when we saw it as well, once it had been pointed out to us that it looked like the number had grown, because we've been using the same number, it has not changed," said Gen. Mark Welsh, Air Force chief of staff, brushing off the mistake, reported the Daily Caller.

The lawmakers at Capitol Hill did not accept the explanation at face value with Rep. Jackie Speier of California demanding to know how the multibillion-dollar mix-up happened.

"This sudden 76 percent increase in estimated cost is alarming because it raises questions about the management of a crucial program that lacks transparency, on which we cannot afford serious cost overruns, development errors, and reduced production numbers that would deprive the United States of one of its core military capabilities," wrote Speier, the ranking member on the House Armed Services Oversight and Investigations subpanel, according to the Fiscal Times.

http://www.hngn.com/articles/125001/20150901/us-air-force-nonchalant-25-billion-accounting-error.htm

U.S. Air Force Nonchalant About $25 Billion Accounting Error

The lawmakers at Capitol Hill have demanded to know how the multibillion-dollar mix-up happened.

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Sep 5 at 2015 9:53 AM

Cpl James Waycasie — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 09:53:27 -0400

Lol, like we used to pay 52.00 dollars for each claw hammer in 1982 in the USMC. Right.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Sep 5 at 2015 9:54 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 09:54:35 -0400

What's a few billion, right? After all, I'm sure the taxpayers have no problem with this at all ...

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Sep 5 at 2015 10:14 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 10:14:21 -0400

I gotta call bull butter on this one! If they were forced to adjust other programs in order to get this right they'd keep the budget straight instead of a "whoops...need more money (again)". The days of spending their budgets on housing and amenities and then going back to the bank (congress) with the woes stories of aging equipment and needed parts are over, they made the mistake now someone better figure it out with what they have! I don't want to see this gaff resolved with the loss of monies from the other services! Ladies and gentlemen, the Air Force owns this one.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 10:47 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 10:47:59 -0400

Perhaps the Air Force is using the VA accounting system?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 11:37 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 11:37:43 -0400

Seems like pretty normal government spending. Contracting must have forgot the payout to Congress on this one.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 11:51 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 11:51:54 -0400

Because IT'S NOT THEIR MONEY!!!

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Sep 5 at 2015 4:58 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 16:58:18 -0400

It's because some of the money is secretively goes towards things we're not suppose to know about....or so I was told by someone. Who knows if it's true or not.
I think government contractor's taje great advantage of the government

Response by Maj Joseph Greenawalt made Sep 9 at 2015 10:53 PM

Maj Joseph Greenawalt — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 22:53:47 -0400

If we had used $60 billion to start, it may not have gotten to start and prove its value.