Latest "government waste" stories

Military commands spent pandemic money on space analytics, IT upgrades

The U.S. military commands responsible for North America misused at least $19 million in COVID-19 relief money on space-related data analytics connected to the Pentagon’s JADC2 endeavor, as well as office information technology upgrades, investigators said.

By Joe Gould and Colin Demarest

19 months ago

An MQ-9 Reaper flies over the Nevada Test and Training Range, July 15, 2019.

Air Force wasted $17M on unneeded, never-delivered weather sensors for Reaper drone, IG finds

The weather sensor wouldn't have done much to stop Reaper crashes even if it had been finished, IG found.

By Stephen Losey

4 years ago

Use-it or lose-it: DoD dropped $4.6 million on crab and lobster, and $9,000 on a chair in last-minute spending spree

The federal government found a way to spend $97 billion in a single month last year, of which more than $61 billion can be attributed to the Pentagon.

By Kyle Rempfer

5 years ago

Air Force puts the kibosh on the $1,300 coffee cup

The Air Force has temporarily halted purchases of the controversial $1,280 “hot cup” used to warm liquids on cargo and other aircraft amid a growing controversy over their price.

By Stephen Losey

5 years ago

Battle over Air Force’s $1,300 coffee cups heats up

The Air Force, under fire for throwing down $1,280 apiece to replace in-flight reheating cups after their handles break, will use 3-D printing to fix the cups for just 50 cents. But Sen. Chuck Grassley wonders why these pricey cups are necessary.

By Stephen Losey

5 years ago

Pentagon finally plans Defense Travel System reforms

The Defense Department has fleshed out a plan to replace “the aging and inefficient Defense Travel System.”

By Kyle Rempfer

5 years ago