Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) ripped the Department of Defense's finances for failing its fifth consecutive audit and inability to account for 61% of its $3.5 trillion in assets.
"The most ravenous Leviathan of our government that devours the people's wealth is the Department of Defense," Higgins said in an impassioned speech during a House Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing on the DOD's failed audit, financial management practices.
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The Louisiana congressman pointed out that the nation was $32 trillion in debt and pressed hearing witness Brett Mansfield, the deputy inspector general for audits at the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General.
The Dept. of Defense has failed 5 audits and can't account for 61% of their assets... pic.twitter.com/7QXOPSNmRg
— Rep. Clay Higgins (@RepClayHiggins) July 17, 2023
Higgins gave the example of how in the private sector world, banks audit businesses before giving them more money, yet the DOD continues to expect higher expenditures despite failing several financial markers.
"If the business fails the audit [by the bank], what do you think happens? Can that business go to the bank and get more money?" the congressman asked at the Thursday hearing.
"It cannot," Mansfield responded.
The Republican lawmaker added, "Here's the problem with this bank: we don't even have the money. We're giving you a trillion dollars a year almost now, and we just added a trillion dollars."
Higgins called the DOD's spending an "arrogantly abusive culture" that devours "the people's wealth."
He closed his comments by asking the witnesses to provide a clean DOD audit.
The exchange between the House Oversight Committee member and the Department of Defense's Office of Inspector General went viral.
"I’m sure it’s all gone to Zelensky!" social media commentator Oli London tweeted.
Another social media user responded, "Totally unacceptable."
"It’s easy to spend other people’s money," another user said.
"What's happening to all our ammo with all the money we're pouring into the DOD/Ukraine.. Audit now!" another commentator tweeted.
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In March, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX) began an investigation into the DOD for its failure to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse after losing 61% of its $3.5 trillion in assets and failing failed its fifth consecutive audit in last November.
“DOD’s inability to adequately track assets risks our military readiness and represents a flagrant disregard for taxpayer funds, even as it receives nearly a trillion dollars annually," Republican lawmakers wrote in a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.