|
|
 May 12, 2003 Troubled F/A-22 Headed for Budget Cuts |
|||
 For Immediate Release
Contact: Beth Daley beth@pogo.org (202) 347-1122
During a House Armed Services Committee markup session on Tuesday, Representative Curt Weldon is expected to offer an amendment to the 2004 Defense Authorization Bill cutting the F/A-22 jet's budget by $161 million. POGO's Executive Director Danielle Brian sent a letter commending Senate and House Armed Services Committees, stating: "We are encouraged now more than ever that Congress will restore accountability to a weapons system that is overpriced, under tested and unneeded to fight the wars of the present and future." Click here to see the letter. Representative Weldon told Aerospace Daily last week that he also wants language in the bill that would require the Air Force to solve reliability problems with the aircraft's avionics before it purchases the last of 22 aircraft during FY 2004. The Senate Armed Services Committee has reportedly passed language slashing the F/A-22 2004 budget by $217 million and reduces the number of aircraft purchased next fiscal year from 22 to 20, according to the Dallas Morning News. POGO has published several reports on its investigations into the troubled F/A-22 program. Click here to learn more on the F/A-22. One report predicted that because of skyrocketing costs, the Air Force would only be able to purchase 100 to 175 F/A-22s to replace the fleet of 1,600 F-16s. POGO investigates, exposes, and seeks to remedy systemic abuses of power, mismanagement, and subservience by the federal government to powerful special interests. Founded in 1981, POGO is a politically-independent, nonprofit watchdog that strives to promote a government that is accountable to the citizenry. ####
|
|||
