Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), longtime watchdog against wasteful government spending, provided written testimony for a hearing today on “Price Gouging in Military Contracts” before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Grassley has conducted vigorous oversight of TransDigm’s contracts with the Pentagon, many of which provide ‘sole-source’ spare parts for aircraft and vehicles and through which the company has reaped enormous profits by overcharging the Defense Department—at the expense of taxpayers.
Key excerpts of Grassley’s statement to the committee follow.
“After decades of oversight, I’m afraid this has become a broken record – the [Defense Department] spends too much money – or is overcharged – and then the [inspector general] comes along and lays out some lackluster recommendations. Not a single person is held accountable for tax dollars wasted.”
…
“…unless held accountable, the [Defense Department] will continue to waste taxpayer dollars to the detriment of fiscal responsibility and national security. Our warfighters deserve better.
…
“We cannot continue shoveling money into a fire, watching as it happens, and pretending that everything is fine.”
Read Grassley’s full statement for the hearing record HERE.
