Pentagon fails annual audit for 6th year in a row
Approximately 1,600 auditors visited over 700 sites for the investigation
The Pentagon failed its annual audit for the sixth year in a row.
Department of Defense Comptroller Mike McCord announced the results to reporters on Wednesday as the department defended its continued failures as an ongoing process of cleaning up its books.
"We're working on improving our process. While it wasn't the results that we wanted, we certainly are learning each time an audit passes," said Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.
Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh holds a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Singh said that failing a sixth audit was not "the results we wanted," and that balancing the books for the Pentagon is an "ongoing process." (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)
She added, "And, you know, it's a continuing, ongoing process that this building is assessing."
The audit consisted of 29 sub-audits and examined approximately $4 trillion in assets and another $4 trillion in liabilities. The process cost approximately $187 million to conduct.
"Auditing the department’s $3.8 trillion in assets and $4 trillion in liabilities is a massive undertaking," McCord said.
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The Pentagon is seen from Air Force One as it flies over Washington, D.C. The Pentagon failed its annual audit for the sixth year in a row. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File / AP Newsroom)
He continued, "But the improvements and changes we are making every day as a result of these audits positively affect every soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, guardian and DOD civilian."
Audit investigations were carried out at approximately 700 sites by 1,600 auditors.
The Pentagon passed only 7 out of 29 sub-audits in 2023 — identical to last year's final results.
Michael McCord, comptroller of the Pentagon, testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington, D.C. McCord called the auditing of the Pentagon a "massive undertaking" that helps servicemen throughout the department. (Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
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Auditors found that half of the department's claimed assets could not be accounted for.
The Pentagon began auditing itself in 2018 under former President Trump's administration.