Not up to par: Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan

The Senate Appropriations Committee added another chapter to the ongoing investigation of defense contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan. A panel of witnesses testified about missing funds, additional oversight, and personnel improvements associated with contractors hired by the Department of Defense.

$71 billion of the $450 billion the Defense Department allocated for the Iraq War has been used for nearly 98,000 contract actions, said Gordon England, Deputy Secretary of Defense. According to England, since 2003, Defense oversight and the Government Accountability Office have performed over 300 audits related to terrorism investigations, and the Army reviewed more than 18,000 contract actions carried out in Kuwait between 2003-2006, which settled claims and saved the government over $10.4 million.

Despite these accomplishments, said Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), tens of billions of dollars have been lost, and American weapons have ended up in enemy hands. “Billions of dollars. How many minutes have passed since Jesus Christ was born? A billion, so that’s a lot of money,” said Chairman Byrd.

“I’d like to see some people go to jail,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). But England insisted that contractor oversight has evolved since the beginning of the two conflicts. The Defense Department is wiser because of audits and independent studies, England said.

The contractors are working hard; some have died, said Gen. Benjamin Griffin, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. Gen. Griffin said that having more personnel with expertise is essential for meeting the needs of the Army and private contractors.