Andrews Sets Agenda for Panel to Access Pentagon Cost Overruns

On Tuesday, April 1, Congressman Andrews chaired his first hearing of the House Panel on Defense Acquisition Reform. The hearing was designed to assess the value and efficiency of the Defense acquisition system. Ultimately, this new panel under the House Armed Services Committee will address problems with the Defense Department's current procurement system and explore the different legislative tools for reform, such as implementing changes to the 2011 Defense Authorization bill. However, Congressman Andrews indicated that limiting Defense overruns is a significant task with many challenges, as evidenced by the near $300 billion in Pentagon cost overruns over the past decade.

Over the next six months, Congressman Andrews will lead the panel to implement a system to quantify the shortfall between dollars spent and actual value received among the various DoD programs. From there, the panel will examine both the institutional and cultural reasons behind the overruns and explore the recommendations and proposals offered to fix the procurement system. Finally, Rep. Andrews plans to lead the panel to choose the best possible solutions available and work to incorporate them into law.

In his opening statement, Congressman Andrews indicated that he hopes to build a constructive dialogue with witnesses who are experts in Defense acquisitions, like Mr. David G. Ahern, Director of Portfolio Systems Acquisition at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisitions, Technology, and Logistics and Mr. Mike J. Sullivan, Director for Acquisitions and Sourcing Management at the Government Accountability Office, who testified before the panel earlier this week.

"During these economic times, it is vital that we ensure our defense acquisition system provides the best to our warfighters while making the most efficient use of the taxpayer’s money." Said Rep. Andrews prior to the panel's first hearing. As Chairmen of the Panel on Defense Acquisition Reform, Congressman Andrews will continue to work with Congressional leaders and Defense experts to see that the United States Government funds only the best possible programs to maintain our national security while limiting undue financial waste and burden on the American taxpayers.

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