Pentagon fails 7th audit, costing $178 MILLION, cannot account for $824 BILLION budget

The Pentagon has failed its seventh audit in a row as of Friday and cannot account fully for the $824 billion the Department of Defense (DoD) is allocated. Despite this, DoD officials say they have "turned a corner" on the spending. The audit itself cost the government $178 million.

The Pentagon could not provide a full accounting of the $824 billion DoD budget, sparking more outrage from taxpayers who fund the operation, per Fox News. The DoD said, "Teams of independent public accountants and the DoD Office of Inspector General closely examined the financial statements of the Department and its reporting entities. Of the 28 reporting entities undergoing standalone financial statement audits, 9 received an unmodified audit opinion, 1 received a qualified opinion, 15 received disclaimers, and 3 opinions remain pending."

The Hill reported that the audit cost the DoD around $178 million using some 1,700 auditors. An unmodified audit opinion is the goal. A qualified opinion means that there are some omissions or concerns, but that the finances are generally reliable. A disclaimer of opinion means that auditors lacked sufficient information that would allow them to form an accurate opinion. 

Pentagon officials, however, maintain that it will reach its goal of passing an audit by the year 2028. Michael McCord, the comptroller of the Pentagon and Chief Financial Officer, claimed that with the latest audit, the DoD has "has turned a corner in its understanding of the depth and breadth of its challenges."

He added, "Momentum is on our side, and throughout the Department there is strong commitment—and belief in our ability—to achieve an unmodified audit opinion." A DoD press release made the claim that the department is "improving its financial management practices and increasing transparency" in order to pass a successful 2028 audit.

McCord attributed the so-called “momentum” to the “tone-at-the-top" as he stood alongside Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the press release added. Austin has come under scrutiny during his time over the DoD, with even Biden administration officials reportedly calling it an "embarrassment" when he did not disclose a hospital visit for several days.



The seventh failed audit in a row also drew the attention of newly named Department of Government Efficiency heads Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who have been tasked with drastically cutting back government spending by the incoming Trump-Vance administration.

Musk posted in response to the news, "Sounds like a job for DOGE!"

Ramaswamy said, "This is embarrassing & will be fixed."