The Navy has been queueing up a 70 percent budget cut to the Naval Audit Service, led by special interests and without Congressional approval. The move is unprecedented, and it could lead to significant misuse and even greater waste.
With the Navy’s goal to have over 355 ships in its fleet by 2030, the need for an internal audit service is more important than ever. While its dedication to national security remains unquestionable, the Navy’s accounting leaves room for improvement—the force has often underestimated costs and timelines for projects, resulting in significant abuse. The original shipbuilding effort was expected to cost between $120- $130 billion over the next 10 years, but its true cost is estimated to be 31 percent higher.
