{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3B51540D-BCC7-458D-A50A-529981680D24", "Flake Seeks Answers from Pentagon over $125 Billion in Egregious Bureaucratic Waste", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013\u00a0U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today sent a letter to Defense Secretary Ash Carter seeking information related to $125 billion in egregious\u00a0bureaucratic waste at the Pentagon uncovered during a recent investigation by The Washington Post:\r\n\u201cThen-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen stated in 2010 that 'the most significant threat to our national security is our debt.' Since that time, Pentagon officials have come before Congress to scare off efforts to reduce unnecessary spending at the Department with nightmare scenarios including reduced combat readiness and cuts to military operations.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe recent findings by the Defense Business Board that nearly a quarter of the Pentagon\u2019s $580 billion budget is being spent on overhead and operations is, therefore, of both great concern and promise.\u201dThe signed letter can be viewed here.Text of the letter can be viewed below.\r\n***  December 6, 2016\r\nThe Honorable Ash Carter  Secretary of Defense  1300 Defense Pentagon  Washington, DC 20301\r\nDear Secretary Carter,\r\nNational defense is the single most important role the federal government serves.\u00a0 As such, I am committed to ensuring our courageous men and women in uniform are equipped with the best and most sophisticated gear, weapons, and machinery to protect our nation, defend our rights and interests, and ensure decisive victory in every potential battlefield.\r\nThen-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen stated in 2010 that \u201cthe most significant threat to our national security is our debt.\u201d\u00a0 Since that time, Pentagon officials have come before Congress to scare off efforts to reduce unnecessary spending at the Department with nightmare scenarios including reduced combat readiness and cuts to military operations.\r\nThe recent findings by the Defense Business Board that nearly a quarter of the Pentagon\u2019s $580 billion budget is being spent on overhead and operations is, therefore, of both great concern and promise.\u00a0\r\nThe Defense Business Board outlined \u201ca clear path to saving over $125 billion in the next five years\u201d while avoiding any dire consequences to our national defense.\u00a0 In fact, more resources for the troops and weapons could be achieved by simply reallocating billions of dollars currently being wasted on excessive bureaucracy.\u00a0 This is a win-win scenario for taxpayers and the military.\r\nI understand that providing for the nation\u2019s defense comes at a steep price, but with our national debt approaching $20 trillion we all need to be focused combatting the new red menace threatening our national security, which is red ink.\r\nIn January I will be releasing the annual Wastebook report, which includes hundreds of millions of dollars in spending by the Pentagon that I consider frivolous or unnecessary.\u00a0 I hope that we can work together to cut wasteful spending while strengthening our nation\u2019s defenses.\r\nWould you please provide answers to the following questions:\r\n \r\nWhat actions, if any, are being taken to address the findings of the Defense Business Board?\r\nFollowing the presentation of the Board\u2019s findings, what directives or action items were made to implement the recommended cost savings and are those efforts still underway?\u00a0 What office is overseeing those efforts to ensure compliance?\u00a0 How are savings being calculated?\r\nWhat statutory obstacles may exist that would require legislative fixes from Congress to achieve these savings?\r\nWhich of the Board\u2019s findings and cost savings suggestions do you think should be included in the Department\u2019s Fiscal Year 2018 budget request?\r\n \r\nThank you for your service.\r\nSincerely,\r\nJEFF FLAKEUnited States Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3B51540D-BCC7-458D-A50A-529981680D24"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5677460469305515, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}