$27.3 Billion Over Budget
Imagine if you were running a program that was being criticized as out-of-date and otherwise unnecessary. You might work extra hard to do a good job on the program, to prove its relevance. You might also examine your operations so that they would run under budget, to prove that you could be trusted to spend limited resources wisely.
That’s how you might behave. General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman see things differently.
The Virginia-class submarines these two companies are being paid to build are no longer militarily necessary. They were designed long ago to counter the next generation in Soviet submarines. Students of history will note that there not actually be any next generation of Soviet submarines. There will be no next generation of Soviet anything.
Nonetheless, Virginia class submarines are still being built for the U.S. military, for no particular reason, but for a lot of money. If Northrup Grumman and General Dynamics are grateful for this generosity from the U.S. federal government, they’re not showing it. The two military contractors have sent Uncle Sam a bill for 27.3 billion dollars in extra charges on these unnecessary submarines over the last decade.
If you’re an American taxpayer, that’s a $27.3 billion bill you are being asked to pay - with interest. Are you willing to see this waste continue?