The results from the Pentagon’s second audit are in, and the agency technically failed. While this was not unexpected, the agency made progress. The Department of Defense is going into the next year looking to improve their score even more. Bob Hale, former DoD comptroller and adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, says that the audit is making noticeable improvements at DoD.
“I think the audit is definitely helping the Department improve its business processes. It did while I was there. It’s certainly continuing to do so now. And there are a number of areas where that improvement will improve visibility, transparency of information. But, if you ask me the major reason why we need to do this audit, it’s public confidence,” Hale said. “I think DoD’s financial management is fairly well run, but I don’t think Congress or the public will ever believe that unless the department can do what every public organization in the United States has to do, and that is pass an independent audit. So i believe they need to move forward with this and I know they will.”
