Two Democratic customers of the Senate and Property Armed Providers Committees are formally requesting that the Section of Defense Inspector General examine stories that the Pentagon redirected hundreds of tens of millions of pounds intended for COVID-19 reaction to defense contractors for “jet engine parts, human body armor and dress uniforms,” according to the letter.
United States Senator Elizabeth Warren, (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Armed Providers Committee and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), a member of the Property Armed Providers and Oversight and Reform Committees, sent the letter dated September 25 to Sean O’Donnell, Performing Inspector General, Section of Defense.
They asked for O’Donnell to examine stories that the Pentagon redirected money from the Defense Creation Act intended for COVID-19 reaction to defense contractors for unrelated parts and gear, a shift that could be unlawful, the lawmakers reported.
Congress allotted $one billion in money under the Coronavirus, Aid, Reduction, and Financial Stability Act for DoD to manufacture private protective gear and other materials.
Not only did DoD reportedly redirect the extensive the greater part of these money to defense contractors for jobs unrelated to combating the pandemic, some defense corporations correctly obtained a double bailout since govt information demonstrates they also obtained loans by means of the Paycheck Security Software, a relief program intended for having difficulties smaller corporations, according to the letter.
WHY THIS MATTERS
During the pandemic, a lot of companies have dealt with shortages of private safety gear and destructive margins.
Suppliers have obtained $50 billion and much more in qualified relief from the $100 billion appropriation in the CARES Act and $seventy five billion from the Paycheck Security Software.
Hospitals also obtained accelerated and progress money, which are loans they are essential to pay out again. Lots of companies go on to encounter huge income shortfalls because of to COVID-19.
States want $6 billion to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to Americans and hospitals go on to endure a shortage of N95 masks, the letter states, indicating the money that went to the DoD are desired somewhere else.
THE Larger Craze
The lawmakers base their request, at minimum in section, on newspaper stories showing that an overpowering the greater part of money had nothing to do with production of clinical gear or addressing the nation’s provide shortages because of to the COVID-10 pandemic.
Warren and colleagues earlier questioned the DoD on what Warren reported was its gradual and disjointed reaction to the coronavirus outbreak.
ON THE Document
“As an alternative of addressing the urgent requirements of a pandemic that has killed around two hundred,000 Americans, it appears DoD utilized taxpayer dollars intended to safeguard lives from COVID-19 to pad the pockets of defense contractors,” wrote the lawmakers. “The noted misuse by DoD of federal money … is inconsistent with the will of Congress and may be unlawful.”
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
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