The Department of Defense receives more discretionary money every year than any other federal agency. It has a total budget request of $705 billion for fiscal year 2022. Taxpayers deserve to know where, when, and how that money is spent.

Unfortunately, we haven’t received a full picture yet in the 31 years since Congress first required all federal agencies to conduct financial audits. The Pentagon has dragged its feet on this requirement for years and has failed to pass its first three audits since. Estimates suggest that the Pentagon won’t pass an audit until 2028. Lawmakers have regularly dangled carrots for the Pentagon before. Now it’s time to bring out the sticks.