The Pentagon failed to get a “clean opinion†in its first departmentwide financial audit, Federal News Network reported Thursday.A team of 1K independent auditors and representatives from the Defense Department’s office of inspector general evaluated over 90K sample items and found that information technology weaknesses were some of the top issues identified in the audit.
Those IT gaps include issues over security management, system changes and inadequate access controls.
Auditors found that DoD does not have a “universe of transactions†or documentation needed to back a financial statement balance; lacks systems to demonstrate the value or existence of its equipment or property; and does not have plans for corrective actions to deal with material deficiencies.
“As expected, this audit has uncovered a number of matters that Congress and the Pentagon must work together to address,†Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement published Thursday.
Thornberry added the audit should serve as an “opportunity†to advance DoD’s reform initiatives and “should not be used as an excuse for arbitrary cuts that reverse the progress we have begun on rebuilding our strength and readiness.â€
The report said DoD IG will issue in December a full report to shed light on the audit’s overall findings.
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