EFV Paper Trail

With all the recent brouhaha about Defense Secretary Robert Gates' proposed cancellation of the multibillion-dollar Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle program, we thought it might be worthwhile to go back and revisit some of the governmental paper trail before and after his decision -- all the way back to 2007:

GD Briefing Slides On Keeping EFVs

In a Jan. 12, 2011, presentation labeled "everybody wins," General Dynamics lobbyists argue that cutting the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle procurement quantity of record from 573 to 200 vehicles would save billions of dollars while providing jobs in Ohio and Michigan.

Lawmakers' Letters On The EFV Program

In a Jan. 6, 2011, letter to President Obama, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) and Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D), Patrick Tiberi (R), Steve Austria (R), Bob Latta (R), Tim Ryan (D), Michael Turner (R), Steven LaTourette (R) and Jim Jordan (R) oppose the elimination of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle program. Also includes a Jan. 6 Brown/Kaptur/Jordan statement, a related Jan. 6 letter from Jordan to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and a Jan. 7 letter from Turner to Gates.

CRS Report On The Marine Corps' EFV

The Sept. 1, 2010, Congressional Research Service report discusses background and issues for Congress regarding the Marine Corps' Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.

Sen. Brown Letter To Mabus On The EFV Program

In a Sept. 28, 2010, letter to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) urges Mabus to continue the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle program.

Virginia Senators' Letter To Gates On EFV

In a Sept. 30, 2010, letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Virginia Sens. Mark Warner (D) and Jim Webb (D) call for the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle program to complete development and testing before its fate is decided.

DOD's Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle ADMs

The June 5, 2007, acquisition decision memorandum certifies "a restructured (EFV) program that extends System Development and Demonstration (SDD) to allow development of a second set of EFV prototypes and delays milestone C (MS C) to 2011." Also includes a subsequent June 18, 2008, ADM that approves proceeding to the SDD-2 phase, including the procurement of seven prototype systems. Note: Both memos are marked "for official use only."