Pentagon comptroller criticizes Congress for budget gridlock

Pentagon Comptroller David Norquist, in his first public appearance since he was confirmed, criticized Congress on Wednesday for moving toward passage of another “corrosive” continuing resolution, which freezes spending at previous-year levels and forbids new-start programs.

Norquist, like several comptrollers before him, lamented the CR because it imposes wasteful administrative costs and negatively impacts military training and readiness.

"We have operated under a continuing resolution for nine out of the last 10 years -- a total of 30 CRs that have lasted over 1,000 days," he said during a conference hosted by Defense News in Arlington, VA.

"There have been so many CRs in the last decade that there may be a view that CRs are now the new normal," he said. "Just another sign of fall --- the kids go back to school, football season begins and the federal government operates under another CR."

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and House Appropriations defense subcommittee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX), who appeared at the same conference Wednesday, said the CR would likely last three months due to ongoing partisan budget battles.

Norquist said the department would have to "defer training," which would result in time lost and money wasted.

A CR also means the services will have to delay maintenance on ships, "creating a ripple affect long after a CR ends."

Both Granger and Thornberry said they believed there is a correlation between a recent spate of accidents and deferred training.

Norquist did not take questions, but Thornberry said there was discussion underway to exempt missile defense and other DOD priorities from CR restrictions that freeze spending at previous-year levels.

Norquist, again echoing former DOD comptrollers, called for a repeal of the 2011 Budget Control Act.

"The BCA caps were never intended to be a solution; they were intended to be a problem," he said.

Norquist also restated the pledge he made during his confirmation hearing to launch an audit of the Pentagon in FY-18.

"The commitment and drive for good stewardship starts at the top," he said. "It won't be easy. This is not a reason to delay the audit -- it is a reason to begin."