Nick Schwellenbach's blog

Not only did government regulators fail to reign in the excesses of Wall Street before the financial crisis toppled their house of cards, but the IRS hasn't been aggressive in ensuring they pull their weight.  It's all the more outrageous because now taxpayers are bailing them out, big time.  For more, check out my exclusive story at the Center for Public Integrity's Web site, where I reveal some IRS audit data for the first time publicly.

It took a while, but my story on the drop in Pentagon contracting fraud enforcement is out today on the Center for Public Integrity's Web site:

It's a little belated, but your St. Patty's day was missing a crucial element if you didn't catch this animation by Adult Swim cartoonist Brad Neely...

During the Bush administration, one member of Congress more than any other inspired fear among executive branch officials: Democratic Rep.

Robert Brodsky of Government Executive has been covering an obscure, but important agency, the Defense Contract Audit Agency.  He writes that, despite some seemingly positive policy changes at the agency, which was rocked last August by a critical GAO report, auditors on the ground, particularly in DCAA's western region, say problems persist.  According to Brodsky<

From behind the CQ firewall, a report last week by Josh Rogin: "the Pentagon and the Office of Management and Budget have agreed to set the limit for fiscal 2010 Defense spending at $537 billion, according to multiple sources close to the discussions."

The Air Force was quick to argue that its F-15 fleet needed a swap out with new F-22s when a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C came apart in mid-air in November 2007.  According to Air Force Magazine, "Gen. John Corley, head of Air Combat Command, called the situation a 'crisis' and said he was 'desperate' for hard data to inform him on the viability of the fleet.

Billions in charges by KBR were initially questioned back in 2004 by Pentagon auditors. Those auditors recommended withholding some of the payments, but the Army ignored that advice and paid in full. Now the the Defense Department’s inspector general has decided to review that decision.  Read my full article on the Center for Public Integrity's Web site.

A new memo by the Defense Contract Audit Agency — the Pentagon's front-line defense from contractor rip-offs — addresses what some insiders have cited as a key impediment at the agency: Management often demands a high standard of proof of fraud — seemingly in violation of policy — before sending referrals onto DCAA headquarters for further inquiry.  Read my blog entry at the Center for Public Integrity for more...

A friend of mine provided me with a fairly elaborate powerpoint presentation on the history of changes to how the Pentagon procures major weapons (e.g. planes, tanks) over the last 35 years. It won't be of interest to anyone but wonks who pay attention to defense procurement (like me). However, even I would have probably skipped over this if not for the Star Wars soundtrack music embedded in the presentation.