Officers Advocating for More F-35s Often Had Financial Stakes
Letter Signed by Retired Military Brass Doesn’t Note Connections to F-35 Program Contractors
Project On Government Oversight (POGO)
BY MANDY SMITHBERGER | FILED UNDER ANALYSIS |
This year’s Department of Defense budget request included six fewer F-35 Joint Strike Fighters than planned, setting off a firestorm of protests from the program’s boosters. Part of that pushback, organized by the Congressional F-35 Caucus, was a letter in support of the program signed by 128 retired senior military officers. The letter failed to disclose that 50 of the signatories stand to benefit if Congress authorizes more F-35 purchases because of their actual or potential personal or financial ties to the program.