Senators question path ahead for culled Pentagon weapons testing office

The Trump administration’s pick to run the Pentagon’s revamped weapons testing office faced questions today from Senators concerned about downsizing and transparency.

“For decades, DOT&E [the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation] has played a vital, legally mandated role in safeguarding the integrity of major defense programs and ensuring military systems are affected before they are put into war fighters’ hands,” said Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Unfortunately, in May, the Secretary of Defense announced his plan to significantly reduce the DOT&E office, including slashing its workforce budget and resources.”

“With drastically reduced resources, DOT&E may be unable to provide adequate oversight for critical military programs, risking operational awareness and taxpayer dollars,” Reed later added.

Read more at Breaking Defense