Middleboro Review: UPDATE: F-35 mission critical

Saturday, September 7, 2019

UPDATE: F-35 mission critical

I had to send this as soon as possible, because I know it’s important to you.

POGO just published a new investigation on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter—the most expensive weapon system in history, costing taxpayers an average of roughly $158.4 million per aircraft. It’s not just that the program is way over budget and years behind schedule: Pentagon documents show the F-35 is failing to meet a key metric of combat-readiness. So it’s not just an expensive program, it’s an ineffective one.

What we learned about the operational test fleet at California’s Edwards Air Force Base is even more troubling. It is failing dismally to meet the required 80 percent fully mission capable rate—it has averaged only 11 percent since December 2018. And most recently, it received a rating of only 8.7 percent.

A plane that can’t function puts our troops in harm’s way. So as the Pentagon’s budget keeps increasing, we have to sound the alarm about wasteful spending and ineffective weapon systems like the F-35.

But we need to raise at least $2,670 by midnight to continue investigations like this. Will you donate now to fight wasteful spending?

It’s long past time for Congress to act to make sure the program serves troops and taxpayers better. So what’s standing in lawmakers’ way? Conflicts of interest: Subcontracting to about 1,500 vendors all over the country to provide parts and services has helped buy the program widespread Congressional support.

Here’s our question for Congress: Are you really prepared to put our brave service members in harm’s way for the sake of your re-election or polling numbers?

Donate now before our midnight deadline to help keep our troops safe and our government in check.

Thank you, Daisy, for your holding our government accountable for its responsibility to the troops and taxpayers.