CCAGW Asks House to Eliminate Funding for the Joint Strike Fighter Alternate Engine
Thursday, September 10, 2009
By: Tom Schatz

September 10, 2009

U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC  20515

Dear Representative:

          On July 23, 2009, the Senate voted 58-40 to eliminate funding for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) alternate engine from S. 1390, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.  The House, however, included a pork-barrel earmark of $603 million for the alternate engine in its version of the bill, H.R. 3326.  As the House and Senate move to conference, I urge you to sign Representative Rosa DeLauro’s (D-Conn.) letter addressed to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) and Ranking Member Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) requesting that all funding for the alternate engine be stripped from the conference report.

          There is no economic or military justification for spending billions of taxpayer dollars on an alternate engine that will not save money or improve U.S. defense capabilities.  The Pentagon has proposed canceling the alternate engine project each year since 2006, only to have Congress add more than $1 billion in earmarks to subsequent defense appropriations bills.  A March 2007 Government Accountability Office report noted that funding the alternate engine could cost at least $7.2 billion.

          In May, President Obama highlighted the alternate engine as an example of government waste.  The President stated, “We’re going to save money by eliminating unnecessary defense programs that do nothing to keep us safe — but rather prevent us from spending money on what does keep us safe.  One example is a $465 million program to build an alternate engine for the Joint Strike Fighter.  The Defense Department is already pleased with the engine that it has. They do not want — and do not plan to use — the alternate version.  That’s why the Pentagon stopped requesting this funding two years ago.”

          General Mark Shackelford testified on June 9 before the Senate Airland Subcommittee that funding the alternate engine could mean eliminating as many as 53 JSF aircraft in order to offset costs.  The alternate engine will not only cost taxpayers billions, but will also sacrifice military readiness.

          Defense Secretary Gates has made it clear that every dollar spent on unnecessary programs diverts resources away from other vital national security needs.  It is time for Congress to ensure both the financial and military security of our nation by eliminating funding for the unneeded alternate engine.  All votes on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 will be among those considered in CCAGW’s 2009 Congressional Ratings.

Sincerely,

Thomas Schatz, President                         
Citizens Against Government Waste