(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) expressed its support for President Obama’s threat to veto the fiscal year (FY) 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) over language that would extend the General Electric/Rolls Royce F136 alternate engine program for the F35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). On May 24, 2011, the Obama Administration’s Statement of Administration Policy stated unequivocally, “If the final bill presented to the President includes funding or a legislative direction to continue an extra engine program, the President's senior advisors would recommend a veto.” The FY 2012 authorization bill, which passed in the House by a vote of 322-96, would require the defense department (DOD) to purchase both Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine and the GE/Rolls-Royce F136 alternate engine if the JSF requires upgrades in the future. CAGW, which has led the opposition to the engine since it was first disclosed as an earmark in 2004, encourages President Obama to use his veto power and end the alternate engine program permanently. Pulling the plug on the alternate engine will save taxpayers $3 billion.

CAGW has often remarked that the only general that supported the program was General Electric, which partners with Rolls Royce on the engine. However, despite being repeatedly designated as wasteful and unnecessary by both the Bush and Obama administrations and top military officials, the engine received $1.2 billion in earmarks from FY 2004 through FY 2010. . On March 24, 2011, the DOD issued a stop-work order on the $1 million per day alternate engine project, but the GE/Rolls Royce team promised to continue the program with private money until Congress approved more public funds.

On January 6, 2011, Defense Secretary Robert Gates put the misuse of resources into perspective, stating that “every dollar spent on excess overhead or unneeded programs – such as the extra engine for the JSF – is a dollar not available to support our troops and prepare for threats on the horizon.” On February 16, 2011, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen told the House Armed Services Committee, “I mean, I’ve been doing money a long time. I cannot make sense out of this second engine. It is two to three years behind. It’s not going to compete, quite frankly.” A month later, the House of Representatives voted 233-198 in favor of amendment to eliminate its funding in H.R. 1, the Full-Year Continuing Resolution (CR) for FY 2011. While that bill was rejected by the Senate, the final full-year CR that passed on April 14, 2011 did not include funding for the alternate engine.

“The language of the FY 2012 defense authorization bill is the latest attempt to resuscitate a program that both the President and the Pentagon wanted dead years ago,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz. “We admire the President’s pledge to stand firm on his past promises to prevent the alternate engine’s continued development and to veto legislation containing earmarks. Following through with a veto of this authorization bill would be an important victory for taxpayers and supporters of transparency in government.” Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.