BREAKING NEWS: Watchdog Group Uncovers $7 Billion in Earmarks in Defense Appropriations

BREAKING NEWS: Watchdog Group Uncovers $7 Billion in Earmarks in Defense Appropriations

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) uncovered 186 earmarks worth $7 billion (click here to see the full list) in the Defense Appropriations Bill that was part of H.R. 3547, the 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, aka the Omnibus appropriations bill. Among the 186 earmarks is $90 million for the Abrams tank, a classic case of Congress spending money the Pentagon doesn’t want or need. According to a Daily Tribune article, “The Pentagon had proposed halting tank production for five years in 2013 as a cost-saving measure.”

TPA President David Williams issued the following statement:

“This omnibus bill was set in motion when Congress passed the Ryan-Murray budget which increased spending and gutted the sequester. In 2010, Congress pledged to give up earmarks, but this latest spending bill shows that earmarks have come back with a vengeance…

“The picture has become clearer with each ‘bipartisan’ agreement we get from Congress: the sequester is on its way out; increased spending and appropriations is on the way back in. What is even more disappointing is to hear the rationales from elected officials who try to make excuses as to why increased spending is either ‘not really an increase’ or why ‘we’re cutting future growth’ so as to mask the present day spending…

“Members of both parties and chambers are responsible for these earmarks and should be ashamed of themselves. TPA will keep looking through the whole Omnibus for more earmarks and continue to urge the Senate to vote against this pork-filled spending bill and return to regular order.”

Here is the full list:

2014 Defense Earmarks – Omnibus Bill

$950,000,000 Virginia class submarine, fully fund the Virginia class submarine program, (Shipbuilding and Conversion- Navy)

$315,000,000 National Guard & Reserve equipment, Army National Guard miscellaneous equipment, (Procurement- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$315,000,000 National Guard & Reserve equipment, Air National Guard miscellaneous equipment, (Procurement- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$227,000,000 Completion of PY shipbuilding programs, Virginia class submarine, (Shipbuilding and Conversion- Navy)

$218,000,000 Private sector care, program adjustment to restore proposed increases, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$200,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed medical research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$199,916,000 Classified programs, classified adjustment, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$175,000,000 Defense rapid innovation fund, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$175,000,000 National Guard & Reserve equipment, Army Reserve miscellaneous equipment, (Procurement- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$150,000,000 MSE Missile, program increase, (Procurement- Missile Procurement, Army)

$150,000,000 Defense working capital fund, Army, Arsenal initiative, (Revolving Management Funds- Defense Working Capital Funds)

$130,000,000 Drug Interdiction & Counter-Drug Activities, National Guard counter-drug program, (Other-Drug Interdiction & Counter-Drug Activities, Defense)

$125,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed traumatic brain injury and psychological health research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$120,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed breast cancer research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$117,200,000 Israeli cooperative programs, Short range ballistic missile defense, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$105,000,000 MQ-9, add eight aircraft, (Procurement- Aircraft Procurement, Air Force)

$104,207,000 Classified programs, classified adjustment, (Procurement- Other Procurement, Air Force)

$100,000,000 Completion of PY shipbuilding programs, DOG-51 authorization adjustment, (Shipbuilding and Conversion- Navy)

$100,000,000 Classified program USD(P), classified adjustment, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$100,000,000 Research and Development, joint warfighter medical research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$90,000,000 ABRAMS upgrade program, maintaining critical industrial base capability- Abrams, (Procurement- Procurement of Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army)

$80,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed prostate cancer research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$75,000,000 Helicopter light utility, program increase only for UH-72A aircraft for the Army National Guard (Procurement- Aircraft Procurement, Army)

$75,000,000 Improved recovery vehicle (M88A2 HERCULES), program increase, (Procurement- Procurement of Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army)

$75,000,000 F/A-18E/F (fighter) Hornet (MYP) (AP-CY), advance procurement for 22 F/A-18E/F aircraft, (Procurement- Aircraft Procurement, Navy)

$73,200,000 Aircraft procurement, Air Force, CV-22 Osprey add one aircraft for operational loss replacement, (Procurement- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$72,000,000 UH-60 Blackhawk (MYP), program increase only for the Army National Guard, (Procurement- Aircraft Procurement, Army)

$70,000,000 Ship activations/inactivations, Navy unfunded requirement for completion of USS Enterprise, (Operation and Maintenance- Navy)

$70,000,000 Patriot MODS, program increase only for radar digital processors, (Procurement- Missile Procurement, Army)

$70,000,000 National Guard & Reserve equipment, Air Force Reserve miscellaneous equipment, (Procurement- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$65,000,000 National Guard & Reserve equipment, Navy Reserve miscellaneous equipment, (Procurement- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$61,000,000 Mission and other flight operations, Navy unfunded requirement for Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response (Aviation) program, (Operation and Maintenance- Navy)

$60,000,000 National Guard & Reserve equipment, Marine Corps Reserve miscellaneous equipment, (Procurement- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$56,300,000 Real estate management, BuckEye terrain data system, (Operations and Maintenance- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$55,300,000 Afloat forward staging base, program shortfall, (Shipbuilding and Conversion- Navy)

$55,000,000 Ballistic missile defense sensors, enhanced discrimination and sensors capability, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$50,000,000 Ship contract design/live fire T&E, increased LHA design efforts, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$50,000,000 Other Procurement, Army, mine-resistant ambush-protected MODS, program adjustment, (Procurement- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$47,300,000 C-130 airlift squadrons, C-130 AMP, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$47,000,000 Defense space reconnaissance program, classified adjustment, (Procurement- Other Procurement, Air Force)

$45,000,000 Stryker vehicle, Army unfunded requirement- Double V Hull Strykers for the 3rd BCT, (Procurement- Procurement of Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army)

$40,000,000 Base operation support, Navy unfunded requirement for environmental compliance and flagship education facilities, (Operation and Maintenance- Navy)

$40,000,000 Depot maintenance, projected shortfall, (Operation and Maintenance- Air National Guard)

$40,000,000 AF Global Command & Control System, equipment for Air National Guard MQ-1/9 remote split operations, (Procurement- Other Procurement, Air Force)

$40,000,000 High performance computing modernization program, restore unjustified reduction, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$40,000,000 Impact aid, (Operation and Maintenance- Defense-Wide)

$35,000,000 Program increase (Procurement- Defense Production Act Purchases)

$33,700,000 Israeli cooperative programs, Israeli Arrow program, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$31,500,000 War fighter protection advanced technology, program increase – bone marrow registry program, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$31,249,000 NATO operations, deny transfer to special operations headquarters (Operation and Maintenance- Army)

$30,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed orthopedic research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$30,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed spinal cord research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$30,000,000 Other programs, observant compass, (Operations and Maintenance- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$26,600,000 Operational forces, Marine Corps unfunded requirement for Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response, (Operation and Maintenance- Marine Corps)

$26,000,000 C-130, C-130 propulsion system propeller upgrades, (Procurement- Aircraft Procurement, Air Force)

$25,000,000 Civil military programs, Starbase, (Operation and Maintenance- Defense-wide)

$25,000,000 Combat vehicle and automotive advanced technology, alternative energy research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$25,000,000 Combat vehicle and automotive advanced technology, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$25,000,000 Force protection applied research, alternative energy research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$25,000,000 Tech transition program, alternative energy research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$25,000,000 Defense-wide manufacturing science and technology program, industrial Base Initiative Fund, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$25,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed cancer research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$23,400,000 Moored training ship, program shortfall, (Shipbuilding and Conversion- Navy)

$23,000,000 Combating terrorism technology support, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$22,100,000 Israeli cooperative programs, Israeli Upper tier, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$20,000,000 Combat support forces, Navy unfunded requirement for Fleet Cyber Command/Navy Cyber Forces, (Operation and Maintenance- Navy)

$20,000,000 Missile and rocket advanced technology, restore unjustified reduction, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$20,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed gulf war illness research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$20,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed ovarian cancer research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$20,000,000 Defense human resources activity, program increase – suicide prevention office, (Operation and Maintenance- Defense-Wide)

$20,000,000 Ballistic missile defense midcourse defense segment, continue activities relative to site evaluation, EIS, and planning, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$17,672,000 Procurement, Defense-wide, CV-22 modification, operational loss, (Procurement- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$17,000,000 Department of defense corrosion program, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$16,000,000 Administration, Marine Corps unfunded requirement for Marine Security Guard program expansion (Operation and Maintenance- Marine Corps)

$16,000,000 Medical advanced technology, peer-reviewed neurotoxin exposure treatment Parkinsons research program, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$15,700,000 C-130, C-130 propulsion system engine upgrades, (Procurement- Aircraft Procurement, Air Force)

$15,000,000 Defense security service, Increase to alleviate security clearance backlog, (Operation and Maintenance- Defense-wide)

$15,000,000 Materials Technology, materials research and technology, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$15,000,000 Weapons and munitions technology, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$15,000,000 Medical advanced technology, peer-reviewed neurofibromatosis research program, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$15,000,000 Human effectiveness applied research, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$15,000,000 Israeli cooperative programs, Non-recurring engineering for Iron Dome co-production capacity in the United States, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$15,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed reconstructive transplant research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$15,000,000 Weapons maintenance, ship self defense, (Operation and Maintenance- Navy)

$14,000,000 EP-3 Series, sensor obsolescence, (Procurement- Aircraft Procurement, Navy)

$13,000,000 Medical development, program increase- wound care research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$13,000,000 Defense human resources activity, Beyond Yellow Ribbon programs, (Operations and Maintenance- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$13,000,000 Office of the Secretary of Defense, readiness and environmental protection initiative, (Operation and Maintenance- Defense-Wide)

$12,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed Alzheimer research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$12,000,000 Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide, MQ-9 UA, authorization adjustment- MQ-9 UAV, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$11,000,000 MQ-9 UAV, MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle capability improvements, (Procurement- Defense-wide)

$10,500,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed lung cancer research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$10,254,000 Office of the Secretary of Defense, funds budgeted for Office of the Director net assessment available only for execution of that office’s requirement, (Operation and Maintenance- Defense-Wide)

$10,000,000 Base operations support, environmental conservation (Operation and Maintenance- Army)

$10,000,000 Base operation support, environmental conservation, (Operation and Maintenance- Navy)

$10,000,000 Base support, environmental conservation (Operation and Maintenance- Air Force)

$10,000,000 Civil military programs, youth challenge, (Operation and Maintenance- Defense-Wide)

$10,000,000 Base operations support, State Directors of Psychological Health program increase, (Operation and Maintenance- Army National Guard)

$10,000,000 Materials Technology, silicon carbide research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$10,000,000 Countermine systems, unexploded ordnance and landmine detection research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$10,000,000 Warfighter advanced technology, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$10,000,000 Weapons and munitions advanced technology, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$10,000,000 Aircraft systems, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$10,000,000 Advanced materials for weapons systems, materials research and technology, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$10,000,000 Aerospace propulsion and power technology, silicon carbide research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$10,000,000 Operationally responsive space, authorization adjustment, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$10,000,000 Airborne reconnaissance systems, authorization adjustment- Blue Devil Replacement WAMI/NVDF (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$10,000,000 Support systems development, alternate energy research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$10,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed vision research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$10,000,000 Research and Development, orthotics and prosthetics outcomes research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$10,000,000 Procurement of Ammunition, Army, CTG, ARTY, 75MM and 105MM all types, Army unfunded request- 1 05mm artillery high explosive, (Procurement- Overseas Contingency Operations)

$10,000,000 Defense logistics agency, procurement technical assistance program, (Operation and Maintenance- Defense-Wide)

$10,000,000 Other programs, MSIC – restore program reduction to address unfunded requirements, (Operation and Maintenance- Defense-Wide)

$10,000,000 Information systems security program, authorization adjustment – ASACoE program, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$10,000,000 RQ-4 UAV, study for adaptation of U-2 sensors on block 30, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$9,900,000 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTAR), retain T-3 test aircraft, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$8,000,000 JROTC, increase (Operation and Maintenance- Army)

$8,000,000 EP-3 Series, twelfth aircraft to spiral three, (Procurement- Aircraft Procurement, Navy)

$8,000,000 Combat training ranges, range improvements, (Procurement- Other Procurement, Air Force)

$8,000,000 Individual protection, department identified joint service ground purpose mask shortfall, (Procurement- Defense-wide)

$8,000,000 Missile technology, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$8,000,000 Medical advanced technology, military burn research program, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$8,000,000 Night vision advanced technology, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$8,000,000 Army missile defense systems integration, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$8,000,000 Research and Development, global HIVIAIDS prevention, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$7,659,000 Civil air patrol aircraft, program increase, (Procurement- Aircraft Procurement, Air Force)

$7,600,000 Completion of PY shipbuilding programs, JHSV program shortfall, (Shipbuilding and Conversion- Navy)

$7,500,000 Research and Development, peer reviewed ALS research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$7,000,000 Ballistics technology, authorization adjustment- warrior injury assessment manikin schedule adjustment, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$7,000,000 Threat simulator development, cyber lest and evaluation enterprise infrastructure, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$7,000,000 Rand Arroyo Center, restore unjustified reduction, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$7,000,000 Management, technical & international support, printed circuit board executive agent- funds previous NDAA mandate, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$7,000,000 Research and Development, HIVIAIDS program increase, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$6,400,000 CIWS mods, additional RMA kits, (Procurement- Weapons Procurement, Navy)

$6,000,000 Medical development, program increase- military dental research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$6,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed autism research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$6,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed tuberous sclerosis complex research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$5,000,000 Special project aircraft, program office sustainment, (Procurement- Aircraft Procurement, Navy)

$5,000,000 Special project aircraft, sensor obsolescence, (Procurement- Aircraft Procurement, Navy)

$5,000,000 Command, control, communications advanced technology, space applications advanced technology program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$5,000,000 Army integrated air and missile defense, program increase for cyber security and supply chain management, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$5,000,000 Munitions standardization, effectiveness, and safety, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$5,000,000 Future naval capabilities advanced technology development, program increase- ASW research (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$5,000,000 Advanced materials for weapons systems, metals affordability research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$5,000,000 Historically black colleges and universities (HBCU), program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$5,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed multiple sclerosis research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$5,000,000 Research and Development, trauma clinical research repository, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$5,000,000 Operational forces, Marine Corps unfunded requirement for cyber civilian and contractor personnel, (Operation and Maintenance- Marine Corps)

$5,000,000 Base operation support, environmental conservation for ranges to address shortfalls, (Operation and Maintenance- Marine Corps)

$5,000,000 Special operations command, other operations – family support pilot program, (Operation and Maintenance- Defense-Wide)

$5,000,000 Impact aid for children with severe disabilities, (Operation and Maintenance- Defense-Wide)

$5,000,000 Multi-mission maritime aircraft (MMA), program increase – sensor development, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$5,000,000 Consolidated health support, wounded warrior military adaptive sports program, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$4,900,000 Other service support, Army support to Capitol 4th, (Operation and Maintenance- Army)

$4,200,000 Items less than $5 million, special purpose marine air ground task force crisis response, (Procurement- Procurement of Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps)

$4,200,000 War fighter protection advanced technology, program increase- tactical athlete program, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$4,000,000 Materials Technology, nanotechnology research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Army)

$4,000,000 Defense research sciences, nanotechnology research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$4,000,000 Strike weapons development, F/A-18 missile flight testing, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$4,000,000 Materials, nanotechnology research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$4,000,000 Development test and evaluation, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$4,000,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed alcohol and substance abuse disorders research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$4,000,000 Research and Development, therapeutic service dog training program, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$4,000,000 Drug Interdiction & Counter-Drug Activities, young marines-drug demand reduction, (Other-Drug Interdiction & Counter-Drug Activities, Defense)

$3,869,000 Operation and Maintenance, program increase, (Other- Office of the Inspector General)

$3,680,000 Civil air patrol, civil air patrol, (Operations and Maintenance- Air Force)

$3,600,000 Items less than $5 million, Marine Corps unfunded requirement – marine security guard expansion armored vehicles, (Procurement- Marine Corps)

$3,600,000 Information management, accelerate HAIMS initiative, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$3,500,000 Air Traffic Control, approach and landing system (ATCALS), Air National Guard shortfall- remotely piloted aircraft ground based sense and avoid, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$3,200,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed bone marrow failure disease research, (Other- Defense Health Program)

$3,200,000 Research and Development, peer-reviewed Duchenne muscular dystrophy research (Other- Defense Health Program)

$3,000,000 Office of the Secretary of Defense, expansion of healthy base initiative, (Operation and Maintenance- Defense-Wide)

$3,000,000 F-35 squadrons, block 4 CDD planning only, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$2,500,000 Combating weapons of mass destruction systems, program increase – CWMD systems, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$2,232,000 Tactical technology, program increase- return to fiscal year 2013 level, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$2,000,000 Human, social and culture behavior modeling (HSCB) applied research, HSBC applied research, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$2,000,000 Human, social and culture behavior modeling (HSCB) advanced technology research, HSBC advanced development, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$2,000,000 Advanced sensor application program, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$2,000,000 Human, social and culture behavior modeling (HSCB) research and engineering, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$2,000,000 Precision attack systems procurement, Air National Guard shortfall – sniper digital video, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Air Force)

$2,000,000 Information and communications technology, Plan X, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

$1,500,000 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) EMD, block 4 capabilities development document planning only, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$1,500,000 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), block 4 capabilities development document planning only, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Navy)

$1,100,000 Recruiting and advertising, Naval Sea Cadet Corps, (Operation and Maintenance- Navy)

$1,000,000 Items less than $5 million, marine security guard training ammunition, (Procurement- Procurement of Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps)

$1,000,000 Policy R&D programs, program increase, (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation- Defense-Wide)

TOTAL $7,129,938,000

###

About Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis and dissemination of information on the government’s effects on the economy. For more information, please visit www.protectingtaxpayers.org.