Marine Corps audit draws criticism from Government Accountability Office

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http://hamptonroads.com/2015/08/marine-corps-audit-draws-criticism-government-accountability-office

Marine Corps audit draws criticism from Government Accountability Office
By Tony Capaccio | Bloomberg News
© August 5, 2015

WASHINGTON

Word that the U.S. Marine Corps had passed an audit of its books was such a cause for celebration that a ceremony was staged last year in a Pentagon hall usually reserved to honor battlefield bravery.

“I know that it might seem a bit unusual to be in the Hall of Heroes to honor a bookkeeping accomplishment,” then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said. “But, damn, this is an accomplishment!”

Now, that first “clean” audit by a U.S. military service – one found to be fair and accurate according to generally accepted accounting principles – has been called into question in a report by the Government Accountability Office.

The Pentagon inspector general, who conducted the audit, “did not perform sufficient procedures, under professional standards, and consequently did not obtain sufficient, appropriate” evidence to “support the audit opinion,” the nonpartisan GAO said.