User Clip: Robert Byrd on Department of Defense Financial Audits

Byrd voices his support for newly nominated defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld, then moves on to address the Department of Defense's spending. Byrd cites that while improvements to risky budgeting have been made, the department still could not pass an independent audit. He references the audit and news writings on the issue in direct quotes. As newly appointed chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Byrd does not support proposed increase in the Pentagon budget given the poor book keeping explained. Byrd emphasizes the amount of unaccounted for money by analogy. close