Commissioners Named To Probe War Fraud

Congressional Democrats, Republicans and President Bush all named members to a new panel designed to probe waste, fraud and abuse in wartime contracting.

The commission, based on the so-called Truman Committee that conducted hundreds of hearings and investigations into government waste during and after World War II, was established as the result of legislation introduced by Sens., Jim Webb (D-Va.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) last spring and signed into law Jan. 28.

Webb previously served as secretary of the Navy during the Reagan administration.

This new Commission on Wartime Contracting is charged with addressing the systemic problems associated with the federal government's wartime-support, reconstruction, and private security contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The legislation called for congressional Democrats, Republicans and Bush to each name some of the eight commissioners. Democrats named as co-chair Michael Thibault. Thibault is a director at Navigant Consulting, Inc. (NCI) and has 34 years experience in government contract accounting, pricing, subcontract audit, federal contract compliance, regulatory compliance, cost accounting standards, and internal control systems audits and implementation, according to a statement on his appointment.

Prior to joining NCI, Thibault spent 31 years with the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) and was the DCAA deputy director from 1994-2005.

“One of the principal lessons of the marketing and management of the Iraq war has been the importance of accountability and oversight,” says Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). “This Commission and these new commissioners take that lesson to heart in protecting Americans tax dollars from the waste, fraud and abuse we know are rampant in both U.S. contracts in Iraq and within the Iraqi government. Overseeing – not overlooking – careless wartime contracting is a vital part of our effort to lessen the many devastating costs of this war.”
Says Webb, “These appointments are a major step forward in creating a commission that will improve our government’s contracting practices, increase transparency, and hold accountable those responsible for waste, fraud and abuse. We will likewise be watching the selections of our colleagues in Congress and the White House to make sure that they perform in consonance with the intentions of this legislation. The work that this Commission will perform during its two-year charter is something American taxpayers both demand and deserve.”

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