Young: Saving Taxpayers Billions Shouldn’t Result in a Pink Slip

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) is fighting to preserve a Department of Defense position that is working to enact reforms and helping to save taxpayers billions of dollars.

A provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 (S. 4049) would eliminate the position of Chief Management Officer (CMO) at the Department of Defense. Senator Young has introduced an amendment to the NDAA to remove that language and preserve the CMO role.

The job is currently held by Lisa Hershman, a Hoosier and the highest-ranking woman in the Department of Defense. Hershman was appointed to the position and confirmed by the Senate in December of 2019 and has already found enormous efficiencies.

The Washington Post reported that Hershman saved $6.5 billion in FY 2019 in part by selling obsolete weaponry and reforming information technology processes. An additional $7.7 billion is targeted for FY 2020.

“Now more than ever, federal agencies should be looking for ways to be more efficient with taxpayer money,” Senator Young said. “This position is under attack because Lisa is challenging the status quo. Only in the Washington swamp can saving billions of dollars earn you a pink slip.”

Hershman’s efforts to save tax dollars have been documented by Politico, Defense News, FreedomWorks, Citizens Against Government Waste, and more. The position of Chief Management Officer was first established by Congress in Fiscal Year 2018.