Defense official says Pentagon hid unspent funds in accounts

January 17, 2007
Defense official says Pentagon hid unspent funds in accounts

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has hidden at least $1.4 billion in other agencies' accounts
instead of returning unspent money to the U.S. Treasury, the Defense Department's internal
watchdog told Congress Wednesday.

Thomas Gimble, the Pentagon's acting inspector general, said Pentagon offices between 2002 and
2005 used the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Interior Department "to 'park' or
'bank' funds that were expiring."

GSA and Interior then spent the money on Pentagon contracts, circumventing the
law, Gimble said.