Pentagon Withholds GAO Report on F-35 Fighter Program

The Department of Defense has classified the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) annual “F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER: Update on Production and Modernization Efforts” report as “Controlled Unclassified Information with no current plan to be released to the public.” The Pentagon declined to comment on the decision, effectively barring public access to the watchdog’s findings on the F-35 Lightning II program.

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The F-35 Lightning II, produced by Lockheed Martin, is the Defense Department’s most expensive weapons system. Marketed as a fifth-generation, single-engine, supersonic stealth fighter with advanced sensors and electronic-warfare capabilities, the aircraft is intended to meet multirole demands for U.S. and allied forces. Since its inception, the program has been scrutinized for delayed engine deliveries, software integration issues, escalating costs, and questions about operational readiness.

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GAO data indicate that only one in four F-35s is fully mission-capable. The agency identified a shortage of spare parts and constrained industry capacity to meet rising demand for components as persistent challenges. Additionally, the Department of Defense has paid its contractor “hundreds of millions in incentives since 2020 to improve F-35 readiness, but these incentives haven’t been effective,” according to the report. Critics argue that these shortcomings undermine the program’s cost-effectiveness and its ability to fulfill promised capabilities.

The Hill

A GAO spokesperson confirmed the report’s classification status and its designation as Controlled Unclassified Information. The Pentagon offered no comment when asked about the withholding decision.

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• “Controlled Unclassified Information with no current plan to be released to the public,” — GAO spokesperson

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• “The strategy aims to address challenges we’ve identified, such as a lack of spare parts.” — GAO report

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• “However, we found that multiple issues could threaten its success—such as constrained industry capacity to meet increasing demand for parts,” GAO wrote in the report.” — GAO report

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• “DOD also paid its contractor hundreds of millions in incentives since 2020 to improve F-35 readiness, but these incentives haven’t been effective,” — GAO report

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• “GAO report from last monthsaidthat only one in four of the F-35s is fully mission-capable.” — GAO report

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