8 Audits Required. 8 Audits Failed.
The Department of Defense has failed every congressionally mandated audit since 2018. The defense budget increased every year those audits failed. The U.S. Marine Corps is the only branch to pass, three consecutive years, managing the smallest share of the budget. This chart was discussed in r/dataisbeautiful and r/USMC.
| Source | Type | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DoD Office of Inspector General | Government report | View Source → | Annual audit opinions FY2018-FY2025 |
| DoD Budget Submissions | Government document | View Source → | Enacted figures FY2018-FY2026 |
| GAO-25-107427 | Government report | View Source → | DoD Financial Management High-Risk designation |
| Military Times, February 2026 | News | View Source → | USMC clean audit confirmation FY2025 |
| CBO Pub. 60557 | Government report | View Source → | Defense budget baseline |
This source record is published for public-interest accountability and updated as new documentation is verified.