The Pentagon designated the Air Force to ensure the Defense Department gets reimbursed for expenses related to military support to Hurricane Katrina. Officials calculate the tab at about $1.6 billion. The money is to come from FEMA, Homeland Security, or whoever is going to provide those funds,” says John Vonglis, acting Air Force assistant secretary for financial management and comptroller. Vonglis considers the role an honor that reflects “superb skill in financial management, our people skills, our processes, and our systems.” No offense to the Air Force’s sharp comptroller corps, but we bet USAF got the short straw.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.