Burgess Owens: “The top two managers of the National Reconnaissance Office, the secret agency that builds spy satellites, were dismissed…”

“The top two managers of the National Reconnaissance Office, the secret agency that builds spy satellites, were dismissed today after losing track of more than $2 billion in classified money. This action is dictated by our belief that N.R.O.'s management practices must be improved and the credibility of this excellent organization must be restored. I do not know how it can be an excellent organization; if they cannot keep track of their money any better than that, I do not have any faith in anything else they are doing. I doubt there is great competence anywhere else if you cannot keep track of your books. If you lose $2 billion, then how many other blunders and errors have been made, is the question. Any American citizen can ask that question and be on sound ground. Common sense should ask that question. But here we are praising these people. They run an excellent agency, except they lost $2 billion in their petty cash fund.”