Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall admitted to struggling for influence over the troubled F-35 advanced fighter jet when GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida pressed him on builder Lockheed Martin’s control of the program. A government watchdog investigation released April 15 reported that the F-35 Lighting II has consistently failed to meet performance goals while continuing to rise in projected costs over the lengthening lifespan of the program. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found the Department of Defense (DOD) relies excessively on the prime contractor Lockheed Martin for main…
