Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Justine Rellosa-Talk Radio News Service

According to the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, defense contractor Kellogg, Brown and Root, Inc. are not using their employees in Iraq efficiently as the withdrawal date for U.S. troops approaches.

“The audit report basically says that if KBR staffing was to be reduced ... the government could save up to $193 million,” said Commission member Robert Henke, who noted that KBR is currently considered over-staffed. Concerns have also been raised that these excess workers are not performing enough work to justify the costs of maintaining their presence.

While the KBR has been criticized for not proactively reducing its Iraq workforce, a representative from KBR blamed government officials Monday for not providing an adequate direction through their oversight efforts.

“Why can’t the contractor be brought into this process sooner, so we can do a better job in preparing, in conjunction with the military, the plan?” asked KBR Principle Program Manager Guy A. J. Laboa during his testimony before the commission.

Commission Co-Chair Michael Thibault echoed a similar sentiment, and noted that the government should be more active in the oversight of contractors.