Baldwin Slams GAO Report That Greenlights Private Equity-Owned Company to Manufacture JLTVs Instead of Oshkosh Defense

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced that they have denied Oshkosh Defense’s protest to the Army’s decision to award a contract for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) to a New York private equity-owned company, AM General, instead of Oshkosh Defense. Senator Baldwin expressed her deep concern that this decision could cause a gap in the production of these essential vehicles because of AM General’s “very high credit risk” and lack of skilled workforce, experience, or infrastructure manufacturing these vehicles. Senator Baldwin also noted in her letter that Oshkosh Defense has seven years of successful JLTV production, helping ensure that the JLTV program has performed on schedule, under budget, and delivering promised capabilities.

“Our servicemembers rely on these vehicles and it is irresponsible to risk a gap in production of them. I remain concerned that the Army’s decision to award this contract to a New York private-equity-owned company that has never made these vehicles poses a risk for our servicemembers and national security,” said Senator Baldwin. “Oshkosh Defense and its workers have manufactured the highest quality vehicles on time and below budget for the better part of a decade, while AM General has no experience manufacturing JLTVs for the Army. I look forward to getting responses from the Army on my questions because the American people need certainty that our men and women in service are getting what they need, when they need it.”

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