Question

The president and the Defense Department have made it a major priority to increase the size of the fleet to counter new threats in the Pacific. To this end, the administration secured congressional funding for a new class of destroyers. The Armed Services Committee has heard rumors that these new ships undergoing construction have been incurring tremendous cost overruns and that this fact is being concealed.

In light of the information provided, which of the following strategies would best suit the Armed Services Committee in its oversight role of the military?
A. Appointing a special task force to independently investigate the cost overruns and report directly to the President.
B. Requesting a closed-door meeting with the Defense Department to discuss the rumors and verify the accuracy of the cost information.
C. Holding public hearings to question key officials from the Defense Department about the reported cost overruns and seeking transparency.
D. Ignoring the rumors until official reports are submitted by the Defense Department and the President to avoid unnecessary controversy.

Answer 1

The best strategy for the Armed Services Committee in its oversight role of the military, given the information provided, would be holding public hearings to question key officials from the Defense Department about the reported cost overruns and seeking transparency.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best strategy for the Armed Services Committee in its oversight role of the military, given the information provided, would be option C: holding public hearings to question key officials from the Defense Department about the reported cost overruns and seeking transparency.

This strategy would allow the committee to gather information, question officials directly, and provide an opportunity for transparency and accountability. Public hearings would also help ensure that the facts are made known to the public and prevent any attempts to conceal important information.

By choosing this strategy, the Armed Services Committee would be fulfilling its oversight role by investigating the rumors and holding the Defense Department accountable for any cost overruns.