Probe to examine two years worth of DARPA contracts

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A published report this week confirmed that the Pentagon is launching a probe that will look at the last two years worth of contracts handed out by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), to ensure there are no conflicts of interest or wasteful spending.

The decision was made, a report in Wired claims, after reporters learned that the agency had awarded numerous contracts to a company run by relatives of DARPA director Regina Dugan.

Dungan reportedly owns millions in RedXDefense stock, and the company owes her roughly a quarter of a million dollars from a loan. DARPA has subsequently given RedXDefense $1.7 million in various contracts, but they’ve disavowed Dungan’s involvement in any of those decisions.

The probe will also attempt to “determine the adequacy of Darpa’s selection, award, and administration of contracts and grants,” a letter from the Pentagon’s Inspector General explained.

The agency has an annual budget of roughly $3 billion.