Pentagon blocks review of F-35 fighter jet project for first time in over 20 years

The Pentagon has prevented the public release of a congressionally mandated annual report on the F-35 fighter jet program for the first time in over two decades. Defense Department officials determined that the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) yearly assessment of the $1.6 trillion program contained Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). This classification means that none of the report can be shared publicly. The report, typically providing insight into the F-35 program, had its title, "F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Update on Production and Modernisation Efforts," released on June 25th, but no further details are available.