Pentagon Capitulates in Litigation over Hewlett-Pack Contract, According to the American Small Business League

PETALUMA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The following is a statement by the American Small Business League:

“We know they’re lying about small business contracting data simply by the fact that they refuse to give it to us”

The Pentagon has capitulated in litigation over subcontracting reports from a large contract awarded to Hewlett-Packard. The Pentagon agreed to turn over the subcontracting reports after the American Small Business League (ASBL) filed suit under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The lawsuit against the Pentagon is one of two lawsuits filed against the Obama administration by the ASBL since June. The ASBL also filed a lawsuit against the Air Force after the agency refused to release subcontracting reports on a federal contract with Rockwell Collins.

Over the past decade, the ASBL has won more than 20 similar legal battles against federal agencies. With each successful lawsuit, the ASBL has forced the release of contracting and subcontracting reports. The latest suit against the Pentagon is yet another legal action originating from ASBL efforts to prove the Pentagon is falsifying subcontracting data.

The federal government has a congressionally mandated 23 percent small business contracting goal, but because of fraud and abuse, has never hit that goal. Since 2003, a series of federal investigations have uncovered billions of dollars in federal small business contracts being awarded to large businesses annually.

During his 2008 campaign, President Obama promised to have the most transparent administration in history. However, the ASBL is constantly forced to litigate basic FOIA requests.

“For nearly 20 years I have been winning lawsuits to obtain contracting data,” said ASBL President Lloyd Chapman. “What’s fascinating is that the Obama administration continues to deny my FOIA requests, but I always win once it goes to court. This is just another attempt by the Obama administration to hide the fact that they are lying to the public about the percentage of federal contract dollars awarded to small businesses.”

“We know they’re lying about small business contracting data simply by the fact that they refuse to give it to us,” said ASBL President Lloyd Chapman. “The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that subcontracting reports were releasable tot he public 20 years ago. The fact that they deny our FOIA requests means the data is fabricated.”