March 8, 2007 11:41AM # Soaring Cost Overruns By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) --- SHARE Last week, we found out that new combat ships for the Navy will [cost taxpayers](https://www.cato.org/2007/03/02/cost-overruns-again/) at least 59% more than promised. Today, the [*Washingon Post* reports](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/07/AR2007030702358.html) that upgraded Air Force cargo planes will cost taxpayers at least 35% more than originally promised. Are such cost overruns some sort of unfortunate accident? Or are they a routine scam perpetrated by an iron triangle of federal officials, companies feeding off the government’s teat, and members of Congress with taxpayer-financed activities in their districts? Examine the record of overspending in the table [here](https://www.cato.org/2007/03/02/cost-overruns-again/) and decide for yourself. ##### Related Tags [Defense and Foreign Policy](https://www.cato.org/defense-foreign-policy), [Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy), [Department of Defense](https://www.cato.org/department-defense), [Downsizing Government](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government) [![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).