The Pentagon on Friday failed its seventh audit in a row, with the nation's largest government agency still unable to fully account for its more than $824 billion budget, though officials stress they are making good progress toward a clean audit in 2028.

The Department of Defense technically earned a disclaimer of opinion, meaning it failed to provide sufficient information to auditors to form an accurate opinion.

The goal is to earn an unmodified audit opinion, or a clean audit that says the financial statements are accurate. A qualified opinion says there are omissions and concerns but the finances are generally reliable.

Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer Michael McCord said that despite the disclaimer of opinion, which he expected, the Defense Department "has turned a corner in its understanding of the depth and breadth of its challenges."

“Momentum is on our side, and throughout the Department there is strong commitment—and belief in our ability—to achieve an unmodified audit opinion," he said in a statement.

The Defense Department's report card as a whole is made up of 28 entities operating under the Pentagon that conducted independent audits.

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