A third of the US military's F-35 fighter jets manufactured by Lockheed Martin are currently inoperable, the US Air Force Secretary admitted on Wednesday.

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall made the admission during questioning by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) Wednesday.

Watch the exchange:

"The Pentagon has given too much power to the defense contractors that are bilking American taxpayers," commented Gaetz on X, adding, "It's not going to get better unless we demand accountability."