All News

Contractor fatalities skyrocket in Iraq, Afghanistan

So far this year, more contractors have died in Iraq and Afghanistan than American soldiers, according to a report.

Federal News Network Staff

September 22, 2010 6:09 pm

< a min read

In 2003, contractor deaths represented only 4 percent of all fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan but jumped to 40 percent from 2008 to the second quarter of 2010.

So far this year, more contractors have died in Iraq and Afghanistan than American soldiers.

In fact, more than half of the U.S. casualties were contractors, according to a new report by analysts at the George Washington University Law School.

The numbers are estimates, and the actual fatalities are probably higher.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily DoD Report brought to you by Dell. For more defense news, click here.