DoD High-Risk Areas: Eliminating Underlying Causes Will Avoid Billions of Dollarsin Waste

摘要

DOD has severe management weaknesses in six high-risk areas: financialmanagement, information technology, weapon systems acquisition, contract management, infrastructure, and inventory management. Due to its lingering financial management problems, which are among the most severe in government, DOD does not have accurate information to use in managing its budget of over $250 billion and reported $1 trillion in assets. DOD'S efforts to develop and modernize its computer systems and networks have yielded poor returns in reducing its operating costs, improving performance, and supporting sound financial management. DOD continues to generate and support acquisition of new weapon systems that will not satisfy the most critical requirements at the least cost to the government and commit more procurement funds to programs than can reasonably be expected to be available in future defense budgets. Many new weapon systems cost more and do less than anticipated, and schedules are often delayed. In spite of budget reductions and other changes, DOD'S contracting activity remains substantial, amounting to about $110 billion in fiscal year 1995.