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How Military Sales Trust Funds Operate: Saudi Arabian and Iranian Funds Compared

FGMSD-80-26 Published: Jan 28, 1980. Publicly Released: Feb 25, 1980.
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Highlights

The Department of Defense (DOD) is requiring the military departments to estimate potential termination liability reserves for foreign military sales agreements. A report discussed the Saudi Arabian, Iranian, and other military sales trust funds and the need for a central clearinghouse controlling disbursements from military sales trust funds.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the military departments uniformly implement DOD procedures for computing termination liability reserves.
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that payment schedules include adequate termination liability reserves and that foreign governments are promptly billed.
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that collections for possible contract termination costs be segregated in the trust fund and not be used for routine contractor payments.
Closed – Not Implemented
DOD has decided not to implement the recommendation because: (1) two other recommendations in this report were implemented; (2) this one is considered relatively less important; and (3) the report is over 3 years old. Therefore, GAO believes the recommendation should be dropped.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that established procedures for pricing items diverted to second buyers are followed before funds are transferred to the Iranian trust fund.
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Full Report

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Topics

Foreign military arms salesGovernment liability (legal)Trust fundsWeaponsMilitary salesForeign military salesExport controlsContract termination costsMilitary departmentsForeign military sales agreements