Federal Personnel:
Issues on the Need for NOAA's Commissioned Corps
GGD-97-10, Oct 31, 1996
Contact:
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the operations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Commissioned Corps, focusing on: (1) whether there continues to be a need for a commissioned corps with military-like pay, allowances, and benefits; and (2) what the costs would be if federal civilian employees performed the Corps' functions.
GAO found that: (1) the NOAA Corps carries out civilian, rather than military, functions; (2) Corps officers operate and manage NOAA research and survey ships that collect the data needed to support fishery management plans, oceanographic and climate research, and hydrographic surveys; (3) Corps officers' entitlement to military ranks and military-like compensation was an outgrowth of their temporary assignments to the armed forces during World Wars I and II; (4) the Department of Defense's war mobilization plans envision no role for the Corps in the future; (5) Corps officers are not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice; (6) the government would realize estimated net savings of $661,000 by converting the Corps to civilian status; and (7) a general downsizing in the Department of Commerce reduced the number of Corps officers to 332 as of July 1996, with a goal of 285 officers by 2000.
May 21, 2013
Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Request
May 8, 2013
-
Internal Revenue Service
Apr 11, 2013
-
The Federal Government's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook
Mar 13, 2013
-
Budget Issues
Feb 26, 2013
-
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Jan 7, 2013
-
Preventive Health Activities
Dec 3, 2012
-
The Federal Government's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook
Nov 15, 2012
-
Fighter Aircraft
Oct 4, 2012
-
Strategic Sourcing
Sep 18, 2012
-
Veterans' Health Care Budget
Looking for more? Browse all our products here
Explore our Key Issues on Budget and Spending
Explore our other Key Issues here