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Open Recommendations (785 total)

Cybersecurity Workforce: Agencies Need to Accurately Categorize Positions to Effectively Identify Critical Staffing Needs

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1 Open Recommendations
1 Priority
Agency Affected Recommendation Status Sort descending
Department of Defense
Priority Rec.
To complete the appropriate assignment of codes to their positions performing IT, cybersecurity, or cyber-related functions, in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Assessment Act of 2015, the Secretary of Defense should take steps to review the assignment of the "000" code to any positions in the department in the 2210 IT management occupational series, assign the appropriate NICE framework work role codes, and assess the accuracy of position descriptions. (Recommendation 4)
Open
The Department of Defense concurred with the recommendation. In September 2020, DOD stated that it had taken steps to decrease the number of positions that were assigned inappropriate codes and were continuing to monitor and track coding with the aim of addressing the recommendation by September 2022. As of September 2023, DOD had not yet provided sufficient evidence that it had implemented the recommendation. To fully implement this recommendation, DOD will need to provide evidence that it has assigned appropriate National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education framework work role codes to its positions in the 2210 Information Technology management occupational series and assessed the accuracy of position descriptions.

Patriot Modernization: Oversight Mechanism Needed to Track Progress and Provide Accountability

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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status Sort descending
Department of Defense In the event that operational test results for PDB-8 and PDB-8.1 reveal performance shortfalls that require additional development of the near and mid-term upgrades tested, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to establish mechanisms for overseeing those upgrades commensurate with other major defense acquisition programs, to include annual updates to Congress comparing the latest cost and schedule estimates against the initial estimates and providing explanations for any major deviations until development is complete.
Open
DOD partially concurred with this recommendation. In 2017, operational testing for PDB-8 was completed and results show some performance shortfalls although DOD asserts that there is no additional development required. DOD plans to reassess the need for any additional action after operational testing for PDB-8.1 is completed as planned in September 2023. Final results are planned to be available in a report published January 2024.

Military Courts: DOD Should Assess the Tradeoffs Associated With Expanding Public Access to and Information About Terrorism Trials

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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status Sort descending
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Deputy Secretary of Defense assesses the tradeoffs of potential options for expanding public access to military commissions' proceedings by identifying and analyzing associated risks, and, as appropriate, developing a strategy to implement any viable options.
Open
DOD concurred with this recommendation and has taken some steps to address the recommendation, such as indicating they plan to establish victim and family member viewing sites in Florida and California, as well as the addition of one public viewing site and one media viewing site in the New York area. However, DOD has not provided a strategy showing how these efforts will be accomplished. As of April 2022, DOD provided a response letter with additional details regarding their considerations of the nine options for expanding public access included in the report, but did not provide details regarding the identification and analysis of associated risks for all options, which is needed to address the recommendation. In June and October 2023, we contacted DOD to determine if any additional actions have been taken on our recommendation. No additional actions were identified. We will continue to monitor DOD's efforts to address this recommendation and will update the status as more information becomes available.

Climate Change Adaptation: DOD Needs to Better Incorporate Adaptation into Planning and Collaboration at Overseas Installations

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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status Sort descending
Department of Defense The Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force should work with the Office of the Secretary of Defense to issue a requirement to their installations to systematically track the costs associated with extreme weather events and climate change. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In October 2017, DOD non-concurred with our recommendation. In August 2018, an official from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Energy, Installations & Environment) stated that because DOD non-concurred with this recommendation, the department has no plans to implement it. DOD officials stated that as of June 2021, the department had not taken any actions to implement this recommendation. As of November 2023, DOD had not provided GAO with any further updates on the status of this recommendation. As such, we will continue to monitor the status of DOD's efforts to address this recommendation.

Military Personnel: Additional Steps Are Needed to Strengthen DOD's Oversight of Ethics and Professionalism Issues

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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status Sort descending
Department of Defense To better inform the department's approach to senior officers' professional development, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to assess the need for and feasibility of implementing 360-degree assessments for all general and flag officers.
Open
DOD partially concurred with this recommendation, stating that it concurs with the recommendation to assess the need for and feasibility of implementing 360-degree assessments, or 360-degree-like feedback assessments, where they are not already being performed, but that it believes that it should only do so for general and flag officers at the three star ranks and below. DOD confirmed its position with regard to this recommendation on October 19, 2015. At that time, DOD also stated that it believes in a holistic approach to developing and assessing professionalism, noting, as an example, the Joint Staff's use of staff assistance visits and Senior Leader "roundtables" to complement the use of 360-degree assessments. In April 2018, DOD stated that each military department and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had implemented a 360-degree assessment requirement for all general and flag officers. As of January 2024, DOD has not responded to inquiries regarding documentation in support of these actions. When we confirm what actions DOD has taken, we will update the status of this recommendation.

F-35 Sustainment: Need for Affordable Strategy, Greater Attention to Risks, and Improved Cost Estimates

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1 Open Recommendations
1 Priority
Agency Affected Recommendation Status Sort descending
Department of Defense
Priority Rec.
To help DOD address key risks to F-35 affordability and operational readiness, and to improve the reliability of its O&S cost estimates for the life cycle of the program, the Secretary of Defense should direct the F-35 Program Executive Officer, to promote competition, address affordability, and inform its overarching sustainment strategy, to develop a long-term Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy to include, but not be limited to, the identification of (1) current levels of technical data rights ownership by the federal government and (2) all critical technical data needs and their associated costs.
Open
DOD concurred with our recommendation. According to DOD officials, the F-35 program's Joint Program Office has been working for years on developing an Intellectual Property Strategy for the F-35; however, the development of an Intellectual Property Strategy depends on the program having a clear understanding of what sustainment work the government will perform, and what sustainment work contractors will perform. As of January 2023, the division of government and contractor F-35 sustainment responsibilities is still in dispute among the customers of the F-35 program. Until DOD resolves these differences and determines the appropriate balance of government and contractor responsibilities for sustainment activities, DOD will not complete an Intellectual Property Strategy for the F-35 program.

Climate Resilience: DOD Coordinates with Communities, but Needs to Assess the Performance of Related Grant Programs

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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status Sort descending
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the director of OEA establish performance measures for its Military Installation Resilience grant program. At minimum, the performance measures should be clear, quantifiable, objective, and provide for the baseline measurement of current performance. (Recommendation 2)
Open
DOD concurred with this recommendation, and informed GAO of ongoing actions to address its intent in August 2022. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Department of Defense: Additional Actions to Improve Suspense Account Transactions Would Strengthen Financial Reporting

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1 Open Recommendations
1 Priority
Agency Affected Recommendation Status Sort descending
Department of Defense
Priority Rec.
The Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) should establish a process to provide specific implementing guidance to DFAS and DOD components, including field submitters, when new suspense account policy memorandums are issued. (Recommendation 3)
Open
The Department of Defense (DOD) partially agreed with this recommendation. DOD previously stated that the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) provides implementing guidance to DFAS and DOD components, when appropriate, for complex accounting issues based on professional judgment. In December 2022, DOD stated that it does not plan to establish a process to provide specific implementing guidance and reiterated what it had said previously about providing such guidance as needed based on its professional judgement. However, without a process for providing guidance that results in consistent implementation of any new or updated complex suspense account policies department-wide, there is an increased risk that consolidated data reported in DOD's core financial reporting system may be unreliable.

Operational Contract Support: Actions Needed to Enhance the Collection, Integration, and Sharing of Lessons Learned

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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status Sort descending
Department of Defense To help improve awareness of OCS roles and responsibilities and to collect OCS issues at the military services and the service component commands, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the military departments, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to establish an OCS training requirement for commanders and senior leaders.
Open
DOD concurred with our recommendation. As of November 2023, DOD has taken steps to focus OCS training to all planners, including those outside the logistics directorate. In December 2015, the Joint Staff J7 certified the Joint OCS Planning and Execution (JOPEC) course of instruction for Joint training. The Joint Staff, per this training certification, is working with the Joint Deployment Training Center and the Joint Force Staff College to provide student administrative and course catalog support for future JOPEC training. In August 2020, OSD officials stated that they have secured funding for development of a new, online strategic-level OCS course, which they plan to develop, test, and field in 2021. Finally, OSD officials said that the updated OCS instruction, DODI 3020.41, will also address training for planners beyond the logistics directorate; officials stated in November 2023 that they are working to complete publication of the instruction but estimated that the latest target date for issuance is March 2024. We will continue to monitor these efforts will update this recommendation upon publication of the DOD Instruction 3020.41.

Military Hazing: DOD Should Address Data Reporting Deficiencies, Training Limitations, and Personnel Shortfalls

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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status Sort descending
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Chief, National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force and the Director, ODEI, establishes a policy that addresses procedures to receive, track, and report hazing complaints by National Guard servicemembers in a title 32 duty status. (Recommendation 1)
Open
DOD concurred with this recommendation. As of September 2023, DOD stated that the National Guard Bureau, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (NGB-DEI) is exploring methods and processes that require the 54 states and territories and the District of Columbia to receive, track, investigate, and report hazing (and bullying) complaints by National Guard Service members in a Title 32 duty status. Additionally, NGB-DEI is looking at how commanders will be required to complete inquiries/investigations into all accepted complaints, and ensure resolutions are in writing and present it to the complainant. Further, NGB-DEI is looking at how complainants will further retain all their traditional due process rights, including the freedom to make Inspector General complaints, contact their congressional representative, or use the chain of command's open door policies. DOD estimates that these actions will be complete in February 2024.