Quadrennial Defense Review: Future Reviews Can Benefit from Better Analysis and Changes in Timing and Scope
GAO-03-13
Published: Nov 04, 2002. Publicly Released: Nov 04, 2002.
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Highlights
Congress mandated that every 4 years the Department of Defense (DOD) conduct a review to examine the national defense strategy and its implications for force structure, modernization, infrastructure and the budget. Because the 2001 review, which was issued on September 30, 2001, will have a significant impact on the department's planning and budget, GAO was asked to assess (1) the strengths and weaknesses of DOD's conduct and reporting of the review, and (2) whether changes in the QDR legislation could improve the usefulness of future reviews.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress may wish to consider extending the time frame of the QDR to allow more time for DOD to conduct comprehensive analyses and to create a better link with DOD's planning and budgeting process. |
Closed – Implemented
|
This recommendation was implemented and DOD was allowed more time to submit the Quadrennial Defense Review. |
| Congress may with to consider revising the special requirements of the QDR to clarify what is expected and set clear priorities for DOD's work. |
Closed – Implemented
|
Congress reconsidered the legislation requiring the QDR in its discussions pursuant the John Warner National Defense Act of 2007. In the act (10 U.S.C. sec. 118) Congress delineated in detail its expectations for the issues future QDRs should address. |
| Congress may also with to consider establishing an advisory panel prior to the next review to identify the critical issues and programs that the QDR should address. |
Closed – Implemented
|
Congress dealt with the matter we raised in the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act of 2006 which was changed previous legislative language regarding the QDR to require the Secretary of Defense to establish an independent panel to conduct an assessment of the QDR not later than 6 months before the date on which the report is submitted to Congress. This new legislative language will apply with the 2008 QDR. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | To enhance the usefulness of future QDRs and assist congressional oversight, the Secretary of Defense should clearly assign responsibility for assessing all review issues required by legislation. |
Closed – Not Implemented
As of the release of the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review, DOD had not implemented the recommendation.
|
| Department of Defense | To enhance the usefulness of future QDRs and assist congressional oversight, the Secretary of Defense should provide Congress with more complete information describing the department's analysis to meet the legislative requirements, particularly those related to force structure requirements. |
Closed – Not Implemented
Although DOD agreed with the recommendation, DOD did not provide more detailed information on the analysis supporting its quadrennial defense review decisions in its 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review report. GAO is making additional recommendations regarding DOD's force structure analysis in a classified report on the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review.
|
| Department of Defense | If necessary, DOD should provide certain information, such as the key assumptions, scenarios, and alternatives it used in assessing its force structure requirements, in a classified format. |
Closed – Not Implemented
In the course of the 2006 QDR, the Department of Defense provided some congressional staff briefings on its primary tool to analyze its force structure needs. However, this does not fulfill the intent of the recommendation which was intended to provide Congress with this information in conjunction with the QDR report.
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Topics
Internal controlsNational defense operationsPlanning programming budgetingReporting requirementsSchedule slippagesStrategic planningForce structureQuadrennial defense reviewNational securityUnified command plan