Military Assistance: Improving the Way Congress Is Notified of Program Changes
NSIAD-89-4
Published: Nov 22, 1988. Publicly Released: Nov 22, 1988.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO assessed the Department of Defense's (DOD) congressional notification procedures for reprogramming of foreign military assistance funds to determine whether changes in the process would provide Congress with better information on significant reprogramming without undue administrative burden.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress may wish to: (1) consider establishing the section 653(a) allocation report as the funding baseline, or justification, for notifying Congress of military aid reprogrammings; and (2) require that reductions be reported at the end of the fiscal year. |
Closed – Implemented
|
The FY 1990 Foreign Aid Appropriations Act, and accompanying report, enacted most of the recommendations. Congress made the 653(a) report the baseline by defining "justified" as the amount specifically obligated for specific programs and activities. While retaining the amounts in the congressional presentation document, the program baselines take precedence on reprogramming activities. |
| Congress may also wish to consider including the $25,000 threshold for notifying Congress of increases in IMET in the annual appropriations act. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
No known action taken to date by Congress. |
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Topics
Agency reportsForeign military assistanceFunds managementProgram managementReporting requirementsReprogramming of appropriated fundsForeign assistanceMilitary aidMilitary assistanceMilitary education