Foreign Assistance Act: Comments on New Policy Framework for Foreign Aid

GAO discussed reforming the U.S. foreign assistance program in the wake of the Cold War. GAO noted that: (1) it generally supports proposed legislation that would reform U.S. foreign assistance programs; (2) it will be necessary to maintain focus on outlining and implementing a limited number of priority objectives; (3) foreign assistance reform should include accountability for managing the programs for objective, quantifiable results, as well as improved performance monitoring requirements; (4) while the legislation would provide increased flexibility for implementing democracy, student exchange, and judicial reform programs overseas, it would not clearly define accountability and responsibility for those programs; (5) the proposed legislation's prohibition on use of funds for foreign police training would be easy to circumvent; (6) the legislation would outline nuclear nonproliferation goals similar to those of other U.S. programs; (7) concerns about U.S. participation in peacekeeping operations include the importance of operational and political mandates, United Nations' budgetary and management weaknesses, personnel training, and limitations in command and control mechanisms; and (8) the proposed legislation could weaken restrictions on transfers of U.S.-origin arms.