National Defense

Recent Reports

Firefighting Foam Chemicals: DOD Is Investigating PFAS and Responding to Contamination, but Should Report More Cost Information

GAO-21-421

Published: Jun 22, 2021.

Publicly Released: Jun 22, 2021.

Defense Cybersecurity: Defense Logistics Agency Needs to Address Risk Management Deficiencies in Inventory Systems

GAO-21-278

Published: Jun 21, 2021.

Publicly Released: Jun 21, 2021.

Defense Health Care: Actions Needed to Define and Sustain Wartime Medical Skills for Enlisted Personnel

GAO-21-337

Published: Jun 17, 2021.

Publicly Released: Jun 17, 2021.

Navy Readiness: Actions Needed to Evaluate and Improve Surface Warfare Officer Career Path

GAO-21-168

Published: Jun 17, 2021.

Publicly Released: Jun 17, 2021.

Contractor Oversight: Information on the National Nuclear Security Administration's Report on Burdensome Regulatory Requirements

GAO-21-496R

Published: Jun 16, 2021.

Publicly Released: Jun 16, 2021.

Limpieza Efectuada Por El DOD: Se anticipa que los esfuerzos que se llevan a cabo en los antiguos sitios militares en Vieques y Culebra, Puerto Rico, continúen hasta el año 2032

GAO-21-605

Published: Jun 09, 2021.

Publicly Released: Jun 09, 2021.

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Open Recommendations

Firefighting Foam Chemicals: DOD Is Investigating PFAS and Responding to Contamination, but Should Report More Cost Information

GAO-21-421

Jun 22, 2021

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1 Open Recommendations

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment annually includes the latest cost estimates for future PFAS investigation and cleanup—including their scope and any limitations—in DOD's environmental reports to Congress. (Recommendation 1)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Defense Cybersecurity: Defense Logistics Agency Needs to Address Risk Management Deficiencies in Inventory Systems

GAO-21-278

Jun 21, 2021

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5 Open Recommendations

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Director of DLA revises its standard operating procedures to require program offices to develop a system-specific monitoring strategy that is consistent with DOD's risk management framework and related NIST guidance. (Recommendation 1)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Director of DLA revises and implements an assessment plan approval process that ensures that a designated authorizing official reviews and approves system assessment plans prior to a system being assessed. (Recommendation 2)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Director of DLA directs the DLA Cybersecurity Office to establish a process for program offices to review the consistency and completeness of authorization documentation prior to submitting the package to the designated authorizing officials. (Recommendation 3)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Director of DLA revises and implements the agency's process for obtaining waivers that accept identified ongoing risk–including the 338 corrective action plans awaiting waivers. (Recommendation 4)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Director of DLA includes required information—such as residual risk levels—in corrective action plans. (Recommendation 5)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Defense Health Care: Actions Needed to Define and Sustain Wartime Medical Skills for Enlisted Personnel

GAO-21-337

Jun 17, 2021

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30 Open Recommendations

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of the Army	The Secretary of the Army should ensure that the Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, takes corrective action to define wartime medical skills for enlisted medical subspecialties with an expeditionary role. (Recommendation 1)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Air Force	The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Surgeon General of the Air Force, in coordination with the Commander, Air Force Medical Readiness Agency, takes corrective action to define and implement wartime medical skills for enlisted medical subspecialties with an expeditionary role. (Recommendation 2)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Air Force	The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Surgeon General of the Air Force, in coordination with the Commander, Air Force Medical Readiness Agency, establishes guidance that requires the development of wartime medical skills for current and future enlisted medical subspecialties with an expeditionary role. (Recommendation 3)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Army	The Secretary of the Army should ensure that the Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, takes corrective action to fully incorporate joint wartime medical skills into Army wartime medical skills checklists. (Recommendation 4)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Air Force	The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Surgeon General of the Air Force, in coordination with the Commander, Air Force Medical Readiness Agency, takes corrective action to fully incorporate joint wartime medical skills into Air Force wartime medical skills checklists. (Recommendation 5)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Air Force	The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Surgeon General of the Air Force, in coordination with the Commander, Air Force Medical Readiness Agency, issues guidance requiring the incorporation of joint wartime medical skills into Air Force checklists. (Recommendation 6)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Navy Readiness: Actions Needed to Evaluate and Improve Surface Warfare Officer Career Path

GAO-21-168

Jun 17, 2021

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7 Open Recommendations

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of the Navy	The Secretary of the Navy should ensure the Commander, Naval Surface Forces, uses information gathered on Surface Warfare Officer separation rates to develop a plan with clearly defined goals; performance measures that identify specific retention rates or determine if initiatives to improve retention are working as planned; and timelines to improve Surface Warfare Officer retention rates. (Recommendation 1)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Navy	The Secretary of the Navy should ensure the Commander, Naval Surface Forces, develops a plan to identify actions to increase female Surface Warfare Officer retention rates that includes clearly defined goals, performance measures, and timelines. (Recommendation 2)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Navy	The Secretary of the Navy should ensure the Commander, Naval Surface Forces, analyzes relevant logbook data for trends between the number of Surface Warfare Officers aboard ships and competition for limited training opportunities, and evaluates the extent to which its commissioning practices are affecting training opportunities for Surface Warfare Officers. (Recommendation 3)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Navy	The Secretary of the Navy should ensure the Commander, Naval Surface Forces, in coordination with other U.S. Navy communities, evaluates the extent to which the requirement to train junior officers who will not remain in the Surface Warfare Officer community limits training opportunities for those who will remain in the Surface Warfare Officer community and make any related adjustments to their respective career path. (Recommendation 4)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Navy	The Secretary of the Navy should ensure the Commander, Naval Surface Forces, reevaluates the need for nuclear-trained Surface Warfare Officers, assesses the effects of the current training approach, and makes any related adjustments to their respective career path. (Recommendation 5)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Navy	The Secretary of the Navy should ensure the Commander, Naval Surface Forces, establishes and implements regular evaluations of the effectiveness of the current SWO career path, training, and policies in successfully developing and retaining proficient SWOs. The initial evaluation should include at a minimum: (a) an evaluation of the Navy's approach against other career path and proficiency models of other navies and maritime communities, such as specialized career tracks and ship command requirements, identified in our review and (b) input from SWOs at all levels. (Recommendation 6)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.