The military departments and the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) have taken various steps to track the implementation of efficiency initiatives including the reduction of overhead and consolidation of functions, but GAO has cited opportunities to improve the information used in monitoring their status.
The department in 2010 began an effort to assess staffing, organization and operations to find savings and reinvestment opportunities, with the goal of realizing $100 billion in cost savings and efficiencies from fiscal 2012 to 2016.
To track savings related to the initiatives, the military departments and SOCOM identified the appropriation accounts and areas within these accounts from which they expected to achieve savings, the specific dollar amounts, and areas where savings were to be reinvested, according to GAO-13-105R.
It said while DoD has developed an approach for the military departments and SOCOM to follow in reporting information on the status of efficiency initiatives, the department’s approach has limitations that result in incomplete reporting.
For example, GAO found unreported costs associated with relocating personnel as a result of moving fleet shore command personnel from Pacific Fleet and Fleet Forces Command to other areas within the Navy.
GAO called on DoD to develop guidance with standardized definitions and methodologies for the military departments and SOCOM to use in reporting their efficiency initiatives and savings.
