Additional steps are needed to determine the right size and composition of DoD’s total workforce, GAO has said.
DoD’s military and civilian workforces peaked in fiscal 2011 at 3.1 million personnel combined, and is projected to decrease over the next five years to below the fiscal 2001 level of 2.9 million.
Obligations peaked in fiscal 2010 at about $195 billion, more than twice the amount spent in fiscal 2001, then spending decreased to about $174 billion in fiscal 2012.
DoD is required by law to assess the appropriate mix of its military, civilian, and contractor personnel capabilities in its strategic workforce plan but has not done so, according to GAO-13-470.
It said the department also has not updated its policies and procedures to reflect current statutory requirements to use its civilian strategic workforce plan and the inventory of contracted services to determine the appropriate mix of personnel, and that DoD’s strategic human capital plan does not contain certain required elements and information and several factors limit the accuracy of its inventory of contracted services.
DoD said it either has actions underway or plans to take action to respond to recommendations to revise its policies and procedures to incorporate legislative requirements for workforce planning and federal requirements for the identification of critical functions.
GAO also recommended that DoD provide better information regarding contractor FTEs used in budget submissions.
