Global War on Terrorism: DOD Needs to More Accurately Capture and Report the Costs of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom

Since September 11, 2001, Congress has provided about $808 billion to the Department of Defense (DoD) for the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) in addition to funding in DoD's base budget. Prior GAO reports have found DoD's reported GWOT cost data unreliable and found problems with transparen...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pickup, Sharon, Borseth, Ann, Geiger, Richard, Ditto, Susan, Keefer, Linda, La Due Lake, Ron, Laufer, Deanna, McAllister, Lonnie, Petersen, Eric, Rutecki, Joseph
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ACCOUNTING
ACCURACY
Administration and Management
AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT
AUTOMATION
BASE BUDGET
CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS
COST DATA
COST REPORTING
COSTS
COUNTERTERRORISM
DATA MANAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Economics and Cost Analysis
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
INCREMENTAL COSTS
IRAQI WAR
MAINTENANCE
MILITARY BUDGETS
Military Forces and Organizations
MILITARY PROCUREMENT
OPERATION
RELIABILITY
Unconventional Warfare
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Summary:Since September 11, 2001, Congress has provided about $808 billion to the Department of Defense (DoD) for the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) in addition to funding in DoD's base budget. Prior GAO reports have found DoD's reported GWOT cost data unreliable and found problems with transparency over certain costs. In response, DoD has made several changes to its cost-reporting procedures. Congress has shown interest in increasing the transparency of DoD's cost reporting and funding requests for GWOT. Under the Comptroller General's authority to conduct evaluations on his own initiative, GAO assessed the following: (1) DoD's progress in improving the accuracy and reliability of its GWOT cost reporting, and (2) DoD's methodology for reporting GWOT costs by contingency operation. For this engagement, GAO analyzed GWOT cost data and applicable guidance, as well as DoD's corrective actions. GAO is recommending that DoD do the following: (1) establish a methodology for determining what portion of GWOT costs is attributable to Operation Iraqi Freedom versus Operation Enduring Freedom, and (2) develop a plan and timetable for evaluating whether certain expenses are incremental and should continue to be funded outside of DoD's base budget. DoD agreed with the first recommendation and partially agreed with the second. Report to Congressional Committees.