Defense Acquisitions: Air Force Operating and Support Cost Reductions Need Higher Priority

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) efforts to reduce the Air Force's operating and support costs, focusing on: (1) operating and support cost trends; (2) cost reduction initiatives; and (3) factors influencing the success of cost reduction efforts.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter	Status	Comments
Congress may wish to require the Secretary of Defense to direct the Secretary of the Air Force to submit an annual report summarizing each program's operating cost requirements, its actual costs, and the actions planned to achieve the requirement.	Closed – Not Implemented	Congress has not acted on this recommendation.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Air Force to establish an operating and support cost requirement for developmental and fielded weapon systems to ensure full consideration of these costs among other program priorities.	Closed – Not Implemented DOD did not directly address GAO's recommendation to establish an operating and support cost requirement for developmental and fielded weapon systems. In addition, DOD felt that it was premature to require that operating and support costs be tracked.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Air Force to measure and periodically assess progress toward meeting individual program operating cost requirements.	Closed – Not Implemented DOD did not directly address GAO's recommendation to establish an operating and support cost requirement for developmental and fielded weapon systems. In addition, DOD felt that it was premature to require that operating and support costs be tracked.

Full Report

(38 pages)

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Topics

National Defense

Defense capabilitiesDefense procurementMilitary aircraftMilitary cost controlWeapons systemsAircraft acquisition programU.S. Air ForceCost controlOperating and support costsJoint strike fighter