Operation Desert Shield/Storm: Costs and Funding Requirements
NSIAD-91-304
Published: Sep 24, 1991. Publicly Released: Oct 25, 1991.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO evaluated the incremental cost of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, focusing on: (1) the executive branch's cost estimates and funding requirements for the operations; (2) the extent to which the United States needs to provide any additional funding; and (3) how the Department of Defense (DOD) and the individual services tracked the operations' costs.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| When contributions to the Defense Cooperation Account equal or exceed anticipated funding requirements, Congress should rescind the amount remaining in the Persian Gulf Regional Defense Fund before the fund would otherwise terminate. | This recommendation is repeated in NSIAD-92-194. | |
| Congress should use any remaining funds from the Defense Cooperation Account to cover other operation-related costs, such as reimbursing the U.S. Treasury for the $2.1 billion appropriated for fiscal year (FY) 1990 costs of the operation and the $320.5 million for Operation Provide Comfort, or paying for the costs occurring after FY 1995 associated with long-term personnel benefits, as authorized in the Persian Gulf Conflict Supplemental Authorization and Personnel Benefits Act. | This recommendation is repeated in NSIAD-92-194. | |
| Congress should not appropriate the $482 million for munitions requested in the July 9, 1991 supplemental until the requirement is clear. | P.L. 102-229, passed in December 1991, appropriated funds for munitions as requested by DOD. | |
| Congress should not transfer the $2.5 billion for maintenance costs into FY 1992 until the needs have been determined. | P.L. 102-229, passed in December 1991, appropriated funds as requested by DOD. |
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