Prepositioned Stocks: DOD's Strategic Policy and Implementation Plan

What GAO Found

GAO found that, as of June 24, 2014, the Department of Defense (DOD) has not submitted a strategic policy or an implementation plan for its prepositioning programs—programs for prepositioned materiel and equipment—to congressional committees as mandated by Section 321 of Public Law 113-66.In letters to the defense committees dated April 24, 2014, DOD stated it would establish an enterprise-focused working group that would develop strategic guidance, including joint oversight for DOD’s prepositioning programs, and that a response would be provided by the end of March 2015 to allow the group to develop the necessary guidance and oversight. Because the policy and a plan have not been finalized, we cannot review the documents as mandated. However, we will continue to monitor DOD’s progress and will review the prepositioning strategic policy and implementation plan when they become available.

Why GAO Did This Study 

Section 321 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, Pub. L. No. 113-66 requires DOD to maintain a strategic policy on the programs of the department for prepositioned materiel and equipment that takes into account national security threats, strategic mobility, service requirements and the requirements of the combatant commands, and to address the ways in which the department’s prepositioning programs, both ground and afloat, align with national defense strategies and departmental priorities. The act also requires that not later than 120 days after the date of the act, DOD is to submit to the congressional committees a plan for implementation of the prepositioning strategic policy. Section 321 further requires that not later than 180 days after the enactment of the act, GAO is to review the submitted strategic policy and implementation plan required and to provide to the defense committees a report describing our findings and any additional information that we determine is appropriate relating to the prepositioning strategic policy and implementation plan.