Security Assistance: Need for Improved Reporting on Excess Defense Article Transfers
Abstract
Each year, the United States supplements the billions of dollars appropriated by Congress for foreign military assistance by furnishing its allies with significant quantities of defense articles declared excess to U.S. needs. Such defense articles include tanks, fighter and cargo aircraft, ammunition, trucks, spare parts, military rations, and clothing. While most transfers of these excess defense articles (EDA) are provided free of charge to eligible countries, some are sold at discounted prices. As U.S. forces continue to downsize, more defense articles are becoming excess and, therefore, available for transfer. Accordingly, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, requested that GAO review the implementation of the EDA program. Specifically, GAO analyzed the scope and growth of the program and the types of EDAS transferred; examined the process used to report EDA transfers to Congress; determined whether the EDA pricing/valuing procedures are accurate; and examined various aspects of how the EDA program is managed, including identification of excess articles.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- AD1179342
Entities
People
- Beth H Leon
- Cristina Gobin-steinbruner
- Joseph E. Kelley
- Stewart L. Tomlinson
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office