Defense Transformation: Background and Oversight Issues for Congress
Abstract
The Bush Administration identified transformation as a major goal for the Department of Defense (DoD) soon after taking office and has since worked to refine and implement its plans for defense transformation. The issue for Congress is how to take the concept of defense transformation into account in assessing and acting on Administration proposals for DoD. The Administration's vision for defense transformation calls for shifting the U.S. military toward a greater reliance on joint operations, network-centric warfare, effects-based operations, speed and agility, and precision application of firepower. To help implement this vision, DoD has created an Office of Force Transformation (OFT), designated U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) as its premier "transformation laboratory," and revised weapon acquisition regulations. This document answers the following questions: (1) What is defense transformation?; (2) What are the Administration's plans for defense transformation?; (3) How much would defense transformation cost?; (4) What military weapons and systems are considered transformational?; (5) How might the Administration's transformation plans, if implemented, affect the U.S. defense industrial base?; (6) What implications might defense transformation have for the ability of U.S. military forces to participate in combined operations with the military forces of allied and friendly countries?; and (7) What transformational changes has Congress initiated? The following oversight issues for Congress also are discussed: Is defense transformation necessary or desirable, and, if so, is the Administration's plan appropriate?; and What are the potential implications for Congressional oversight of DoD? A review of relevant legislative activity for FY2005 concludes the work. The appendix contains a list of related reading materials. This report will be updated as events warrant.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 20, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA443727
Entities
People
- Ronald O'Rourke
Organizations
- Library of Congress