Army Corps of Engineers: Budget Formulation Process Emphasizes Agencywide Priorities, but Transparency of Budget Presentation Could be Improved

Abstract

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is the world's largest public engineering, design, and construction management agency. In fiscal year 2006 it began incorporating performance information into its budget process, but Congress raised concerns that the criteria used by the Corps to prioritize projects are not transparent and the budget formulation process could achieve a higher return on investment. GAO was asked to (1) describe the information the Corps uses in its budget formulation process and the implications of the process, and (2) evaluate whether the President's recent budget requests for the Corps are presented so that agency priorities are clear and proposed use of funds transparent. GAO reviewed the Corps' internal budget guidance, documentation of its project rankings and budget formulation process, performance review materials, and budget presentation materials. GAO also interviewed Corps and Office of Management and Budget officials.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA517826

Entities

People

  • Anu K. Mittal
  • Carol M. Henn
  • Chelsa Gurkin
  • Denise M. Fantone
  • Felicia Lopez
  • Joshua Archambault
  • Kathleen Padulchick
  • Kelly A. Richburg
  • Robert L. Gebhart
  • Vasiliki Theodoropoulos
  • Virginia Chanley
  • Vondalee R. Hunt

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Army Corps Of Engineers
  • Commerce
  • Congress
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Environment
  • Environmental Protection
  • Flood Control
  • Flood Hazards
  • Floods
  • Geographic Regions
  • Governments
  • Law
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Water Resources
  • Water Supplies

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Facility/Structural Engineering.