Sequestration: Documenting and Assessing Lessons Learned Would Assist DOD in Planning for Future Budget Uncertainty
Abstract
In March 2013, the President ordered across-the-board spending reductions, known as sequestration, for all federal agencies and departments. As a result, DOD s discretionary resources were reduced by about $37.2 billion over the remainder of FY 2013. The joint explanatory statement accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 included a provision for GAO to review DOD s implementation and effects of the FY 2013 sequestration. This report examines, for the FY 2013 sequestration, (1) how DOD allocated reductions, (2) what effects DOD has identified on selected DOD programs, services, and military readiness, and (3) the extent to which DOD took actions to mitigate the effects of sequestration. GAO analyzed DOD s FY 2013 budget and execution data and reviewed a nongeneralizeable sample of five types of expenses or investments such as maintenance, and a selection of weapon systems and military construction projects based on the magnitude of reductions and possible relation to readiness. For each area, GAO reviewed data on planned versus actual spending and reports on actions taken and interviewed DOD and service officials.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA617074
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office