Nuclear Weapons Sustainment: Improvements Made to Budget Estimates, but Opportunities Exist to Further Enhance Transparency
Abstract
DOD and DOE are undertaking an extensive, multifaceted effort to sustain and modernize U.S. nuclear weapons capabilities, which are aging and being deployed beyond their intended service lives. This effort is expected to take decades and cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Section 1043 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, as amended, requires the submission of an annual report to congressional committees on DOD s and DOE s plans for related matters, including 10-year budget estimates, and includes a provision that GAO review aspects of that report. In June 2014, GAO reviewed the July 2013 joint report and made recommendations to improve future reports, such as documenting the methodology used to create certain estimates and identifying its assumptions and limitations. This report assesses the extent to which the May 2014 joint report provides (1) budget estimates that are consistent with the departments internal funding and modernization plans and (2) complete and transparent information on the methodology used to develop the estimates. GAO recommends that future joint reports provide more thorough documentation of the methodologies used to develop the estimates and comparative information on changes in the estimates from the prior year. DOD and DOE generally agreed, but DOD noted that information on changes is not required. GAO continues to believe the recommendation is valid as discussed further in this report.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA623619
Entities
People
- Allison B. Bawden
- Amie Lesser
- David Trimble
- Jennifer Andreone
- Joanne Landesman
- Joe Kirschbaum
- Neil Feldman
- Patrick Bernard
- Penney H. Caramia
- Tom Fullum
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office