**GAO-08-68**                      Published: Nov 06, 2007. Publicly Released: Nov 06, 2007.                  

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## Highlights

Since the September 2001 terrorist attacks, Congress has provided about $542.9 billion, as of May 2007, to the Department of Defense (DOD) for the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Prior GAO reports have found DOD's reported GWOT obligation data unreliable and problems with transparency over certain costs. DOD made changes to its reporting procedures, requiring components to perform a monthly variance analysis on obligation data and to include affirmation statements attesting to the accuracy of cost data. Under the Comptroller General's authority to conduct evaluations on his own initiative, GAO assessed (1) the outlook of DOD's reported GWOT obligations for fiscal year 2007 and funding requests for fiscal year 2008, (2) the effect of changes in DOD's GWOT funding guidance, and (3) DOD's progress in implementing variance analysis and affirmation statements. For this engagement, GAO analyzed fiscal year 2007 GWOTrelated appropriations and reported obligations, as well as DOD's corrective actions.

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## Topics

National Defense

Budget obligationsBudget outlaysContingency operationsCost analysisCost of warCost-based budgetingDefense budgetsDefense capabilitiesDefense cost controlDefense procurementFuture budget projectionsMilitary appropriationsMilitary forcesReporting requirementsTerrorismCost estimatesCost growthTransparency