**GAO-09-460T**                      Published: Mar 12, 2009. Publicly Released: Mar 12, 2009.                  

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## Highlights

The Department of Defense (DOD) spends billions of dollars to sustain key business operations intended to support the warfighter. In January, GAO released its 2009 high-risk series update report for the 111th Congress. This series emphasizes federal programs and operations that are at high risk because of vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement and has also evolved to draw attention to areas associated with broad-based transformation needed to achieve greater efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability. Of the 30 high-risk areas identified by GAO across government, DOD bears sole responsibility for eight defense specific high-risk areas and shares responsibility for seven other high-risk areas--all of which are related to its major business operations. The Committee asked GAO to provide its views on (1) actions needed to achieve measurable outcomes in DOD's high-risk areas and (2) DOD's progress in strengthening its management approach for business transformation, including establishing the Chief Management Officer (CMO) position. GAO was additionally asked to highlight information regarding the high-risk area related to contract management at the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration.

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## Topics

Government Operations

AccountabilityCost analysisCritical technologiesDefense capabilitiesDefense cost controlDefense operationsDefense procurementDepartment of Defense contractorsFinancial managementHuman capital planningInteragency relationsInternal controlsMilitary forcesMilitary materielMilitary personnelPerformance measuresProgram evaluationProgram managementProperty and supply managementReporting requirementsRisk assessmentRisk managementStrategic planningSupply chain managementWeaponsWeapons systemsBusiness planningBusiness transformationCost growthProgram implementationWaste, fraud, and abuse