Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Defense Security Assistance Agency's (DSAA): (1) implementation of and compliance with congressional notification criteria for program changes; (2) reporting on items identified as sensitive or comparable to major defense equipment; and (3) role in approving foreign military sales (FMS) funds for aircraft sales to foreign heads of state.
GAO found that: (1) DSAA complied with applicable congressional notification requirements; (2) DSAA did not report one sale of bombs because it considered them conventional ammunition, which the requirements exempted; (3) DSAA had difficulties meeting the requirements because of a lack of specific definitions; (4) DSAA did not review the majority of Israel's FMS purchase orders, but only failed to report the purchase of one reportable item; (5) DSAA officials believed that they would need additional staff members to review all Israeli purchase orders; and (6) DSAA notified Congress of three particular FMS sales to foreign heads of state, and the foreign governments had signed FMS contracts in all three cases.
