Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) implementation of a task force's recommendations concerning the U.S. Space Command, focusing on progress in eliminating the separate Army, Navy, and Air Force component headquarters.
GAO found that: (1) the Secretary of Defense did not accept the task force's recommendation to eliminate the service component headquarters; (2) the Secretary of Defense directed the Command and its component headquarters to reduce their staffs by a total of 110 positions instead of the recommended 341 positions; (3) despite the DOD direction to eliminate positions, the Command and the Army component headquarters increased their staffing levels; (4) the Navy component's headquarters staffing remained unchanged; (5) the Air Force component's headquarters staffing level declined due to the transfer of certain functions and missions to its subordinate space wings; and (6) Command officials expected further staffing cuts at the component levels in future years. In addition, GAO found that Command and Army component headquarters' staffing level increases were due to: (1) planned growth; (2) the establishment of new organizations within the Army component command; and (3) additional responsibilities assumed by the Command.
