Summary: GAO evaluated the military services' and the Department of Defense's (DOD) fiscal year (FY) 1998 operation and maintenance (O&M) budget requests, which total about $94 billion, focusing on whether the O&M accounts should be funded in the amounts requested. GAO noted that this report summarizes and updates information it provided in March, April, and June 1997, but does not include any actions that may have been taken by congressional committees during their reviews of the budget requests. GAO has not acknowledged these committee actions because in some cases House and Senate actions have varied and conference actions are still pending. GAO also noted that this report does not include issues that no longer warrant a potential reduction based on updated information.
GAO noted that it identified potential budget reductions of about $3.7 billion to the FY 1998 O&M budget requests in the areas of: (1) inventory management; (2) unobligated funds; (3) medical care delivery; (4) civilian personnel; (5) training infrastructure; (6) pilot training requirements; (7) transportation; (8) environmental restoration; (9) operating tempo; (10) training aircraft; (11) maintenance operations; (12) aircraft storage; (13) aircraft engine repairs; (14) depot maintenance; (15) combat ammunition system; (16) air defense units; (17) medium launch vehicles; and (18) the B-1B bomber.
