Congress mandated that every 4 years the Dept. of Defense (DoD) conduct a review to examine the national defense strategy and its implications for force structure, modernization, infrastructure and the budget. Because the 2001 review, which was issued on Sept. 30, 2001, will have a significant impact on the DoD's planning and budget, the General Accounting Office (GAO) was asked to assess: (1) the strengths and weaknesses of DoD's conduct and reporting of the review, and (2) whether changes in the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) legislation could improve the usefulness of future reviews. Charts and tables.

This report addresses the major performance and management challenges confronting the Department of Defense (DOD). Taken together, these challenges, if not addressed, can adversely affect the Department's operational effectiveness. The report also addresses corrective actions that DOD has taken or initiated on these issues- including DOD'S blueprint for a strategy-based, balanced, and affordable defense program as outlined in the May 1997 Report of the Quadrennial Defense Review and the reforms described in its November 1997 Defense Reform Initiative Report-and further actions that are needed. For many years, we have reported significant management problems at DOD. These problems can be categorized into two areas: (1) systemic management challenges dealing with financial management, information management, weapon systems acquisition, and contract management; and (2) program management challenges dealing with infrastructure, inventory management, and personnel. These problems cut across DOD'S program areas.

Anthony Cordesman offers a detailed analysis of ten major challenges affecting U.S. national security, systematically identifying current failures and inefficiencies and proposing constructive ways to proceed in the future.