Summary

Embassy Construction: Better Long-term Planning Will Enhance Program Decision-making

GAO-01-11  January 22, 2001

Full Report (PDF, 63 pages)   

The State Department has determined that about 80 percent of overseas U.S. diplomatic facilities lack adequate security and may be vulnerable to terrorist attack. In September 1998, State expanded its capital construction program to accelerate replacing its most vulnerable embassies and consulates by acquiring sites and preparing plans at 10 priority locations. This report summarizes (1) the status of the 10 priority embassy and consulate construction projects and (2) State's plans for the overall construction program. As of November 2000, seven projects are in the construction phase. The remaining three projects are on hold pending agreement between State and Congress about the Department's construction proposals. Although State envisions a long-term, multi-billion dollar program and has ranked more than 180 facilities it may need to replace, it has not prepared a long-term capital construction plan that identifies (1) proposed construction project's cost estimates and schedules and (2) estimated annual funding requirements for the overall program.

Subject Terms

Construction costs
Embassies
Facility security
Future budget projections
Government facility construction
Strategic planning
Terrorism
Homeland security
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
Doha (Qatar)
Istanbul (Turkey)
Kampala (Uganda)
Luanda (Angola)
Nairobi (Kenya)
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Sao Paulo (Brazil)
Tunis (Tunisia)
Zagreb (Croatia)