Summary

In response to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the implementation of the recommendations of the President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management, known as the Packard Commission.

GAO found that: (1) the National Security Council provided a single budget level in its guidance to the Department of Defense (DOD) rather than provisional budget levels as the Commission recommended; (2) Congress did not reduce the redundancy among its committees and subcommittees reviewing the DOD budget, although it did propose a number of reforms; (3) Congress did not reduce the number of reports it requested from DOD; (4) although DOD stated that it was willing to work with Congress to develop an operationally oriented budget, the fiscal years 1988 and 1989 budgets did not include such a structure; (5) DOD incorporated the Commission's recommendations to streamline its acquisition procedures; (6) Congress passed legislation implementing recommended changes to the nation's military organization and command structure; and (7) DOD and the defense industry have taken actions to improve their operating practices.