Weapon Systems Acquisition: Progress and Challenges on GAO's High Risk List

Abstract

GAO is in the process of updating its High Risk List, coinciding with the start of the 118th Congress in 2023. DOD weapon systems acquisition has been on the High Risk List since 1990, with progress ratings for this area remaining largely unchanged. For the 2023 update of the High Risk List, in recognition of the increasingly complex acquisition environment, GAO divided the overall high-risk area into four segments—acquisition policy and oversight, software and cybersecurity, defense industrial base, and innovation investments—that reflect key areas of risk for DOD weapon systems acquisition. This presentation will focus on DOD’s progress in addressing these four segments, while also offering broader observations on DOD’s historical progress over the past 33 years on this high-risk area. The presentation will draw on GAO’s broad body of work in DOD weapon systems acquisition, including on acquisition policy, emerging technologies, software and cybersecurity, defense industrial base, and drill downs of individual weapon systems. This presentation will cover DOD’s accomplishments to date, as well as further efforts needed by DOD and Congress to address GAO’s High Risk List criteria.