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Acquisitions
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$1 billion+ |
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Prioritize cost savings over domestic production mandates
The "Buy American Act" and subsequent Berry Amendment placed a series of restrictions on government purchasing. Reevaluating these restrictions based on national security needs could offer an opportunity to save billions. Permalink
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$16.9 million-$5.5 billion |
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Do not refuel the USS Harry S. Truman
Sidelined since August 2019 thanks to a major electrical malfunction, the USS Harry S. Truman was slated for early retirement in the Pentagon's FY2020 budget request. Under this plan, the carrier would not be refueled and instead would be used until its nuclear fuel is spent, which could save up to $5.5 billion -- although recent reports suggest immediate savings would be roughly $17 million. Permalink
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$1 billion+ |
US Navy: RFI: FFG(X) - US Navy Guided Missile Frigate Replacement Program |
Limit future LCS development & acquisition
In July 2017, after years of cost overruns and mechanical failures, the US Navy quietly released formal requirements for a new frigate design under the Guided Missile Frigate Replacement Program or FFG(X), with the US Naval Institute describing the project as similar to the LCS. Ahead of FY2019, Congress made the controversial decision to award three more LCS than the Navy had requested, while cutting money from other priorities. At a bare minimum, Congress can save money by not approving more ships than the Pentagon requests in future years. Permalink
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Improve the management and operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
The DoD should evaluate whether one agency would be more effective at improving the management and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Future UAS programs will likely become more popular, so it is important that these evaluations are made in order to avoid duplication, and sooner rather than later. Permalink
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$1 billion+ |
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Reduce the DOD’s cost risks in purchasing and maintaining Tactical Wheeled Vehicles
By completing its planned tactical wheeled vehicle strategy, the Department of Defense can determine capabilities for the Joint Tactical Vehicle as well as analyzing various costs and conducting a cost-benefit analysis to avoid duplication or overlap. At the end of 2017, GAO reported that it had taken sufficient actions to satisfy this goal. Permalink
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Minimize the risk of future duplication within ground radar and guided munitions weapons systems
The Joint Staff can be directed to assign all new ground radar capability requirement documents with a Joint Staff designation of “JROC Interest.” All ground radar programs would be examined for possible duplication with other agencies within the DoD. The Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) would then be given the opportunity to analyze alternative plans. Permalink
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Reduce duplicative investments for weapon system acquisitions
Responsibility should be given to the appropriate authority to provide assistance in portfolio management efforts for weapon system acquisitions. The DoD can more effectively use portfolio management to ensure that the funds spent on acquisitions for weapons systems are related to strategic goals. Doing so could help ensure the $100 billion+ spent on weapons acquisitions does not go to waste due to overlap or duplication.
GAO reports that as of 2018, the DoD has taken some actions to improve its processes since the problem was first identified in 2011. However, work remains to ensure cost overruns and delays are avoided. Permalink
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When possible, integrating consumer technology can save money and reduce training time
In 2017, the Navy began the process of installing new controllers on Virginia-class submarines -- for all intents and purposes, Xbox controllers. The controller was not only intuitively easier for sailors to learn, it also was significantly cheaper -- to the tune of roughly $30 per panel as opposed to $38,000. Seeking further, similar integration can help save costs and reduce training time for servicemembers who grew up using similar technology. Permalink
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$9 billion over 10 years |
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Cap experimental fuel procurement
Some Pentagon officials have suggested that the use of experimental fuels, such as algae and used cooking grease, is a national security interest because of the risk inherent in foreign fuel markets. However, in recent years, costs have been several times more than average fuel prices, and there is no guarantee that current investments will be successful. Past efforts in the private sector to find reliable fuel sources from algae, for instance, were canceled after hundreds of millions in investment. Establishing stricter guidelines or curtailing such investments could save billions. Permalink
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$52 billion over 10 years |
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Reduce funding for the Pentagon’s “Other Procurement”
"Other Procurement" covers non-major equipment replacement. With deployments scaling back, it may be useful to better prioritize procurement decisions, placing emphasis on the major equipment that is vital to protecting the country first. Permalink
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$1 million+ |
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Identify cost-cutting measure for the new Air Force One
The new Air Force One design is projected to cost at least $600 million, a number that President Trump himself has criticized in the past. While Air Force One is no average aircraft by any means, lawmakers should look to identify any waste and cut unnecessary costs.
In 2019, the Pentagon provided its first public accounting of the total costs of the new Air Force One, which totaled $5.3 billion. Pentagon officials suggested accounts for total costs of building a hangar complex as well as other administrative, engineering, and development work. The Trump Administration has long stated its desire to bring costs down as low as possible, and should pursue all available options moving forward. Permalink
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Target future cost overruns on developing the USS Gerald R Ford
The USS Gerald R Ford entered the Navy fleet in 2017 about three years behind schedule and nearly $3 billion over budget. President Trump has joined budget watchdogs in criticizing the Navy's cost overruns that have come as a decision to bet on technology that is not fully developed. In future development and modernization, appropriators should beware of funding technology that is not fully developed and look to avoid any cost overruns. Permalink
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$10 million+ annually |
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Enforce existing acquisition policy and identify opportunities to centralize the Department of Defense's procurement of commercial satellite communications
The Department of Defense should adhere to its policy that all commercial satellite communications are to be procured by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). If it does not follow its stated strategy and do so, the department remains at risk of higher costs and inefficiencies from contracting for commercial services. Permalink
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$27 billion over 10 years |
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Defer development of the B-21 bomber
As the Air Force prepares to modernize other fleet aircraft, the DoD could save money and potentially help future development by deferring the development for the next decade, after which newer technologies may already be developed and modernization of other aircraft is complete.
Permalink
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$6 billion or $8 billion over 10 years |
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Build only one type of nuclear weapon for bombers
Currently, the Air Force has two separate types of long-range bombers that can both carry nuclear weapons and conduct conventional missions. As the United States approaches the modernization of all its nuclear forces, the timing is appropriate to consider phasing out one or the other, with the ability to save $6 to $8 billion within the decade. Permalink
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$9-$13 billion over 10 years |
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Reduce the size of the nuclear triad
The 2013 Nuclear Weapons Employment Strategy of the United States stated that the U.S. could still preserve a "strong and credible" nuclear strategy with about one-third of the weapons currently allowed under New START treaty. CBO has identified several options for phasing out or limiting the total number of weapons while maintaining the United States' strategic position. Permalink
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$27 billion over 10 years |
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Limit funding for naval ship construction to historical levels
The Navy's current shipbuilding plan calls for a budget roughly 18 percent higher than historical averages over the last 30 years. If the Navy were to cap the budget to this historical average, the number of ballistic missile submarines and aircraft carriers would remain unchanged, while the number of new ships would be cut by a small amount compared to the alternative. In the short term, the Navy would still have an extremely powerful fleet of ships, and could adjust plans according to emerging threats if needed. Permalink
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$15 billion over 10 years |
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Phase out Ford class aircraft carriers
This plan would not impact the current class of aircraft carriers, since ships are scheduled to operate for 50 years, and the size of the fleet would not immediately be shrunk. Eventually, the size would decrease when some of the ships stop being used, but if they are deemed necessary because of national security interests, the building process can be resumed. Permalink
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$23 billion over 10 years |
2014 NDAA Amendment by then-Rep. Duckworth |
Prioritize purchasing F-16s and F/A-18 aircraft instead of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters
The problems with the F-35 program are well-known, and there are various options both for controlling costs currently and for moving forward. One option would decrease the cost of replacing DoD’s older fighter aircraft while still providing new F-16s and F/A-18s by canceling future purchases. The previously purchased F-35's could still be utilized, but the scheduled purchase of F-35s in later years could be frozen until the development of the aircrafts are improved and made more cost-effective. Even if Congress is not willing to adopt this extensive a proposal, lawmakers should look for any options to control costs and ensure future acquisitions are need-based.
The F-35 is notoriously behind schedule and over budget, and according to a recent report, the Navy’s version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has received "unacceptably low" evaluations of its combat readiness. Lawmakers can save money by pursuing options for scaling back acquisitions until the aircraft is ready and needed for current conflicts. Permalink
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Between $10 and $12 billion annually |
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Include additional overseas basing in the Navy
Basing ships overseas puts them closer to conflict zones in the case that they are needed, which could allow for sustaining readiness and allow the shipbuilding budget and fleet to be limited. There are potential downsides, including the costs and logistical concerns involved with basing ships in foreign nations. Permalink
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$11-$17 billion annually |
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Implement longer deployments for the Navy
Longer deployments for ships would be less expensive than buying more ships every year. When possible, increasing the time of use for each ship would allow the mission to be maintained even if costs or fleet size were to be cut. Permalink
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$100 billion over 10 years |
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Adopt “sea swap” policies for ships
Crew Rotation, or sea swaps, extend individual ship deployments from six months to nearly a year or longer while holding individual crew deployments to the normal six months. Flying relief crews out to ships instead of having them return to home ports to change crews can result in significant cost savings without unnecessary strain on enlisted servicemembers. Permalink
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$1 million+ |
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Improve the use of warranties and guarantees in shipbuilding
The DoD should direct the Navy ensure that contracts specify that when a shipbuilder has made a mistake, taxpayers are not responsible for fixing the damaged product.
In 2018, the Navy finalized new guidance preventing shipbuilders from earning profits for correcting errors the shipbuilder itself had made, under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy. Permalink
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$1 million+ |
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Improve the management and oversight of virtual training programs
Developing guidance for the use of virtual training will help the DoD determine the time and resources needed to achieve proper training with the devices. Specifically, the Army should direct training developers to document the time available to train with devices as well as intended usage rates. The Pentagon has taken some steps to address GAO recommendations but does not plan to fully implement them until 2021. Permalink
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Rethink the Buy American Act and the “Berry Amendment” 
