March 6, 2008

New GAO report on Coast Guard

A new GAO report says that while the Coast Guard initiatives to increase its management of its largest acquisition program, Deepwater, are "positive," many are just getting under way "and the extent of their impact remains to be seen."

The GAO report also says that the "Coast Guard continues to face challenges balancing its homeland and non-homeland security missions within its finite resources."

In several cases, the Coast Guard has not been able to keep up with these security demands, in that it is not meeting its own requirements for providing vessel escorts and conducting other security activities at some ports. In addition, there are indications that the Coast GuardÕs requirements are also increasing for selected non-homeland security missions.

The report, Deepwater Program Management Initiatives and Key Homeland Security Missions, comprises GAO testimony given yesterday before the House Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Committee on Appropriations