Air Force Efforts To Avoid Inappropriate Disposal of Materials

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed Air Force property disposal practices at two Air Force bases. The review focused on whether the Air Force was disposing of materials in accordance with the rules of a moratorium which had been placed on disposals to allow time for inventory management policies and procedures to be revised.

GAO was unable to estimate the total number or value of Air Force disposal actions which did not comply with the moratorium rules. GAO found disposal actions which did not comply with the moratorium; however, it found that the bases have increased their efforts to avoid inappropriate disposals. Both centers have required the physical screening of materials which have been transferred to their Defense Property Disposal Offices to determine if the materials should be returned to the Air Force for use. The Air Force is formulating overall inventory management policy and procedural changes to avoid inappropriate disposals and does not plan to lift the disposal moratorium until these changes have been implemented.