Peace Operations

The Defense Department (DOD) has incurred incremental costs of nearly $885 million for operations in Somalia through the end of fiscal year 1993. According to DOD officials, the transfer of funds necessary to cover these costs has not harmed normal spending plans. Should such spending conditions continue for contingency operations, however, DOD officials say that it could create problems over the long run. Of the $885 million in incremental costs, DOD is entitled to be reimbursed by the United Nations for about $124 million. In some cases, DOD would be allowed to keep the money it received from the United Nations, giving it access to funds above the amount appropriated for that fiscal year. DOD would then have access to these funds without any requirement for further congressional authorization or appropriation.

GAO found that: (1) through the end of fiscal year 1993, DOD had incurred nearly $885 million in incremental costs due to its participation in three UN-sponsored operations in Somalia; (2) Congress appropriated no additional funds to cover these costs, but DOD believes that the fund transfers necessary to cover its operations have not adversely affected its normal spending plans; (3) DOD believes that participation in peacekeeping operations could degrade some units' combat readiness, but that such activities enhance the skills of some noncombat personnel; (4) DOD is entitled to be reimbursed at least $123.6 million, and UN has been billed for other costs related to operations in Somalia; (5) under the Foreign Assistance Act, DOD could retain certain UN-reimbursed funds in its existing appropriation accounts; and (6) the reimbursements, if retained, would be over the amounts that Congress appropriated for DOD.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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