Gulf War Illnesses

Basic Questions Unanswered Gao ID: T-NSIAD-00-79 February 2, 2000

The Departments of Veterans' Affairs, Health and Human Services, and Defense (DOD) spent more than $121 million during fiscal years 1997 and 1998 to research and investigate the illnesses of Gulf War veterans. DOD spent $112 million of this amount, mostly through its Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses. The results of the research and the investigation efforts are accruing slowly, and basic questions about the causes, the course of development, and the treatments of Gulf War veterans' illnesses remain unanswered. GAO found that the activities of the Office of the Special Assistant are not effectively coordinated with those of the Research Working Group. Also, work was improperly awarded to the Office's support contractors for tasks worth more than $20 million. This testimony summarizes the January 2000 report, GAO/NSIAD-00-32.

GAO noted that: (1) during fiscal years 1997 and 1998, VA, HHS, and DOD spent more than $121 million for research and investigation into Gulf veterans' illnesses; (2) DOD spent $112 million of this total, mostly through its Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses; (3) results of the research and investigation activities are accruing slowly and basic questions about the causes, course of development, and treatments of Gulf War veterans' illnesses remain unanswered; (4) the activities of the Office of the Special Assistant are not effectively coordinated with those of the Research Working Group; and (5) work was improperly awarded to the Office's support contractors for tasks worth more than $20 million.



The Justia Government Accountability Office site republishes public reports retrieved from the U.S. GAO These reports should not be considered official, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justia.