The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has highlighted significant inconsistencies in the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) funding strategies for deterrence efforts in the Indo-Pacific region. The report, which analyzes the annual budget for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) for fiscal years 2023 through 2025, emphasizes the need for clearer guidance on program selection and funding allocation.
According to the GAO report, the DOD annually chooses various programs, equipment, research, and support initiatives for inclusion in the PDI budget. Established to enhance transparency regarding how funds are distributed to counter threats from the People’s Republic of China, the initiative has faced challenges due to unclear internal guidelines.
Inconsistencies in Program Selection
The GAO found that the current PDI budget does not adequately reflect the department’s strategic priorities. Specific inconsistencies were noted, such as the Air Force and Marine Corps requesting funding for facilities sustainment programs, which assess risks, while the Army and Navy did not pursue similar initiatives.
The report also pointed out that some development programs included in the budget are unlikely to be operational within five years, contradicting the PDI’s near-term focus. Furthermore, certain efforts highlighted were geographically located east of the International Date Line, despite the initiative primarily targeting areas to the west.
“Inconsistent program selection has limited visibility and weakened the initiative’s value,” stated the authors of the report. They emphasized that these issues arise partly from the DOD’s vague internal guidance on program selection for the PDI budget exhibit.
Challenges in Alignment and Resource Allocation
The discrepancies between the DOD budget and the Indo-Pacific Command’s independent assessment further complicate matters. The command’s assessment is based on an assumption of unlimited resources, resulting in different prioritization of funded programs. The GAO report raises critical questions regarding the extent of the DOD’s resource needs for the Indo-Pacific region.
This lack of clarity makes it difficult to assess how well DOD resources align with strategic goals. The report concludes that unless the DOD improves its internal processes and clarifies the purpose of the PDI budget exhibit, Congress may struggle to evaluate progress towards deterrence and posture objectives in the Indo-Pacific region.
The GAO’s recommendations emphasize that addressing these issues is essential for ensuring that the PDI budget exhibit provides clear, consistent, and credible information on how the DOD is aligning resources to enhance capability and readiness in the Indo-Pacific.
