GAO Report Highlights Need for a More Efficient Defense Workforce

Press Release

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) highlighted a recently released report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as further evidence that the Defense Department must take action to improve the efficiency of its workforce. Rep. Calvert has introduced the REDUCE Act, H.R. 340, to require the Defense Department to bring its ratio of civilian-to-uniformed personnel in-line with historical averages.

"The GAO's findings should alarm our defense leaders and all American taxpayers," said Rep. Calvert. "The Defense Department is an incredibly large organization, which is why it is so concerning to read the GAO's findings that at the top levels there are no procedures in place to thoughtfully and comprehensively assess what personnel are necessary to execute their mission. In a time of budgetary constraints, our uniformed personnel will ultimately suffer if we cannot improve the efficiencies in our civilian defense workforce. We must make the smart and prompt decisions necessary to make the appropriate adjustments -- no matter how difficult that is -- to protect our soldiers, our national security, and taxpayers."

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