DOD Business Systems Modernization: Important Progress Made to Develop Business Enterprise Architecture, but Much Work Remains

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent agency that works for Congress. The GAO watches over Congress, and investigates how the federal government spends taxpayers dollars. The Comptroller General of the United States is the leader of the GAO, and is appointed to a 15-year term by the U.S. President. The GAO wants to support Congress, while at the same time doing right by the citizens of the United States. They audit, investigate, perform analyses, issue legal decisions and report anything that the government is doing. This is one of their reports.

The Dept. of Defense¿s (DoD) business systems modernization program is designated as ¿high risk¿. To assist in addressing this high-risk area, the Reagan Nat. Defense Authorization Act for FY 2005 contains provisions that are consistent with prior investment mgmt. and enterprise architecture-related recommendations, and requires the dept. to submit annual reports to its congressional committees on its compliance with these provisions. The act also directs a review each annual report. This report assessed the actions taken by DoD to comply with requirements of the act. The report reviewed the latest version of DoD¿s business enterprise architecture and the associated transition plan and architecture federation strategy. Illustrations.