Contracting and National Security Acquisitions
Stored: Contracting and National Security Acquisitions
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Contracting and National Security Acquisitions Office |
| Top Organization | Government Accountability Office |
| Creation Legislation | Government Accountability Office Act of 2008 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | Contracting and National Security Acquisitions team audits federal contracts to ensure efficient, cost-effective support for national security and defense purchases. |
| Program Start | 2008 |
| Initial Funding | Congressional appropriations |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
Contracting and National Security Acquisitions (CNSA) is a Government Accountability Office initiative that oversees how federal agencies, including the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and NASA, acquire over $759 billion annually in goods and services—ranging from military aircraft to IT systems—ensuring taxpayer value and national security integrity across the United States as of 2025. Operating as a mission team within GAO since its formalized structure in 2008, CNSA conducts audits and issues reports on high-risk areas like DOD Contract Management and NASA Acquisition Management, delivering over 300 reports since 2010 and influencing $54 billion in savings by 2023 through recommendations on competition, contractor oversight, and acquisition planning.
Goals
- Ensure efficient and effective federal acquisition of national security-related goods and services.[1]
- Enhance competition and reduce costs in federal contracting, targeting measurable savings.
- Protect critical technologies and improve oversight of major defense acquisition programs.
Organization
The Contracting and National Security Acquisitions mission team was sponsored by its dedicated office within GAO, reporting to the Comptroller General under the Government Accountability Office’s structure.[2] Funding comes from Congressional appropriations, with FY 2025 at $885 million for GAO overall, supporting a team of auditors and analysts across 11 field offices focused on DOD, DHS, NASA, and other agency contracts. CNSA collaborates with GAO’s Audit Policy and Quality Assurance team to align with Government Auditing Standards.
The leader at the GAO level is the Comptroller General of the United States, currently Gene L. Dodaro (as of February 19, 2025), with CNSA directed by a Managing Director in the Senior Executive Service.
History
The Contracting and National Security Acquisitions mission team was formalized under the Government Accountability Office Act of 2008, building on GAO’s long-standing role since 1921 to audit federal spending, with a specific focus on national security acquisitions post-9/11.[3] It evolved from earlier efforts into a dedicated team by 2008, issuing key reports like the annual DOD Weapon Systems Assessment and addressing High Risk areas like DOD Contract Management since 1992. By 2025, CNSA has influenced over $54 billion in savings and tackled issues like Coast Guard cutter delays and F-35 cost overruns.
Funding
Initial funding in 2008 came from Congressional appropriations, with GAO’s FY 2008 budget at $507 million supporting CNSA’s early efforts.[4] Funding began in 2008 and continues, with FY 2025 at $885 million for GAO, a portion allocated to CNSA for audits and staff, yielding a reported $79 return per dollar invested in 2023. There’s no funding end date, with annual budgets sustaining its mission.
Implementation
The program was implemented through audits, reports, and recommendations, reviewing federal contracts and acquisitions via GAO’s Quality Assurance Framework, with findings tracked via dashboards like the FY 2023 Government-Wide Contracting Snapshot.[5] It operates continuously across DOD, DHS, and NASA programs, with no end date, addressing 2025 priorities like cybersecurity in acquisitions.
Related
External links
- https://www.gao.gov/about/what-gao-does/contracting-and-national-security-acquisitions
- https://www.gao.gov/highrisk - GAO High Risk List
- https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-106191 - FY 2023 Contracting Snapshot
- wikipedia:Government Accountability Office
Social media
References
- ↑ "Contracting and National Security Acquisitions," U.S. GAO, https://www.gao.gov/about/what-gao-does/contracting-and-national-security-acquisitions, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "GAO Organization," U.S. GAO, https://www.gao.gov/about, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "GAO History," U.S. GAO, https://www.gao.gov/about/history, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "GAO Annual Report 2008," U.S. GAO, https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-09-1sp.pdf, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "CNSA Implementation," U.S. GAO, https://www.gao.gov/about/what-gao-does/contracting-and-national-security-acquisitions, accessed February 19, 2025.