Prior to the current instability, to assist in countering the AQAP threat,  since fiscal year 2006, State and DOD have collectively allocated over  $500 million in security assistance to Yemen through DOD’s Section 1206  and Section 1207(n) programs and State’s Foreign Military Financing  (FMF) program. State has committed $34 million of the $95  million FMF funds allocated to Yemen. Corrected DOD Data Reveal That Most Security Assistance Items Were Timely, but Delays Affected Nearly All Section 1206 and 1207(n) Projects

After correcting errors in DOD data, we determined that since 2009, at  least 60 percent of overall assistance was on time; however, delays  affected 10 of 11 Section 1206 and 1207(n) projects from fiscal years  2009 through 2013. However, the inaccurate data limit the ability of DOD and others to  effectively assess the extent to which Section 1206 and 1207(n)  assistance is transferred to Yemen on time or report to Congress on the  status of assistance projects. The 4 Percent of Items That Were Late Were Arrayed among 10 of 11 Section 1206 and 1207(n) Projects

The deadlines for the four fiscal year 2014 projects have yet to pass, but  for the remaining 11 projects for fiscal years 2009 through 2013, DOD  notified Congress that all equipment and training should have been  completely transferred to Yemeni security forces by the end of 2014. However, 10 of the 11 projects did not meet established deadlines. Partner country factors. DOD Plans for Short- Term Maintenance of Section 1206 and 1207(n) Assistance and Has Resumed Requesting the Source of Long-Term Maintenance Funds

DOD includes 2 years of spare parts for short-term maintenance needs of  Section 1206 and 1207(n) assistance and has resumed requesting the  source and extent of anticipated U.S. funds, such as FMF, that are  needed for longer-term needs. A presidential directive and DOD guidance  require planning for the maintenance of security assistance equipment,  regardless of the host nation’s capability to maintain it. In some cases where maintenance has not  been performed, some equipment was no longer fully operational. While the fiscal year 2015 guidance called  for detailed sustainment plans, the fiscal year 2015 project proposal  template only solicited information on general sustainment costs and the  partner nation’s ability to contribute to sustaining the project. Conclusions

AQAP terrorists based in Yemen continue to be a threat to the United  States and Yemen’s national security. However, we found that DOD’s data systems  used to track related security assistance contain inaccurate information  regarding when projects clear the congressional notification period. Recommendation for Executive Action

To further improve the ability of U.S. government agencies and others to  assess the timeliness of U.S. security assistance to Yemen, we  recommend that the Secretary of Defense take steps to improve the  accuracy of data used to track when Section 1206 projects are  congressionally cleared for implementation. DOD concurred with our recommendation to improve the accuracy of data  used to track congressional notification clearance dates. DOD noted  steps taken since fiscal year 2013 to improve data collection. In addition, after reviewing a draft of our report, DOD  provided updated documentation that included the fiscal year 2016  Section 1206 project proposal template, which reinstated a request for  information on the amount of anticipated long-term maintenance funds, if  any. This report examines (1) the  disbursement of funds allocated for key security assistance programs for  Yemen since 2009, (2) the timeliness of Section 1206 and 1207(n)  assistance, and (3) the Department of Defense’s (DOD) plans for  maintaining equipment provided to Yemen under Section 1206 and  1207(n). For two-thirds of these projects, DOD data contained  inaccurate congressional notification clearance dates—the initial step in  the 18-month shipment and transfer process. Discussions with DOD officials and review  of DOD documents indicated that some of these items were ultimately  transferred on time and some were transferred late, but the transfer  dates were not included in the data. Appendix II: Training and Equipment Provided to Yemen through Section 1206 and 1207(n) Assistance Programs

From fiscal years 2009 through 2014, the Department of Defense (DOD)  allocated $401 million in counterterrorism training and equipment to  Yemeni security forces through its Section 1206 and Section 1207(n)  security assistance programs.
Why GAO Did This Study

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is one of the top U.S. national security threats. AQAP is based in Yemen, where political conflict, including a Houthi insurgency, has complicated stability. Since fiscal year 2006, DOD and State have allocated over $500 million to provide training and equipment to the Yemeni security forces to assist Yemen in combating AQAP. Such assistance has been provided through three main programs: Section 1206 and Section 1207(n), which have been used to build Yemeni capacity, and FMF, which has been used to maintain equipment provided to Yemen.
A Senate report included a provision for GAO to review U.S. security assistance to Yemen. GAO examined (1) the disbursement of funds allocated to key security assistance programs for Yemen since fiscal year 2009, (2) the timeliness of Section 1206 and 1207(n) assistance, and (3) DOD plans for maintaining equipment provided to Yemen under Section 1206 and 1207(n), including the use of FMF. GAO reviewed agency documents, analyzed DOD and State data, and met with U.S. officials based in Washington, D.C., and Sanaa, Yemen.

What GAO Found

Since fiscal year 2009, the Department of Defense (DOD) has disbursed almost $256 million of the $401 million allocated to Yemen under the Section 1206 and 1207(n) security assistance programs, while the Department of State (State) has committed $34 million of the $95 million allocated under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program. In light of Yemen's currently unstable situation, security assistance programs to Yemen are temporarily suspended.
After correcting errors in DOD data, GAO determined that at least 60 percent of the Section 1206 and 1207(n) assistance from fiscal years 2009 through 2013 was timely, but delays affected 10 of 11 projects. DOD notified Congress that all training and equipment for each project would be transferred to Yemeni security forces within DOD's established deadline of 18 months. However, DOD's data contained inaccurate information regarding when the congressional notification period ended, which clears DOD to implement these projects. The inaccurate data limit DOD's and third parties' ability to readily assess the extent to which these projects met the 18-month deadline or to report to Congress on the status of assistance projects. Specifically, after correcting errors in DOD data, GAO found that at least 60 percent of the items were transferred on time, 4 percent of the items were late, and the remaining 36 percent of items were shipped but DOD's data system did not have information on when they were transferred to Yemen. The 4 percent of late items were arrayed among 10 of 11 projects.
DOD plans for short-term (i.e., 2 years) maintenance needs for Section 1206 and 1207(n) projects and has resumed requesting the source and amount of long-term maintenance funds. A presidential directive and DOD guidance call for long-term maintenance planning, regardless of the partner country's ability to contribute. From fiscal years 2011 through 2014, DOD requested specific information on the amount and source of anticipated U.S. maintenance funding, if any, in the Section 1206 project proposal template. The fiscal year 2015 template did not request such information, but after reviewing a draft of GAO's report, DOD provided a copy of its fiscal year 2016 template, which requests additional information on long-term maintenance plans. DOD officials noted that several factors impede maintenance efforts and some equipment is not fully operational.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that DOD take steps to improve the accuracy of data regarding Section 1206 congressional notification clearance. DOD concurred and noted steps it took in fiscal year 2013 to improve overall data collection, but did not discuss improving data on congressional notification clearance dates. GAO continues to maintain that DOD should take steps to improve the accuracy of its data on congressional notification clearance dates.