DTRA  used the principles of the Government Performance and Result Act of 1993  (GPRA) to guide its planning process. DTRA’s Mission Is to Address All Aspects of the WMD Threat

DTRA carries out its mission to address the threat posed by WMD through  four core functions:  (1) threat control, (2) threat reduction, (3) combat  support, and (4) technology development. Third, DTRA supports military commanders by providing  technical and analytical support regarding WMD threats on the battlefield  and U.S. installations. Threat Reduction Has Focused on the WMD Threat in the Former Soviet Union

DTRA works to reduce the threat of WMD primarily through its activities  with the CTR program, which assists the states of the former Soviet Union  to (1) destroy WMD in the former Soviet Union, (2) safely store and  transport weapons in connection with their destruction, and (3) reduce the  risk of the WMD proliferation. DTRA Works with Other Government Agencies

As the DOD agency responsible for addressing all aspects of WMD threats,  DTRA possesses specialized capabilities and services that can assist  civilian entities, including Energy and DHS. DTRA has a formal  relationship with Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration  (NNSA) that coordinates and supports legislatively mandated joint DOD- Energy responsibilities for the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. DTRA’s  relationship with DHS is subject to the broader DOD-DHS relationship and  therefore may change. DTRA’s Planning Process Establishes Priorities and Summarizes Progress, but Achievements Are Not Reported against Goals

DTRA uses a strategic planning process, guided by the principles of GPRA,  to prioritize its resources and assess its progress. It has developed  strategic plans identifying long-term goals and short-term objectives by  which it measures progress in meeting its goals. DTRA’s Planning Is Influenced by Its Funding

Most of DTRA’s funding is appropriated only for specific programs over  which it has various levels of control. Conclusions

When DTRA was established in 1998, it modeled its strategic planning  process on GPRA to prioritize resources and assess progress toward its  organizational goals. The performance report does not  compare accomplishments and activities with established goals and  objectives, nor does it explain what actions are needed to achieve or  modify goals that are not met. Recommendations

We recommend that the Director of DTRA improve the agency’s annual  performance report by comparing the agency’s actual performance against  planned goals and, where appropriate, explaining why the goals were not  met and the agency’s plan for addressing these unmet goals in the future. Scope and Methodology

To report on DTRA’s mission and the efforts it undertakes to fulfill that  mission, we reviewed agency documentation. Weapons of Mass Destruction: U.S. Efforts to Reduce the Threats from the  Former Soviet Union.
Why GAO Did This Study

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), within the Department of Defense (DOD), plays a key role in addressing the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Since the September 11, 2001, attacks, the visibility of DTRA's role has increased as federal agencies and military commanders have looked to the agency for additional support and advice. GAO was asked to report on DTRA's (1) mission and the efforts it undertakes to fulfill this mission; (2) relationship with other government entities, specifically the Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and (3) process that it uses to prioritize resources and assess progress toward organizational goals.

What GAO Found

Since its establishment in 1998, DTRA has worked to address the threat of WMD. DTRA addresses WMD threats through four core functions: threat control, threat reduction, combat support, and technology development. The agency supports the implementation of arms control treaties by conducting inspections in other countries and by supporting inspections of U.S. facilities, reduces the threat of WMD by eliminating and securing weapons and materials in the former Soviet Union, supports military commanders by providing technical and analytical support regarding WMD, and develops technologies that support efforts to address the WMD threat. DTRA also uses its specialized capabilities and services in various ways to support other government efforts to address WMD threats. DTRA has a formal relationship with Energy to maintain the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. DTRA's relationship with DHS is subject to the broader DOD-DHS relationship and may change as the relationship between DOD and DHS evolves. The agency uses a strategic planning process modeled on the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) to prioritize its resources and assess progress toward its organizational goals. DTRA's planning process identifies long-term goals, establishes short-term objectives by which to measure progress in meeting goals, and collects data to assess progress. DTRA's planning process is influenced by funding, most of which is appropriated for specific programs. GAO found that the performance report resulting from its internal review summarized DTRA's accomplishments and activities but did not compare them with established goals and objectives nor explain the actions needed to achieve or modify these unmet goals as called for under GPRA.