GAO Statement on Release of US Space Command Basing Report

WASHINGTON, DC (June 2, 2022) — The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the non-partisan, independent arm of the U.S. Congress, today released its report examining the U.S. Air Force’s process and methodology for identifying the preferred location of the U.S. Space Command headquarters.

GAO assessed the Air Force’s process against 21 Analysis of Alternatives (AOA) best practices, which are grouped into four characteristics of a high-quality AOA process—comprehensive, well-documented, unbiased, and credible. GAO found that the Air Force’s process did not substantially meet 3 of these 4 characteristics, leading to significant shortfalls in its transparency and credibility.

Air Force officials told GAO they did not use the AOA best practices because the practices were not required or relevant to basing decisions. However, GAO believes that the AOA best practices are relevant and, if effectively implemented, can help substantiate such basing decisions, increase transparency, and avoid the presence or appearance of bias.

For questions, please contact Elizabeth Field, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management for GAO, at FieldE1@gao.gov or 202-512-2775 , or Chuck Young, Managing Director of Public Affairs for GAO, at YoungC1@gao.gov or 202-512-3823.

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