Gordon: NASA Needs to Do a Better Job Managing Its Assets

(Washington, DC)  The results of a General Accountability Office (GAO) review requested by Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), found that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) isn’t maintaining effective control over its $35 billion worth of property and equipment, including reporting loss of over $94 million in equipment over the last ten years. 

“At a time when Congressional supporters are fighting hard to get NASA the resources it needs to carry out its missions, it’s troubling to learn from the GAO that NASA ‘frequently did not investigate equipment losses and was reluctant to hold employees accountable for loss,'” said Chairman Gordon.  “That’s unacceptable. NASA needs to do a better job managing its property and equipment.”

The GAO report, which was released yesterday, also notes that NASA expects its property management system modernization effort to improve agency controls over property and equipment.  However, GAO cautioned that: “NASA cannot rely on technology alone to solve its equipment management problems.  These problems are deeply rooted in an agency culture that does not demand accountability or fully recognize the value of effectively managing government assets.”

“I expect all of our federal agencies to be good stewards of the resources they’re given, and NASA should be no exception.  This GAO review will be very helpful to the Committee in our ongoing oversight of NASA, and we will continue to pursue this and related issues in the months ahead,” concluded Gordon.

The GAO report can be found here.