Defense Travel System: Estimated Savings are Questionable and Improvements are Needed to Ensure Functionality and Increase Utilization

Abstract : In 1995, the Department of Defense (DOD) began an effort to implement a standard department-wide travel system. The Defense Travel System (DTS) is envisioned as DOD's standard end-to-end travel system. This testimony is based on GAO's September 2006 related report. Today's testimony highlights GAO's key findings with regard to the following objectives: (1) Were the two key assumptions made in the September 2003 economic analysis reasonable? (2) Was DOD taking action to ensure full utilization of DTS and gathering the data needed to monitor DTS utilization? and (3) Has DOD resolved several functional problems associated with weak system requirements and testing? To address these objectives, GAO (1) reviewed the September 2003 DTS economic analysis, (2) analyzed DTS utilization data, and (3) analyzed DTS flight information. GAO made four recommendations aimed at improving the management of DTS, including periodic reports on DTS utilization and resolution of inconsistencies in DTS's requirements. DOD generally agreed with the recommendations and described efforts to address them. DOD also strongly objected to the finding that the reported personnel savings were unrealistic. However, DOD provided no new data that were counter to GAO's findings.