DOD Should Improve Pandemic Plans and Publish Working Capital Fund Policy

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exacerbated productivity challenges Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force depots already faced, such as not having enough personnel to perform maintenance. At half of the eight depots GAO reviewed, productivity was lower than planned every month during fiscal year 2020. For example, revenue at one Air Force depot was about 10 to 30 percent less than planned throughout fiscal year 2020. Prior to COVID-19, depot revenue was decreased due to fewer orders than planned at the Marine Corps and Navy depots, and fewer flying hours than planned at Air Force depots, according to officials. After the onset of COVID-19, all eight depots reported that some of the challenges they were already facing worsened, such as personnel shortages.