GAO: Defense’s critical technology export lists of “questionable value”

GAO: Defense’s critical technology export lists of “questionable value”

GAO: Defense’s critical technology export lists of “questionable value”

A congressional watchdog agency said Defense Department critical technology lists, which were developed for export control purposes, are of “questionable value.”
   The main reason, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report, is that the Militarily Critical Technologies Program rarely updates the lists, citing that participation from industry is voluntary. Although the lists are supposed to be updated every four years, they are largely out of date.
   “Failure to identify and protect critical technologies makes U.S. military assets vulnerable to cloning, neutralization, or other action that degrades current and anticipated capabilities,” the GAO report said.
   The GAO said in its report that Defense and Commerce department officials involved in export controls found the lists “too broad, difficult to use, and out of date to inform export control proposals or export licensing decisions.” The Air Force even instructed its personnel not to use the Militarily Critical Technologies Program lists, the GAO report said.