U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) this week made a bipartisan request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a review of the National Guard State Partnership Program, which was established by the Pentagon after the end of the Cold War to create partnerships between state National Guards and newly independent countries of the former Soviet Union.
“With today’s ever-evolving threat landscape — including growing competition from China and Russia — this evaluation will provide recommendations to ensure the SPP is best equipped to confront the challenges we face as a nation,” wrote Rep. Womack and U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) in a letter sent to U.S. Comptroller General Eugene Dodaro, who heads up the GAO. “We want our defense resources optimized for our service members and American taxpayers.”
Rep. Womack and his colleague asked Dodaro for an updated strategic assessment of the State Partnership Program (SPP) to ensure its objectives are being advanced and that the current framework is effectively supporting the U.S. National Defense Strategy, according to their letter.
The SPP — which connects 89 countries across the globe with highly trained, motivated U.S. subject matter experts to build capacity and address shared challenges — has not undergone a comprehensive study by the GAO since 2012, wrote the members, who called for an analysis of several different metrics, including program framework, objectives, milestones, performance, and a review of current partnerships.
“We believe the SPP represents an incredibly valuable and cost-effective tool for advancing American national security interests,” Rep. Womack and his colleague wrote. “However, in light of growing threats and opportunities, we feel it is time for an assessment to ensure that the program has sufficient resources and is fully aligned with the National Defense Strategy.”