GAO reports workload and staffing shifts at Army vehicle depots
The Army's Anniston and Red River depots, which maintain ground vehicles, saw workload and staffing changes for FY2021-FY2025.
The Government Accountability Office found that the Army spent more than $7.1 billion operating the Anniston and Red River Army Depots from fiscal year 2021 through fiscal year 2025, primarily on ground-vehicle maintenance and repair.
During that period the annual total workload at Anniston varied and slightly declined, while the workload at Red River generally trended upward. At both installations the largest share of work involved repairing and refurbishing parts for reuse on tanks, personnel carriers, self-propelled artillery, trucks and light armored vehicles.
The size of each depot's workforce decreased when comparing FY 2021 to FY 2025. Permanent and term-limited personnel fell at both locations, but the number of contractor employees rose, partially offsetting the loss of civilian staff.
Depot maintainers reported several operational challenges, including the condition of vehicles arriving for service, limited availability of parts and current technical data, difficulties in workload planning, and reliance on aging maintenance equipment.
GAO conducted the review in response to a provision in House Report 119-231 accompanying the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. The agency analyzed workload data, cost figures and personnel rosters for FY 2021-FY 2025 and interviewed officials from Army Materiel Command, the Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, and depot leadership.