GAO urges Congress to mandate DOD AI council charter and staffing fixes

GAO's latest report recommends that Congress require the Department of Defense to adopt a charter for its Responsible AI Working Council and to address staffing shortfalls in the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer's Responsible AI Division. The recommendations follow GAO's finding that the council did not meet from late 2024 until August 2025 and lacks a charter defining roles, responsibilities, and meeting frequency.

The report notes that ten DOD components surveyed reported taking initial steps to implement six Responsible AI tenets, yet six of the ten components said sharing resources and best practices would improve implementation. Four components reported challenges during the council's lapse that could have been mitigated by collaboration.

Staffing constraints also impede progress. As of February 2026, only three of the ten authorized positions for the Responsible AI Division were filled, limiting the division's ability to take additional actions identified by CDAO officials.

GAO issued two new recommendations: (1) the Secretary of Defense should ensure the CDAO develops and issues a charter for the Responsible AI Working Council, and (2) the Secretary should ensure the CDAO addresses the division's workforce needs. The department responded by email, indicating concurrence with both recommendations.

Senate Report 118-188, accompanying the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, includes a provision for GAO to review DOD's Responsible AI oversight. GAO also urges Congress to direct DOD to implement its prior open recommendations on AI collaboration and workforce development.