The Defense Department and the director of national intelligence's office need to update guidelines and regulations relating to the acquisition of commercial satellite imagery and other data, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office.
Neither DOD nor the U.S. intelligence community have clarified the roles and responsibilities for these types of acquisitions, according to the report, which was released publicly Wednesday. The National Reconnaissance Office is the central acquirer of imagery, but multiple organizations in DOD have acquired imagery in recent years without guidance addressing organizational roles and responsibilities.
“The potential for unnecessary overlap will only increase as interest in commercial imagery grows across the IC and DOD,” the report states.
Current regulations also aren’t able to quickly integrate emerging commercial capabilities, which GAO said could make the U.S. lose its edge over potential adversaries such as China.
GAO recommends the defense secretary and DNI: