Defense Technologies: DODs Critical Technologies Lists Rarely Inform Export Control and Other Policy Decisions

This GAO report examines the DODs procedures in the production of lists of critical technologies. The Militarily Critical Technologies Program’s process for updating the MCTL and DSTL has generated lists that are of questionable value. These lists are mostly used to make decisions about export controls, but also in counterintelligence. The GAO is recommending that DOD take several actions to better ensure that efforts to identify critical technologies meet user requirements. The DOD concurred with the recommendations.