# GAO Flags Army Mitigation Gaps

A Government Accountability Office review found that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed environmental mitigation for 22 of 74 civil works projects submitted to Congress from 2020 through 2025, and proposed none in 2025. GAO also found that the Corps generally did not provide detailed explanations when mitigation was deemed unnecessary and recommended clearer Army guidance. The Army disagreed with that recommendation. The review identifies no solicitation or contract, but any future changes to guidance or reporting practices could affect environmental review and mitigation support needs for civil works projects.

- Environmental assessment, habitat restoration, and mitigation-documentation firms may find potential demand if Army guidance or reporting requirements change; the signals do not identify a current procurement opportunity.
- Procurement teams supporting USACE civil works projects should account for the possibility of more detailed justification and documentation work if the Army responds to GAO’s findings with revised guidance.
- The Army’s disagreement means the recommended guidance change is not established; contractors should not treat it as a new requirement.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Environment, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance, Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** October 09, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- Government Accountability Office (GAO)
- U.S. Department of the Army (Army)
- United States Congress

### Key Quotes
> We do not concur with the recommendation in the draft that we need to create more guidance about mitigation decision making on Civil Works projects.
> — D. Lee Forsgren, senior official performing the duties of the Army’s Assistant Secretary for Civil Works

### Sources
- [US Army Corps of Engineers failed to explain drop in environmental mitigation work: Watchdog](https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-army/2026/10/09/us-army-corps-of-engineers-failed-to-explain-drop-in-environmental-mitigation-work-watchdog) - Defense News