GAO: Army Vehicles Miss 90% Readiness Target, Marine Fleet Also Slipping

A GAO report released on September 25, 2025, shows that none of the Army’s ground vehicles met the 90% mission-capable goal in FY 2024, and many Marine vehicles also fell short. Shortfalls in parts, overhauls, and skilled maintainers undercut readiness.

In a recent report, it was revealed that none of the 11 Army ground vehicles assessed by the GAO achieved the service’s 90 percent mission-capability goal for FY 2024. Additionally, only approximately 20 percent of the Army’s ground support vehicles met their declared readiness target over the past decade, according to findings released on Thursday.

The GAO’s report, "Weapon System Sustainment: Various Challenges Affect Ground Vehicles’ Availability for Missions," assessed 18 different types of combat and support vehicles utilized by the Army and Marine Corps during fiscal years 2015-2024. During that period, we observed a decrease in mission-capable rates for 16 out of the 18 platforms.

In the realm of Army combat vehicles, only one out of six achieved the 90 percent mission-capable target in any given year. According to a report from the GAO, Army support vehicles met mission-capable standards only approximately 20% of the time over the past decade. The Marine Corps lacks a similar readiness objective, yet five out of its seven monitored vehicle categories have shown comparable declines.

The count of depot-level overhauls saw a significant decline. The Army's numbers have seen a dramatic decline, dropping from 1,278 in FY 2015 to a mere 12 in FY 2024. The Marine Corps has significantly reduced its number of overhauls, dropping from 725 in 2015 to just 163 in 2024. Army officials admitted they “accepted the risk” by cutting overhaul funding, which they indicated negatively impacted mission-capable rates.

A widespread shortage of spare parts and materials affected all 18 vehicles analyzed, according to the report. Adding to the issue, leaders in both services pointed to a lack of current technical data, insufficiently trained maintenance staff, and unexpected field damage as further factors at play.

Despite a decline in readiness, maintenance expenses have risen. Between FY 2015 and FY 2023, total upkeep costs increased for nine out of 11 Army vehicle types. The Abrams tank experienced a significant fleet-wide increase of $181.3 million during that period, with maintenance expenses per vehicle nearly doubling. The Marine Corps experienced varied outcomes: while total maintenance costs decreased, expenses per vehicle increased for four out of seven platforms.

The GAO warned that, in the absence of action, preparedness will not recover. The recommendation calls for the Department of Defense and service leaders to enhance overhaul capacity, optimize logistics supply chains, and increase the size of the maintainer workforce.