FACT SHEET

THE COST OF THE DOD'S EXCLUSIONARY POLICY


	In June, 1992, the General Accounting Office (GAO) 
issued a report analyzing what it cost the government to 
enforce its ban against gay people in the military.  GAO 
noted that its task was significantly limited by lack of data.  
Although each investigative branch of the Armed Services 
investigates people for suspected homosexuality, none of 
them keeps records of the amount of staff time or related 
cost spent on such investigations.  There are also no 
separate records for costs such as administrative 
proceedings, military police investigations, or litigation 
expenses.  Because of these limitations, the GAO report 
had to focus very narrowly simply on the cost of training 
and replacing discharged personnel.   


A Decade of Discharges and Lost Investment

	According to the GAO, between 1980 and 1990, the 
military discharged 16,692 enlisted personnel and 227 
officers charged with homosexuality.  It cost $28,226 to 
train one enlisted person and $120,772 to train one 
officer, for a total of $498 million over ten years.  As noted, 
this figure does not include investigative and 
administrative costs, including out-processing or legal 
expenses or Reserved Officer's Training Corp (ROTC) 
costs.  These costs would include legal counsel for the 
defendant and the command investigator or prosecutor, as 
well as litigation costs for civilian court challenges to the 
dismissals.

	Some investigation costs can be estimated.  GAO 
again reports a repeated problem in gaining reliable and 
consistent information, noting this figure is likely 
underestimated.  The three agencies from which the 
figures are derived are Army Criminal Investigations (CIS), 
Navy Investigative Service (NIS) and Air Force Office of 
Special Investigations.  Using their figures for 1990, costs 
for investigations alone totalled over $2.5 million that year.


                *                *                *                *

Prepared by the Legal/Policy Department of the Campaign 
for Military Service.   2707 Massachussetts Ave, NW   
Washington, DC 20009.  (202) 265-6666.