Authority to establish Joint Task Force Audit

(a) In general Section 1005 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 379; 10 U.S.C. 240a note) is amended by inserting and for three consecutive fiscal years thereafter after 2028. (b) Authority to establish In order to support the goal of achieving an unmodified financial statement audit opinion by December 31, 2028, the Secretary of Defense may establish a task force, to be known as Joint Task Force Audit. If the Secretary establishes the task force, the Secretary shall designate the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) as the Director of the task force. (b) (c) Responsibilities If the Secretary establishes a task force under subsection (a), (b), the task force shall be authorized to carry out the following responsibilities: (1) The development and oversight of the execution of the plan of the Department of Defense to achieve an unmodified financial statement audit opinion by not later than December 31, 2028. 2028, and for three consecutive fiscal years thereafter. (2) The approval, direction, and monitoring of performance on corrective action plans needed to obtain such an unmodified financial statement audit opinion. (3) The provision of support to components of the Department in order to prioritize audit remediation and audit response activities. (4) Leading and supporting engagement with the Inspector General of the Department, the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board, other appropriate Federal agencies, and any independent public accounting firms on matters pertaining to the audits of the financial statements of the Department. (5) Coordinating with the Chief Information Officer of the Department on financial system modernization initiatives and the elimination of legacy or duplicative financial systems. (c) (d) Staffing If the Secretary establishes a task force under subsection (a), (b), the Secretary of each military department may designate a representative to serve as a Deputy Director of the task force. (d) (e) Reports If the Secretary establishes a task force under subsection (a), (b), the Director of the task force shall be responsible for meeting the reporting requirements under section 240b(b) of title 10, United States Code, in a complete and timely manner.