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Information Technology: Agencies Need to Fully Implement Key Workforce Planning Activities, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "GAO was asked to conduct a government-wide review of IT [information technology] workforce planning. The objective was to determine the extent to which federal agencies effectively implemented IT workforce planning practices. To do so, GAO compared IT workforce policies and related documentation from each of the 24 Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 agencies to activities from an IT workforce planning framework GAO issued. GAO rated each agency as having fully, substantially, partially, minimally, or not implemented for each activity. GAO supplemented its reviews of agency documentation by interviewing agency officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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Space Command and Control: Comprehensive Planning and Oversight Could Help DOD Acquire Critical Capabilities and Address Challenges, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The House Armed Services Committee report accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 contained a provision for GAO to review DOD's newest efforts to develop space command and control capabilities. This report describes the status of these efforts and identifies challenges the Air Force faces in bringing them to fruition."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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2020 Census: Status Update on Early Operations, a Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "GAO was asked to provide regular updates on the 2020 Census. This report examines: 1. cost and progress of key 2020 census operations critical to a cost-effective enumeration, and 2. major trends or early warnings that may require Census Bureau or congressional attention. GAO also provides an enclosure with background information on the cost, scope, and methods of the Census."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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Coast Guard Shore Infrastructure: Actions Needed to Better Manage Assets and Reduce Risks and Costs, Statement of Nathan Anderson, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "This statement summarizes GAO findings related to the condition of Coast Guard shore infrastructure, actions the Coast Guard has taken to improve its management of its shore infrastructure, and additional actions it needs to take. This statement is based on three GAO products issued from October 2017 through September 2019, along with selected updates on actions the Coast Guard has taken to address GAO's recommendations from these reports. GAO analyzed relevant Coast Guard documents, management processes and decisions, and interviewed Coast Guard officials. To conduct updates, GAO also reviewed information on the Coast Guard's actions to implement its prior recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Anderson, Nathaniel
2019-09-25
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Federal Energy Development: Challenges to Ensuring a Fair Return for Federal Energy Resources, Statement of Frank Rusco, Director Natural Resources and Environment, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "This testimony discusses GAO's work related to ensuring a fair return on resources from federal lands. To do this work, GAO drew on reports issued from May 2007 through September 2019 and preliminary observations from ongoing work. GAO reviewed relevant federal and state laws, regulations, and policies; analyzed federal data; and interviewed federal, state, and industry officials, among others."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Rusco, Frank
2019-09-24
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Tribal Broadband: FCC Should Take Efforts to Promote Tribal Access to Spectrum, Statement of Andrew Von Ah, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, Testimony Before the Committee on Indian Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Broadband service on tribal lands continues to lag behind the rest of the country, especially on rural tribal lands. Broadband service can be delivered through wireless technologies using radio frequency spectrum. According to FCC [Federal Communications Commission], increasing tribal access to spectrum would help expand broadband service on tribal lands. This statement is based on GAO's [Government Accountability Office] November 2018 report (GAO-19-75) related to spectrum use for broadband services by tribal entities and selected updates. Specifically, it discusses (1) tribal entities' ability to obtain and access spectrum to provide broadband services and the reported barriers that may exist, and (2) the extent to which FCC promotes and supports tribal efforts to obtain and access spectrum."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Von Ah, Andrew
2019-09-18
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Veterans Affairs: Sustained Leadership Attention Needed to Address Long-Standing Workforce Problems, Statement of Robert Goldenkoff, Director, Strategic Issues, Testimony Before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] operates one of the largest health care delivery systems in the nation and provides billions of dollars in benefits and services to veterans and their families. However, VA faces serious and long-standing problems with management challenges and veterans' access to health care and disability benefits. These issues contributed to GAO's [Government Accountability Office] decision to list several areas involving VA on GAO's High-Risk List, including managing acquisitions, managing risk and improving veterans' health care, and improving and modernizing VA's disability programs. This testimony discusses (1) human capital challenges facing VA and its components, (2) GAO recommendations addressing some of those challenges, and (3) how those challenges are related to a broader set of government-wide human capital problems."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Goldenkoff, Robert
2019-09-18
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NASA: Actions Needed to Improve the Management of Human Spaceflight Programs, Statement of Cristina T. Chaplain, Director, Contracting and National Security Acquisitions, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "NASA is undertaking a trio of closely related programs to continue human space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. These three programs include a launch vehicle, a crew capsule, and the associated ground systems at Kennedy Space Center. All three programs are working towards a launch readiness date of June 2020 for the first mission. NASA then plans for these systems to support future human space exploration goals, which include seeking to land two astronauts on the lunar surface. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has a body of work highlighting concerns over NASA's management and oversight of these programs. This statement discusses (1) the cost and schedule status of NASA's human spaceflight programs and (2) lessons that NASA can apply to improve its management of its human spaceflight programs. This statement is based on eight reports issued from 2014 to 2019 and selected updates as of September 2019."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Chaplain, Cristina T.
2019-09-18
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Hardrock Mining: BLM and Forest Service Hold Billions in Financial Assurances, but More Readily Available Information Could Assist with Monitoring
From the Document: "The General Mining Act of 1872 encouraged the development of the nation's mineral resources by allowing individuals to stake claims and obtain exclusive rights to the gold, silver, copper, and other valuable hardrock mineral deposits on land belonging to the United States. Since then, thousands of operators have extracted billions of dollars' worth of hardrock minerals from land managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. However, some operators did not reclaim--or clean up--thousands of acres of federal land disturbed for exploration, mining, and mineral processing when their operations ceased. Some of these disturbed lands pose serious environmental and physical safety hazards, such as contaminated soil, open mine shafts, and decaying structures. To help ensure lands will be reclaimed, BLM and the Forest Service have issued regulations requiring all hardrock mining operators to reclaim disturbed land when operations cease and provide bonds or other financial assurance, such as cash or certificates of deposit, to guarantee reclamation. [...] This report examines the value and adequacy of financial assurances that mining operators have provided to BLM and the Forest Service to guarantee estimated reclamation costs and how these agencies monitor the adequacy of these financial assurances."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09-18
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Department of Homeland Security: Review of Report on Agency Estimates of Foreign Nationals Unlawfully Residing in the U.S., Letter to Congressional Committees
This is a September 10, 2019 letter and draft report regarding a Department of Homeland Security Review, from Rebecca Gambler, Director of Homeland Security and Justice. From the Letter: "Under U.S. immigration law, there are various types of immigration benefits that provide lawful immigration status or presence in the United States on a temporary or permanent basis. Foreign nationals in the United States without valid immigration status or protection are unlawfully present. Information about the size and composition of the unlawfully present population can help inform immigration and border security-related policy decisions. The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Immigration Statistics (OIS) has the primary responsibility for collecting and disseminating statistical information and analysis used in evaluating the impacts of immigration laws, migration flows, and immigration enforcement."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09-10
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Conventional Arms Transfer Policy: Agency Processes for Reviewing Direct Commercial Sales and Foreign Military Sales Align with Policy Criteria, Letter to the Honorable Robert Menendez, Ranking Member, Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate
This is a September 9, 2019 letter from Elizabeth Field, the Acting Director of International Affairs and Trade of the Government Accountability Office (GAO). From the Letter: "From 2014 through 2018, the U.S. government authorized hundreds of billions of dollars in arms transfers to foreign entities, including foreign governments, with more than $180 billion in fiscal year 2018 alone. The United States uses two key arms transfer programs to support foreign policy and national security goals: (1) Direct Commercial Sales (DCS), for which a U.S. corporation and a foreign buyer negotiate the sale of arms, and (2) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) [...] Both DCS and FMS transfers undergo extensive review processes, including national security and foreign policy reviews, intended to ensure these arms transfers safeguard U.S. interests. In addition, five different U.S. Presidents, beginning with President Carter in May 1977, have issued conventional arms transfer (CAT) policies, which provide a framework for the Executive Branch to consider these transfers. [...] You asked us to review the U.S. government's implementation of the CAT policy."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09-09
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Guided Missile Frigate: Navy Has Taken Steps to Reduce Acquisition Risk, but Opportunities Exist to Improve Knowledge for Decision Makers, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The House report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the FFG(X) [Guided Missile Frigate] program. This report addresses, among other things, the FFG(X) acquisition approach and contracting plans. GAO reviewed requirements, acquisition, design, and cost-related documentation. GAO interviewed Navy and other defense officials, and conducted industry site visits to each shipyard participating in FFG(X) conceptual design activities. GAO also leveraged prior GAO reports and best practices guides. [...] GAO recommends that the Navy provide Congress with the independent cost estimate for FFG(X) prior to the detail design and construction contract award and seek ship warranty cost information from industry as part of the request for proposal process. While DOD generally concurred with GAO's recommendations, it did not agree to update its request for proposal to solicit ship warranty pricing. GAO continues to believe this is an essential element of the recommendation, as discussed in the report."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09-05
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Defense Management: Observations on DOD's Business Reform Efforts and Plan, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "DOD spends billions of dollars each year to maintain key business operations intended to support the warfighter. The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 established requirements for DOD to reform its enterprise business operations. Section 921 of the act required the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Chief Management Officer, to submit to the congressional defense committees by February 1, 2019, a plan, schedule, and cost estimate for reforms of DOD's enterprise business operations to increase effectiveness and efficiency of mission execution. [...] GAO's objectives were to assess (1) DOD's 921 plan, including its feasibility in reforming DOD's business operations, and (2) the extent to which DOD has made progress in implementing the plan and its broader reform efforts. [...] GAO has previously made eight recommendations related to DOD's reform initiatives from three prior reports. DOD concurred with those recommendations and is working to address them, in part through the initiatives GAO discusses."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Defense Workforce: Steps Needed to Identify Acquisition Training Needs for Non-Acquisition Personnel, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights:"DOD spends hundreds of billions of dollars annually acquiring products and services. Since 1990, Congress and DOD have taken numerous steps to address issues related to the quality of DOD's acquisition workforce, which consists of contracting officers, cost estimators, and personnel in several other career fields. But tens of thousands of others, referred to as nonacquisition personnel, also affect how DOD acquires products and services such as major weapon systems and logistics support. These personnel have a wide range of primary responsibilities, such as piloting aircraft and managing facilities, and they are sometimes directed to perform acquisition-related functions, such as overseeing contracts. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 included a provision for GAO to review steps DOD has taken to ensure non-acquisition personnel receive appropriate acquisition-related training. This report addresses the extent to which DOD can identify (1) non-acquisition personnel supporting acquisitions, and (2) their need for acquisition training. GAO analyzed training data; reviewed policies, guidance, and memorandums; and interviewed personnel from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the military departments."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Date Labels on Packaged Foods: USDA and FDA Could Take Additional Steps to Reduce Consumer Confusion, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "USDA [United States Department of Agriculture] has reported that almost one-third of the U.S. food supply is lost or wasted at the retail and consumer levels. Studies indicate that some of this waste may occur because of consumer confusion about the meaning of date labels displayed on packaged food. Such labels are not federally regulated, and food manufacturers use different phrases on date labels. USDA and FDA have roles in ensuring the U.S. food supply is safe and properly labeled, but neither agency been directed--or given express authority--to regulate date labels."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Conflict Minerals: 2018 Company Reports on Mineral Sources Were Similar in Number and Content to Those Filed in the Prior 2 Years, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Since the UN first deployed a peacekeeping mission to the DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo] 2 decades ago, the United States and the international community have sought to improve security in the country. In eastern DRC, armed groups have committed severe human rights abuses, including sexual violence, and reportedly profit from the exploitation of 'conflict minerals'--in particular, tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold--according to the UN. Congress included a provision in the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that, among other things, required the SEC [U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission] to promulgate regulations regarding the use of conflict minerals from the DRC and adjoining countries. The SEC adopted these regulations in 2012. The act also included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to annually assess the SEC regulations' effectiveness in promoting peace and security and to report on the rate of sexual violence in the DRC and adjoining countries."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Investigational Drugs: FDA and Drug Manufacturers Have Ongoing Efforts to Facilitate Access for Some Patients, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "When investigational drugs show promise for treating serious or life-threatening diseases, patients are often interested in obtaining access to them. Congress included a provision in the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] Reauthorization Act of 2017 for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review actions taken to facilitate access to these drugs. This report describes (1) actions FDA and drug manufacturers have taken to broaden eligibility criteria for clinical trials, (2) actions FDA has taken to facilitate access to investigational drugs outside of clinical trials, and (3) information drug manufacturers have communicated to patients and physicians about access to investigational drugs outside of clinical trials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Foreign Assistance: State Department Should Take Steps to Improve Timeliness of Required Budgetary Reporting, Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "State and USAID [United States Agency for International Development] were responsible for managing $33.7 billion in foreign assistance funds in fiscal year 2018. Section 653(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 mandates the President to report to Congress, on an annual basis, funding allocations by foreign country and category of assistance within 30 days of Congress appropriating certain funds. State, in coordination with USAID, makes decisions on how to allocate the funds, taking into consideration congressional instructions, the administration's priorities, and country-specific foreign assistance needs."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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U.S. Assistance to Mexico: State and USAID Allocated Over $700 Million to Support Criminal Justice, Border Security, and Related Efforts from Fiscal Year 2014 Through 2018, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "For more than a decade, the activities of transnational criminal organizations have led to increased crime, violence, and lawlessness in parts of Mexico. In October 2007, Mexico and the United States created the Mérida Initiative, a bilateral partnership to address crime and violence and enhance the rule of law in Mexico. [...] GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to describe funding and projects the United States has provided under the Mérida Initiative. This report describes (1) State/INL [Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs] and USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] funding for the Mérida Initiative from fiscal year 2014 through 2018 and (2) the number and type of Mérida Initiative projects active during these years. GAO reviewed State and USAID documents and data, and interviewed officials from State, USAID, DOD, DHS, and DOJ [Department of Justice] in Washington, D.C., and Mexico City."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Defense Supplier Base: Challenges and Policy Considerations Regarding Offshoring and Foreign Investment Risks, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Key Takeaways: "Foreign investments in U.S. companies vary annually, but the extent of offshoring is largely unknown. We convened a panel of experts to talk about the benefits and risks of both. Panelists noted that offshoring can lower costs and provide better access to foreign workers and markets. When companies that offshore contract with DOD, they can pass those benefits along. Foreign investment can help U.S. companies grow. The panelists also outlined some of the risks of relying on a globalized supply chain."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Coast Guard Shore Infrastructure: Processes for Improving Resilience Should Fully Align with DHS Risk Management Framework, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "GAO was asked to review Coast Guard efforts to improve the resilience of its shore infrastructure. This report (1) describes Coast Guard actions to improve shore infrastructure resilience since 2005, and (2) examines the extent to which its processes to improve shore infrastructure resilience follow DHS's key steps for critical infrastructure risk management. GAO reviewed and analyzed Coast Guard guidance and data on assessed infrastructure and interviewed Coast Guard officials. GAO also compared Coast Guard policies, procedures, and actions to manage shore infrastructure against DHS's framework for managing risks to critical infrastructure."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Federal Contracting: Information on Agencies' Use of the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable Process, Report to Congressional Committees
From What GAO [Government Accountability Office] Found: "Defense and civilian agencies are in the process of revising acquisition regulations to include criteria and limitations for using the lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) process, as established under the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) for Fiscal Years 2017 and 2019. While the Acts required revised regulations to be in place within 120 days of enactment, officials involved in revising the regulations stated that this process typically takes at least a year. The Department of Defense (DOD) issued a proposed Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) rule in December 2018 and expects the rule to be finalized by the end of fiscal year 2019. Officials responsible for revising the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) have drafted a proposed FAR rule. The proposed FAR rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register in September 2019. See the figure below for the time frames and actions taken to update the DFARS and the FAR."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Marine Debris: Interagency Committee Members Are Taking Action, but Additional Steps Could Enhance the Federal Response, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "GAO was asked to review federal efforts to address marine debris. This report examines (1) how the committee coordinates among federal agencies and the process for determining membership, (2) the extent to which the committee's biennial reports contain required elements, and (3) experts' suggestions on actions the federal government could take to most effectively address marine debris. GAO examined the Marine Debris Act and committee reports, compared committee practices with leading collaboration practices, interviewed federal agency officials, and interviewed a nongeneralizable sample of 14 marine debris experts selected to reflect various sectors and experiences with different types of marine debris."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Anderson, Nathaniel
2019-09
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Nuclear Waste Cleanup: DOE Faces Project Management and Disposal Challenges with High-Level Waste at Idaho National Laboratory, Report to the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate
From the Document: "Decades of defense activities at DOE's [Department of Energy] Idaho National Laboratory produced two forms of waste that EM [Environmental Management] has managed as HLW [high-level waste]: liquid SBW [sodium-bearing waste] and granular calcine waste. Under an agreement with the state, DOE must treat the waste to prepare it for removal from Idaho by 2035. Construction on the IWTU [Integrated Waste Treatment Unit], EM's facility to treat such waste, was completed in 2012, but initial testing of the SBW treatment process revealed design problems. EM has since been working to reengineer the IWTU. Total project construction and reengineering expenditures have reached nearly $1 billion as of February 2019. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review EM's efforts to treat and dispose of the SBW and calcine waste. This report examines (1) the extent to which EM's management of the IWTU follows selected project management best practices; (2) challenges EM faces in disposing of the SBW; and (3) challenges EM faces in treating and disposing of the calcine waste."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Oil and Gas: Bureau of Land Management Should Address Risks from Insufficient Bonds to Reclaim Wells, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "The oil and natural gas produced from wells on federal lands are important to the U.S. energy supply and bring in billions in federal revenue each year. However, when wells are not properly managed, the federal government may end up paying to clean up the wells when they stop producing. Specifically, wells on federal lands that an operator does not reclaim and for which there are no other liable parties fall to BLM [Bureau of Land Management] to reclaim (restore lands to as close to their original natural states as possible). These wells become orphaned if the operator's bond held by BLM is not sufficient to cover reclamation costs. BLM regulations set minimum bond values at $10,000 for all of an operator's wells on an individual lease, $25,000 for all of an operator's wells in a state, and $150,000 for all of an operator's wells nationwide. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the status of oil and gas bonding for federal lands. This report (1) describes the value of bonds for oil and gas wells in 2018 compared to 2008, and (2) examines the extent to which BLM's bonds ensure complete and timely reclamation and thus prevent orphaned wells. GAO analyzed agency data on bonds and wells and interviewed BLM officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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USAID Reform: Efforts Address Most Key Practices but Could Improve in Performance Assessment and Strategic Workforce Planning, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "In March 2017, the President issued an executive order to federal agencies intended to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of the executive branch. The order required the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop a plan to reorganize and streamline the government. In April 2017, OMB issued additional guidance to agencies on implementing the order. In response, USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] launched several efforts to reform its organizational structure, workforce, programs, and processes with the ultimate goal of ending the need for foreign assistance by helping partner countries become more self-reliant. GAO's [Government Accountability Office] prior work has shown that successful agency reforms depend on following key practices for organizational transformation, such as establishing goals and outcomes and involving key stakeholders. This report examines (1) the status of USAID's reform efforts and (2) the extent to which USAID has addressed key practices in planning and implementing those efforts. GAO reviewed USAID reform plans, proposals, and related documents and met with officials involved in its reform efforts."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Information Technology: DOD Needs to Fully Implement Program for Piloting Open Source Software, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Open source software is code that is released under a license which grants users the right to modify, share, and reuse the software. Making code available for reuse as open source can have major benefits such as decreasing costs and improving efficiencies. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 required DOD to submit a plan to Congress for initiating the open source software pilot program established by OMB [Office of Management and Budget] memorandum M16-21. DOD submitted its plan to Congress in June 2018. The act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on DOD's implementation of the open source software pilot program. GAO's objectives were to (1) assess the extent to which DOD has implemented the open source software pilot program and other related requirements established by OMB; and (2) describe the views of responsible DOD officials on the use of open source software to achieve efficiency, transparency, and innovation at the department. To address these objectives, GAO compared DOD's plan for implementing the program to OMB's memo. GAO also interviewed defense officials at 11 DOD components including military departments, and defense agencies on their views about the benefits and risks of making code available as open source software."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Prescription Opioids: Patient Options for Safe and Effective Disposal of Unused Opioids, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "In 2017, an estimated 11.1 million Americans misused a prescription pain reliever, which included opioids. This misuse contributes to opioid abuse and death, which has quintupled from 1999 to 2017; about 17,000 people died from prescription opioid overdoses in 2017. Government agencies and stakeholders have attempted to address the potential for misuse and abuse by facilitating safe disposal of unused prescription opioids and other drugs. The SUPPORT [Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment] for Patients and Communities Act enacted in 2018 included a provision for GAO to review patient disposal of unused opioids, among other things. This report examines (1) federally recommended and other available methods patients may use to dispose of unused prescription opioids, and (2) what is known about patients' use of these methods."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Surface Transportation: DHS is Developing and Testing Security Technologies, but Could Better Share Test Results, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Since 2016, bombings of subways and bus systems in foreign cities and attempted attacks in U.S. cities demonstrate continued security threats to mass transit and other surface transportation systems. S&T [Science and Technology Directorate] and TSA are the primary federal entities responsible for researching, developing, and testing technologies designed to address threats to these systems. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has previously identified challenges with S&T's oversight of R&D [research and development] projects. GAO was asked to review S&T and TSA's roles in developing and testing surface transportation security technologies. This report, among other objectives, (1) assesses the extent to which S&T is developing technologies to secure surface transportation systems and progress made, and (2) identifies the key mechanisms that S&T, TSA, and stakeholders use to collaborate and share information on identifying capability gaps and security technologies, and analyzes the extent to which they are effective."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
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Disaster Response: Federal Assistance and Selected States and Territory Efforts to Identify Deaths from 2017 Hurricanes, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "In 2017, three major hurricanes-- Harvey, Irma, and Maria--struck Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico, causing severe damage and deaths. After Hurricane Maria, questions were raised about how deaths related to the hurricane were identified and documented in Puerto Rico. States and local jurisdictions are responsible for identifying and documenting disaster-related deaths. Additionally, the federal government may play a role in helping to respond to disaster-related deaths, by, for example, providing Funeral Assistance for eligible funeral costs. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review Puerto Rico's process for identifying and documenting deaths related to Hurricane Maria, as well as other states' related processes, and federal agencies' assistance in this process. This report discusses, among other things, (1) how Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico identified and documented deaths related to the 2017 hurricanes, and any challenges they experienced, (2) the support selected federal agencies provided to Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico involving disaster-related deaths, and (3) the number of Funeral Assistance applications FEMA received, approved, and denied for the 2017 hurricanes."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-09
