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Military Installations: DOD Should Consider Various Support Services When Designating Sites as Remote or Isolated, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "DOD operates hundreds of installations in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, which support the daily operations of military units. The support services provided to servicemembers and their dependents at these installations include morale, welfare, and recreation services; medical care; housing; and education. Senate Report 116-48, accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review support services at remote or isolated installations. This report assesses the extent to which DOD (1) designated installations in the United States since 2011 as remote or isolated for the provision of support services, and (2) established objectives for support services at installations and assessed whether current support services are meeting the needs of servicemembers and their dependents. GAO reviewed relevant policies and guidance, conducted interviews with four selected installations and conducted a non-generalizable web-based survey of 756 active-duty servicemembers. GAO is making two recommendations to DOD to develop policy for designating installations in the United States as remote or isolated that includes a process for considering support services in addition to MWR [morale, welfare, and recreation], and to assess the risks of not providing support services and subsequently develop strategies to meet identified needs. As discussed in the report, DOD concurred with the recommendations and described some related actions."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-29
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Bureau of Prisons: BOP Could Further Enhance Its COVID-19 Response by Capturing and Incorporating Lessons Learned, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "BOP [Federal Bureau of Prisons] was responsible for the custody and care of about 129,000 federal inmates in BOP-managed facilities, and employed more than 37,000 staff as of May 2021. Because of confined spaces, the prison population is particularly vulnerable during infectious disease outbreaks, such as COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. About $620 million has been appropriated to or designated by BOP for COVID-19- related efforts. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review BOP's approach to responding to COVID-19. This report addresses, among other objectives: (1) BOP's development and updates of COVID-19 guidance; (2) BOP's provision of PPE [personal protective equipment], COVID-19 tests and vaccines, and infection and fatality rates for inmates and staff; and (3) the impact of COVID-19 on inmates and staff, and the extent to which BOP has incorporated lessons learned into its response. GAO reviewed BOP policies, data, and other documentation related to the impact of COVID-19 and how BOP addressed it. GAO also conducted non-generalizable interviews of officials from five BOP facilities and one private facility operating under contract with BOP, selected based on inmate infection rates and other factors. GAO is making three recommendations that BOP evaluate communication of COVID-19 guidance, develop an approach to capture and share best practices and lessons learned; and develop an approach to ensure facilities apply these practices as appropriate. BOP concurred with all three recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-29
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COVID-19 Contracting: Opportunities to Improve Practices to Assess Prospective Vendors and Capture Lessons Learned, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "In response to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], agencies awarded contracts for goods and services to vendors from a range of industries and with varying levels of federal contracting experience, but some vendors have been unable to deliver under those contracts. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act] Act included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review COVID-19-related federal contracting under the act. This report addresses (1) COVID-19 contract obligations and characteristics of vendors, (2) contracting challenges, including with agency assessments of vendors, and (3) whether lessons learned efforts reflect those challenges. GAO analyzed federal procurement data on agencies' reported COVID-19 contract obligations through May 31, 2021. GAO examined a nongeneralizable sample of 28 contracts with high dollar values or other characteristics from four agencies--DOD, HHS [Department of Health and Human Services], USDA, and DHS. GAO interviewed officials, including Office of Management and Budget (OMB) officials about their emergency acquisition guidance. GAO is making 10 recommendations, including that agencies establish processes to better collect and communicate contracting lessons learned during emergencies such as COVID-19. Agencies agreed with nine recommendations. OMB did not agree to establish time frames for updating its guidance. GAO continues to believe OMB should do so, as discussed in this report."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-29
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Paycheck Protection Program: SBA Added Program Safeguards, but Additional Actions Are Needed, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "Since March 2020, Congress has provided commitment authority of about $814 billion for PPP [Paycheck Protection Program], which provides small businesses with low-interest loans that SBA [Small Business Administration] fully guarantees. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to monitor funds provided for the COVID-19 [coronavirus 2019] pandemic. This report examines (1) safeguards that SBA put in place during the PPP loan approval process, (2) the PPP loan forgiveness process, including processes for unforgiven loans, and (3) SBA's oversight of PPP loans and lenders. GAO reviewed SBA documentation; surveyed a generalizable sample of PPP lenders; analyzed data on loan forgiveness applications; compared SBA processes against federal guidance on credit programs; and interviewed staff from SBA, the Department of the Treasury, and four trade associations representing lenders. GAO recommends that SBA (1) finalize a process for claiming the PPP loan guarantee, (2) implement the statutory requirement to purchase PPP loans in advance of loan forgiveness or seek statutory exceptions to the requirement, (3) finalize procedures for the steps of its loan review process that are not yet documented, and (4) develop and implement a process to ensure timely communication with lenders. SBA generally agreed with the four recommendations, including seeking statutory flexibility or repeal of the requirement to purchase PPP loans in advance of loan forgiveness."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-29
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Cybersecurity and Information Technology: Federal Agencies Need to Strengthen Efforts to Address High-Risk Areas, Statement of Carol C. Harris, Director, Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Government Operations, Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "The nation's critical infrastructures and federal agencies are dependent on IT [information technology] systems and electronic data to carry out operations and to process, maintain, and report essential information. Each year, the federal government spends more than $100 billion on cybersecurity and IT investments. GAO has long stressed the continuing and urgent need for effective cybersecurity, as underscored by recent events that have illustrated persistent and evermore sophisticated cyber threats and incidents. Moreover, many IT investments have failed, performed poorly, or suffered from ineffective management. Accordingly, GAO has included information security on its high-risk list since 1997 and added improving the management of IT acquisitions and operations in 2015. In its March 2021 high-risk series update, GAO reported that significant attention was needed in both of these important areas. GAO was asked to testify on federal agencies' efforts to address cybersecurity and the management of IT. For this testimony, GAO relied on selected products it previously issued."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Harris, Carol C.
2021-07-28
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Federal Contracting: Senior Leaders Should Use Leading Companies' Key Practices to Improve Performance, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Federal agencies face significant, longstanding procurement challenges that increase the risk of waste and mismanagement. GAO [U.S. Government Accountability Office] was asked to review key procurement practices in the private sector and assess whether federal agencies could adopt them. This report examines key practices that leading companies use to improve the performance of their procurement organizations, and the extent to which procurement leaders at selected federal agencies use those practices. GAO interviewed senior procurement leaders at seven leading companies, and experts from four professional associations and five academic institutions. GAO selected these individuals based on literature reviews and conversations with knowledgeable officials. GAO compared key practices they identified to those used at six federal agencies selected based on the dollar value and number of their procurement actions, among other factors. GAO analyzed documentation on each agency's procurement management practices, and interviewed the agencies' senior procurement leaders. The federal government does not have generally accepted definitions for outcome-oriented and process-oriented metrics. For the purposes of this report, GAO defined outcome-oriented metrics as those metrics that measure the results of organizations' procurement activities. GAO defined process-oriented metrics as those metrics that measure the type or level of procurement activities conducted."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-27
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Critical Infrastructure Protection: TSA is Taking Steps to Address Some Pipeline Security Program Weaknesses, Statement of Leslie V. Gordon, Acting Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Statement Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "The nation's pipelines are vulnerable to cyber-based attacks due to increased reliance on computerized systems. In May 2021 malicious cyber actors deployed ransomware against Colonial Pipeline's business systems. The company subsequently disconnected certain systems that monitor and control physical pipeline functions so that they would not be compromised. This statement discusses TSA's [Transportation Security Administration] actions to address previous GAO findings related to weaknesses in its pipeline security program and TSA's guidance to pipeline owner/operators. It is based on prior GAO products issued in December 2018, June 2019, and March 2021, along with updates on actions TSA has taken to address GAO's recommendations as of June 2021. To conduct the prior work, GAO analyzed TSA documents; interviewed TSA officials, industry association representatives, and a sample of pipeline operators selected based on type of commodity transported and other factors; and observed TSA security reviews. GAO also reviewed TSA's May and July 2021 Pipeline Security Directives, TSA's Pipeline Security Guidelines, and three federal security alerts issued in July 2020, May 2021, and June 2021."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-27
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COVID-19 Contracting: Actions Needed to Enhance Transparency and Oversight of Selected Awards, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In March 2020, Congress passed the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act as part of the federal response to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. The act had certain provisions for federal contracting, including providing additional flexibilities. Contracting plays a critical role in the pandemic response as agencies obligate billions of dollars for goods and services. The act also included a provision for GAO [U.S. Government Accountability Office] to review federal contracting in response to COVID-19. This report examines, among other objectives, the extent to which the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security--the only agencies that reported using other transaction agreements in response to COVID-19 in the federal procurement database--used such agreements, including awards to consortia, and oversight of such use. GAO analyzed federal procurement data as of March 2021; reviewed a nongeneralizable sample of 15 agreements selected based on high dollar amounts, agency, a mix of products and services, among other criteria; reviewed agency policies; and interviewed agency officials. GAO is making 14 recommendations to selected agencies, to improve the transparency of agreement awards in the federal procurement database and update policies to improve the oversight of agreements awarded through consortium management firms. The agencies agreed with 11 of the recommendations and did not agree with three of them. GAO continues to believe the recommendations are valid, as discussed in the report."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-26
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Spectrum Management: Agencies Should Strengthen Collaborative Mechanisms and Processes to Address Potential Interference, Statement of Andrew Von Ah, Director, Physical Infrastructure, Testimony Before the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives
From the Statement of Andrew Von Ah: "I am pleased to be here today as you examine spectrum needs for science applications. Regulating and managing the diverse uses of spectrum are complex and challenging tasks that involve accommodating the growing needs of emerging spectrum-dependent technologies, protecting existing uses from harmful interference, and balancing the concerns of various spectrum users to promote the most efficient and effective use of the spectrum resource in the public interest."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Von Ah, Andrew
2021-07-20
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Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction: Opportunities for DHS to Better Address Longstanding Program Challenges, Statement of Chris P. Currie, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "In December 2018, statute established the CWMD [Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction] office, reorganizing several legacy offices, including the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and Office of Health Affairs into one. The office manages programs intended to enhance the United States' ability to detect, deter, and defend against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. However, programs operated and managed by the CWMD office have faced longstanding challenges, some which predate the reorganization. This statement describes our 2016 work related to the CWMD office formation and findings from our past reports on CWMD programs from 2009 through May 2021, including challenges and opportunities for the effective operations and implementation of key programs related to biodefense, nuclear security, and chemical security."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Currie, Chris P.
2021-07-16
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Facial Recognition Technology: Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Should Have Better Awareness of Systems Used by Employees, Statement of Gretta L. Goodwin, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Federal agencies that employ law enforcement officers use facial recognition technology to assist criminal investigations, among other activities. For example, the technology can help identify an unknown individual in a photo or video surveillance. This statement describes (1) the ownership and use of facial recognition technology by federal agencies that employ law enforcement officers, (2) the types of activities these agencies use the technology to support, and (3) the extent that these agencies track employee use of facial recognition technology owned by non-federal entities, including the potential privacy and accuracy implications."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Goodwin, Gretta L.
2021-07-13
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F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Cost and Schedule Risks in Modernization Program Echo Long-Standing Challenges, Statement of Jon Ludwigson, Director, Contracting and National Security Acquisitions, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program began development in 2001 and remains DOD's most expensive weapon system program. Currently, the program is more than 8 years delayed and $165 billion over original cost expectations. As the program progresses toward completing operational testing of the aircraft's baseline capabilities, it still faces risks. DOD is also 3 years into an effort, called Block 4, to modernize the F-35 aircraft's capabilities. Block 4 is loosely based on Agile software development processes. With this approach, DOD intends to incrementally develop, test, and deliver small groups of new capabilities every 6 months. This testimony discusses acquisition-related risks in the F-35 program."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Ludwigson, Jon R.
2021-07-13
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VA Medical Center Security: Progress Made, but Improvements to Oversight of Risk Management and Incident Analysis Still Needed, Statement of Catina B. Latham, Acting Director, Physical Infrastructure, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The Veterans Health Administration provides critical health services to approximately 9-million enrolled veterans at its nearly 170 medical centers. Ensuring safety and security at these medical centers can be complicated because VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] has to balance the treatment and care of veterans--a vulnerable population with high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse--while also maintaining order and enforcing the law. Officers may need to use physical force to help bring a violent or hostile situation under control. This statement focuses on how VA manages and oversees (1) the physical security of medical centers and (2) use of force incidents by police officers."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Latham, Catina B.
2021-07-13
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Military Vehicles: Army and Marine Corps Should Take Additional Actions to Mitigate and Prevent Training Accidents
From the Highlights: "Tactical vehicles are used to train military personnel and to achieve a variety of missions. Both the Army and Marine Corps have experienced tactical vehicle accidents that resulted in deaths of military personnel during non-combat scenarios. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review issues related to the Army's and Marine Corps' use of tactical vehicles. Among other things, this report examines (1) trends from fiscal years 2010 through 2019 in reported Army and Marine Corps tactical vehicle accidents, deaths, and reported causes; and evaluates the extent to which the Army and Marine Corps have (2) taken steps to mitigate and prevent accidents during tactical vehicle operations; and (3) provided personnel with training to build the skills and experience needed to drive tactical vehicles. GAO analyzed accident data from fiscal years 2010 through 2019 (the most recent full year of data at the time of analysis); reviewed documents; and interviewed officials from a nongeneralizable sample of units and training ranges selected based on factors, such as locations where accidents occurred."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-07
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Military Training: The Services Need to Ensure That All Commanders Are Prepared for Their Legal Responsibilities, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "U.S. military commanders are entrusted with a wide range of unique legal responsibilities that are necessary to carry out their missions. As commanders operate in an increasingly complex legal and policy environment, appropriately tailored legal training can help ensure compliance with legal requirements. House Report 115-676, accompanying a bill for the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, included a provision that GAO [Government Accountability Office] review the legal training commanders receive. This GAO report, examines, among other things, the extent to which the services: (1) provide legal training to commanders and account for the training received; and (2) assess legal training provided to commanders to determine whether it meets commanders' needs."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Broadband: FCC Should Analyze Small Business Speed Needs, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "Small businesses are essential to economic growth by creating jobs and promoting economic opportunity. Broadband is a critical tool for small businesses, with increasing importance due to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires FCC [Federal Communications Commission] to encourage and support broadband access through funding and other actions. This report responds to a provision in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 as well as a request for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to examine broadband for small businesses. Among other objectives, this report examines (1) small business access to broadband and how federal broadband funding programs may serve small businesses; and (2) the extent to which FCC's broadband speed benchmark meets the needs of small businesses."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Forensic Technology: Algorithms Strengthen Forensic Analysis, but Several Factors Can Affect Outcomes
From the Highlights: "For more than a century, law enforcement agencies have examined physical evidence to help identify persons of interest, solve cold cases, and find missing or exploited people. Forensic experts are now also using algorithms to help assess evidence collected in a criminal investigation, potentially improving the speed and objectivity of their investigations. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to conduct a technology assessment on the use of forensic algorithms in law enforcement. In a prior report (GAO-20-479SP [hyperlink]), GAO described algorithms used by federal law enforcement agencies and how they work. This report discusses (1) the key performance metrics for assessing latent print, facial recognition, and probabilistic genotyping algorithms; (2) the strengths of these algorithms compared to related forensic methods; (3) challenges affecting their use; and (4) policy options that may help address these challenges."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Veterans Affairs: Systems Modernization, Cybersecurity, and it Management Issues Need to Be Addressed, Statement of Carol C. Harris, Director, Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The use of IT [information technology] is crucial to helping VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] effectively serve the nation's veterans. The department annually spends billions of dollars on its information systems and assets. Its fiscal year 2022 budget request is about $4.8 billion for its Office of Information and Technology and $2.7 billion for electronic health record modernization. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to testify on its prior IT work at VA. Specifically, this testimony summarizes results and recommendations from GAO's issued reports that examined VA's efforts in (1) modernizing VistA [Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture] and its financial and acquisition management systems; (2) addressing cybersecurity issues; and (3) implementing FITARA [Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act]."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Harris, Carol C.
2021-07-01
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COVID-19: The Coast Guard Has Addressed Challenges, but Could Improve Telework Documentation and Personnel Data, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "The Coast Guard is a multi-mission maritime military service responsible for maritime safety, security, and environmental protection, among other things. During the pandemic, the Coast Guard has faced challenges in balancing the need to safeguard its personnel with its responsibility to continue missions and operations. In response to a CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act mandate and congressional requests, GAO [Government Accountability Office] reviewed the Coast Guard's efforts to respond to the pandemic. This report examines (1) the Coast Guard's actions to reduce the risk of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] exposure for its personnel; (2) challenges the Coast Guard faced in operating in a pandemic environment and how it addressed them; and (3) the extent to which the Coast Guard has collected and maintained valid and current telework documentation, as well as accurate and complete COVID19 data on its personnel."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Clean Water Act: EPA Needs to Better Assess and Disclose Quality of Compliance and Enforcement Data, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] partners with states to oversee compliance with and enforcement of the Clean Water Act. In fiscal year 2020, there were roughly 335,000 facilities with active NPDES [National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System] permits, which are used to regulate wastewater discharges under the act. In 2015, EPA began requiring states and facilities to electronically report data on their NPDES activities. EPA estimated that in 2018, nearly 11,000 facilities significantly exceeded their permit limits and illegally discharged pollutants into nearby waters, which may pose serious threats to human health and the environment. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review EPA's enforcement of the Clean Water Act. This report examines (1) changes since 2015 in EPA's national initiatives for ensuring compliance with the act, (2) changes in NPDES compliance and enforcement activities since 2015, and (3) the extent to which EPA is measuring progress toward compliance with the NPDES program."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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COVID-19 Housing Protections: Mortgage Forbearance and Other Federal Efforts Have Reduced Default and Foreclosure Risks, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Millions of mortgage borrowers continue to experience financial challenges and potential housing instability during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. To address these concerns, Congress, federal agencies, and the enterprises provided borrowers with options to temporarily suspend their mortgage payments and placed a moratorium on foreclosures. Both provisions begin to expire in the coming months. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to monitor federal efforts related to COVID-19. This report examines (1) the extent to which mortgage forbearance may have contributed to housing stability during the pandemic, (2) federal efforts to promote awareness of forbearance among delinquent borrowers, and (3) federal efforts to limit mortgage default and foreclosure risks after federal mortgage forbearance and foreclosure protections expire."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Conflict Minerals 2020 Company SEC Filings on Mineral Sources Were Similar to Those from Prior Years, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The United States has sought to improve security in the DRC for over 2 decades. However, according to the Department of State and the United Nations, conflict has persisted and contributed to severe human rights abuses and the displacement of people. Armed groups continue to profit from the mining and trade of 'conflict minerals,' according to State. Provisions in the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act required, among other things, the SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission] to promulgate disclosure and reporting regulations regarding the use of conflict minerals from the DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo] and adjoining countries. In 2012, the SEC adopted a conflict minerals disclosure rule requiring companies to file specialized disclosure reports beginning in 2014 and annually thereafter. The act also included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to assess, among other things, the SEC regulations' effectiveness in promoting peace and security in the DRC and adjoining countries. This report examines how companies responded to the SEC conflict minerals disclosure rule when filing in 2020."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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State and Local Governments: Fiscal Conditions During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Selected States, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic and related policies had a rapid and severe effect on the U.S. economy, including state and local governments. To limit social contact and slow the spread of the pandemic, nearly all states implemented policies that limited certain economic activities. Relief laws, including the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act, provided appropriations to state and local governments to address the public health and economic threats posed by the pandemic. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on COVID-19 pandemic oversight efforts. This report examines (1) changes in revenues and expenditures for the state and local government sector since the onset of the pandemic, (2) changes in revenues and expenditures for selected states, (3) actions selected states took to address changes in revenues and expenditures, and (4) factors that affected the selected states' capacity to implement federal programs."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Tactical Wheeled Vehicles: Army Should Routinely Update Strategy and Improve Communication with Industry, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Due to an increase in near-peer competition from Russia and China, the Army recently changed its operational focus. With this change in focus, the Army is currently studying ways to modernize its TWV [tactical wheeled vehicles] fleet. This modernization relies, in part, on a viable industrial base with multiple companies that can compete to deliver the capabilities needed by the warfighter at an affordable price. The House and Senate Armed Services Committee reports accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 included provisions for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to assess the Army's new TWV strategy and implementation efforts. This report assesses, among other things, the Army's progress in identifying specific capabilities and requirements for its 2022 TWV Strategy and the extent to which opportunities exist for expanding the TWV industrial base."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Microenterprise and Related Development Assistance: Challenges in Evaluating Lasting Benefits for Women and the Poor, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "From 2015 through 2018, USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] reported that it planned to spend about $1.14 billion on microfinance assistance around the world. This assistance is intended to promote development of MSMEs [micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises], which some development experts have identified as needed to help the advancement of the poor. In January 2019, Congress passed and the President signed the Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018 (WEEE Act) to provide more assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises and to continue assistance for microenterprises. The act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to provide information on microenterprise and related assistance, especially to women and the very poor. GAO reported on aspects of USAID's implementation of this assistance in GAO-21-269. This report examines (1) what USAID evaluations of its assistance projects for MSMEs have shown about their effects on women and the very poor; and (2) what is known from research studies and experts outside USAID about the effects of this assistance."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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COVID-19: VA Should Assess Its Oversight of Infection Prevention and Control in Community Living Centers, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "Close to 8,000 veterans per day received nursing home care provided by VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] in CLCs [Community Living Centers] in fiscal year 2020. COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] has posed significant risks to nursing home residents and staff, as residents are often in frail health, and residents and staff have close daily contact with each other. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act includes a provision that GAO monitor the federal response to the pandemic. This report describes, among other objectives, guidance and training VA has issued to help CLCs respond to the pandemic and examines VA's oversight of infection prevention and control in CLCs during the pandemic. GAO analyzed documents, including guidance, training-related materials, and CLC self-assessments of their infection prevention and control practices. GAO also interviewed VA officials and CLC staff, the latter from five facilities selected based on factors such as having been cited for infection prevention and control deficiencies prior to the pandemic."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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COVID-19 Contracting: Contractor Paid Leave Reimbursements Could Provide Lessons Learned for Future Emergency Responses, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "In March 2020, Congress passed the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act, which provides over $2 trillion in emergency assistance for those affected by COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. Section 3610 of the CARES Act enables agencies, at their discretion, to reimburse contractors for paid leave provided to their employees and subcontractors who are unable to access work sites due to facility closures or other restrictions, and whose duties cannot be performed remotely during the pandemic. The CARES Act also includes a provision for GAO to review federal contracting pursuant to authorities provided in the Act. In September 2020, GAO found that agencies had not made much use of section 3610 authority as of July 2020, and expectations of future use varied. This report (1) examines how selected federal agencies have used section 3610 authority and (2) presents selected contractors' perspectives on COVID-19 paid leave reimbursement. GAO reviewed guidance and data and interviewed cognizant officials from four agencies with contract obligations greater than $10 billion in fiscal year 2019."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Federal Land Management: Key Differences and Stakeholder Views of the Federal Systems Used to Manage Hardrock Mining, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "Hardrock minerals, such as gold and copper, are crucial resources for modern technology. However, mining by its nature can create lasting health hazards and environmental contamination. The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management and the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service are responsible for managing hardrock mining on the federal lands they manage. Federal management of hardrock mining has been a source of ongoing debate, in part because the agencies use two different systems, depending on where the resources occur: [1] the location system under the General Mining Act of 1872 to manage hardrock mining on public domain lands (those usually never in state or private ownership), and [2] the leasing system first adopted in the 1940s to manage hardrock mining on acquired lands (those granted or sold to the United States by a state or citizen). GAO was asked to review hardrock mining on federal lands. This report describes, among other things, stakeholder views on the systems and areas for improvement."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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2020 Census: Office Managers' Perspectives on Recent Operations Would Strengthen Planning for 2030, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "The execution of the 2020 Census was largely a local endeavor, carried out by hundreds of thousands of short-term workers reporting to temporary census offices around the country. How this workforce is managed can affect the cost and quality of the census. This report examines how the Bureau managed its field data collection operations at the local level for the 2020 Census, and how area census office managers' (ACOM) perspectives can inform planning. GAO performed the work under the authority of the Comptroller General to evaluate the 2020 Census to assist Congress with its oversight responsibilities. GAO surveyed the Bureau's 248 ACOMs six times during the 2020 Census, reviewed Bureau documents related to management and operations, and interviewed Bureau officials. The number of questions asked varied across waves of the survey, and the wording of some questions changed. Concurrent with this report, GAO is issuing online supplemental material that presents regional and national aggregations of survey responses."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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U.S.-China Trade: USTR Should Fully Document Internal Procedures for Making Tariff Exclusion and Extension Decisions, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "In July 2018, USTR [U.S. Trade Representative] placed tariffs on certain products from China in response to an investigation that found certain trade acts, policies, and practices of China were unreasonable or discriminatory, and burden or restrict U.S. commerce. As of December 2020, the U.S. imposed tariffs on roughly $460 billion worth of Chinese imports under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. Because these tariffs could harm U.S. workers and manufacturers that rely on these imports, USTR developed a process to exclude some products from these additional tariffs. U.S. businesses and members of Congress have raised questions about the transparency and fairness of USTR's administration of this process. GAO was asked to review USTR's tariff exclusion program. This report (1) examines the processes USTR used to review Section 301 tariff exclusion requests and extensions and (2) describes how USTR evaluated those tariff exclusion requests and extensions, and the outcomes of its decisions. GAO analyzed USTR's public and internal documents relating to the exclusion and extension processes, including 16 randomly selected nongeneralizable case files, and data from USTR and the U.S. Census Bureau. GAO also interviewed agency officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
