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Fleet Management: Preliminary Observations on Electric Vehicles in the Postal and Federal Fleets, Statement of Jill Naamane, Acting Director, Physical Infrastructure, Testimony Before the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "USPS [United States Postal Service] operates almost 200,000 vehicles that provide mail delivery across the country. USPS, along with the rest of the federal government, relies largely on gas or diesel fuel vehicles in its fleet. Efforts to transition the USPS and other federal fleets to electric vehicles are underway. In December 2021, the Biden Administration issued an Executive Order calling for federal vehicle acquisitions to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035, including 100 percent zero-emission light-duty vehicle acquisitions by 2027. This statement provides GAO [Government Accountability Office]'s preliminary observations on (1) USPS's efforts to determine the number of gas and electric delivery vehicles to purchase, and (2) factors that may affect the transition of federal fleets to electric vehicles."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Naamane, Jill
2022-04-05
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2021 Lobbying Disclosure: Observations on Lobbyists' Compliance with Disclosure Requirements, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "The LDA [Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995], as amended, requires lobbyists to file quarterly disclosure reports and semiannual reports on certain political contributions. The law also includes a provision for GAO to annually audit lobbyists' compliance with the LDA. This report, among other things, (1) determines the extent to which lobbyists can demonstrate compliance with disclosure requirements, (2) identifies challenges or potential improvements to compliance that lobbyists report, and (3) describes the efforts of USAO [U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia] in enforcing LDA compliance. This is GAO's 15th annual report under the provision. GAO reviewed a stratified random sample of 98 quarterly disclosure LD[lobbying disclosure]-2 reports filed for the third and fourth quarters of calendar year 2020 and the first and second quarters of calendar year 2021. GAO also reviewed two random samples totaling 160 LD-203 reports from year-end 2020 and midyear 2021. This methodology allowed GAO to generalize to the population of 55,084 disclosure reports with $5,000 or more in lobbying activity and 28,851 reports of federal political campaign contributions. GAO also interviewed USAO officials. GAO provided a draft of this report to the Department of Justice for review. The Department of Justice did not have comments."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Radiological Security Snapshot: Security of Radioactive Materials
From the Document: "'Numerous incidents indicate weaknesses in controls over radioactive materials that could be used in a dirty bomb.' Recent security threats have raised concerns that radioactive materials could be stolen and used in a domestic attack. For example, in April 2019, a technician was arrested after stealing three radioactive devices from his workplace in Arizona. According to a court filing, the technician intended to release the radioactive materials at a shopping mall, but local police and the FBI arrested him before he could do so. From 2010 through 2019, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reported over 2,000 nuclear materials events, which included instances of lost or stolen radioactive materials, radiation overexposures, leaks of radioactive materials, and other events. Furthermore, officials from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which provides enhanced security to facilities with high-risk radioactive materials, told GAO [Government Accountability Office] that there is increasing interest among adversaries in using radioactive materials for making a dirty bomb. Vulnerabilities arise because NRC's security requirements do not take into account the most devastating potential effects, including billions of dollars in cleanup costs, and deaths and injuries from chaotic evacuations. In addition, weaknesses in licensing make it relatively easy for bad actors to obtain small quantities of high-risk radioactive materials, which could be dangerous in the wrong hands. Given the risks associated with these materials, which are in widespread use, it may be time to consider greater reliance on alternatives, when feasible. Previously, GAO has recommended that Congress consider this matter."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Consular Affairs: State May Be Unable to Cover Projected Costs If Revenues Do Not Quickly Rebound to Pre-Pandemic Levels, Report to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "From fiscal years 2013 through 2019, consular fees fully funded consular operations, according to State documentation. However, the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic caused State's revenues from passport and visa fees to drop. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review consular fees. This report examines, among other things, how State managed the decline in consular fee revenues, projections regarding State's ability to meet the targeted threshold in the future, and the extent to which State's processes for estimating key data meet the key elements of economic analysis. [...] GAO recommends that State (1) assess what actions would allow it to cover future consular costs; (2) measure the statistical variability of unit costs; and (3) document its cost, demand, and revenue estimates."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Wastewater Surveillance
From the Document: "Wastewater surveillance can be an efficient way to detect community-level disease outbreaks and other health threats. It has the potential to identify a COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] outbreak 1 to 2 weeks sooner than clinical testing and allow for a more rapid public health response. However, the lack of national coordination and standardized methods pose challenges to wider adoption. [...] Wastewater surveillance, also known as wastewater-based epidemiology, is the monitoring of pathogens (e.g., viruses), as well as pharmaceuticals and toxic or other chemicals by testing sewage (see fig. 1). Public health officials can use this approach to monitor for outbreaks, identify threats (e.g., antibiotic-resistant bacteria), and, in response, support the mobilization of resources. Pathogens and chemicals can enter sewer systems through human waste. Wastewater surveillance programs collect sewage samples from these systems and treatment plants and send them to laboratories for testing. Officials can use test data, for example, to assess whether there is a viral outbreak or increasing drug use and then decide what actions to take to protect public health. These actions might include increased clinical testing in an area, or alerting local clinics and hospitals to prepare for an increase in patients."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction: DHS Could Improve Its Acquisition of Key Technology and Coordination with Partners, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons have the potential to kill thousands of people. To enhance efforts to manage threats in these four areas, CWMD [Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office] was established in statute in December 2018, reorganizing functions of predecessor offices in DHS. About a year later, CWMD ranked last in a review of best places to work in government. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess CWMD's ability to carry out its mission and serve federal, state, and local partners. This report (1) evaluates the extent to which CWMD continues to perform the functions of predecessor offices, (2) evaluates the extent to which CWMD has coordinated with state and local partners, and (3) describes CWMD's efforts to improve morale."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Federal-Aid Highways: Information on State Use and Oversight of Engineering Consultants, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The federal-aid highway program is the primary source of federal funding for projects that build and preserve the nation's roads and bridges. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act authorized an average of about $54.6 billion annually for this program. FHWA [Federal Highway Administration] apportions this program's funding to state DOTs [departments of transportation] and provides oversight and technical assistance to them. State DOTs are generally responsible for implementing these federal-aid highway construction projects and are authorized by statute to contract with private engineering firms (engineering consultants) to help them do so. The Explanatory Statement accompanying the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review state DOTs' use of engineering consultants for federally funded projects. This report describes (1) state DOTs' use of engineering consultants on federal-aid highway construction projects and the factors that affect their decisions to do so, and (2) how FHWA oversees state DOTs' use of engineering consultants on federal-aid highway construction projects, among other things."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Native American Veterans: Improvements to VA Management Could Help Increase Mortgage Loan Program Participation, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "In 1992, Congress required VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] to establish a direct loan program to help Native American veterans finance homes on certain types of land that can be difficult to use as collateral for conventional mortgage loans. This could include, for example, land held in trust for Native Americans by the federal government. Members of Congress, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders have raised questions about the effectiveness of VA's administration of NADL [Native American Direct Loan] and outreach efforts. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the NADL program. This report examines the extent of lending to eligible veterans and program management and operations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Surface Transportation: TSA Implementation of Security Training Requirement, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Surface transportation operations such as freight and passenger rail can be difficult to secure. Their open architectures are designed to move people and goods quickly and passengers are generally not subject to vetting. To address this risk, the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Commission Act) required that TSA develop regulations requiring security training for certain surface transportation employees. The 9/11 Commission Act also includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review implementation of these regulations after issuance of TSA's final rule. This report describes (1) the key regulatory requirements for the security training programs; (2) TSA's process for and results from reviewing the training programs; (3) industry associations' and selected owner/operators' perspectives on the training programs; and (4) the status of training program implementation and TSA's monitoring plans. To conduct this review, GAO analyzed TSA program guidance and other documents, and interviewed TSA officials. GAO also interviewed representatives from three surface transportation industry associations and a nongeneralizable sample of six owner/operators selected to capture variation in transportation mode, operation size, and training program status. This sample allowed GAO to learn about important aspects of the implementation of TSA's final rule, but it was not designed to provide findings representative of all the owner/operators that are required to implement this training program."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Southwest Border: CBP Should Improve Data Collection, Reporting, and Evaluation for the Missing Migrant Program, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Border Patrol, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), responds to reports of migrants attempting to enter the U.S. between ports of entry who may be missing or in distress. A committee report accompanying the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) fiscal year 2020 appropriation directed CBP to report data on migrant deaths, describe plans to help reduce the number of migrant deaths, and share its coordination efforts with external entities. The Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the fiscal year 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review CBP's report and its efforts to mitigate migrant deaths. This report addresses (1) how Border Patrol has implemented the Missing Migrant Program to help reduce the frequency of migrant deaths; (2) the extent to which Border Patrol collects and reports complete and accurate data on migrant deaths; and (3) how Border Patrol evaluates the Missing Migrant Program. GAO analyzed Border Patrol policies and documentation, interviewed officials at Border Patrol headquarters and four field locations, and from five external entities, such as medical examiners."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Second Chance Reentry Grants: DOJ Should Report Limitations When Publishing Performance Data, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "More than 600,000 individuals were released from U.S. prisons in 2019 after serving their sentences. DOJ [Department of Justice] awards grants to organizations that assist these individuals in obtaining employment, housing, and mental health treatment, among other services. The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2018 includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review DOJ's reentry grants. This report (1) describes Second Chance Reauthorization Act grants awarded by DOJ from fiscal years 2019 to 2020, (2) examines steps that DOJ is taking to evaluate the effectiveness of these grants, and (3) describes the reentry grant performance data that DOJ reported in products shared with external parties and assesses whether DOJ disclosed any limitations of the data."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Discretionary Transportation Grants: DOT Should Clarify Application Requirements and Oversight Activities, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In 2007, GAO [Government Accountability Office] placed funding for surface transportation programs on the High Risk list. The INFRA [Infrastructure for Rebuilding America] program--a DOT [Department of Transportation] discretionary grant program--was established by statute to fund nationally significant freight and highway projects. Since 2016, DOT has awarded more than $4 billion to 94 transportation projects across the country. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included a provision for GAO to review DOT's process for evaluating and selecting INFRA projects for award. This report examines, among other things, the extent to which DOT has: (1) taken steps to clarify to applicants how it will evaluate INFRA grant applications and (2) provided oversight for the INFRA grant application review process and ensured that application evaluations were accurate and complete."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Uncrewed Maritime Systems: Navy Should Improve Its Approach to Maximize Early Investments, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In March 2021, the Navy published a framework that called for developing and fielding uncrewed surface and undersea vehicles to complement its existing fleet as a key to future Navy capabilities. The Navy intends to prototype these systems to gain knowledge and address technical issues before acquiring systems in significant numbers. A House Report included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the Navy's efforts to develop and produce uncrewed surface and undersea vehicles. GAO's report assesses the Navy's planned investments for these uncrewed maritime systems and its management and prototyping approaches. GAO reviewed documentation for four ongoing medium and large uncrewed maritime system prototype efforts and the associated information technology efforts that enable these systems."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Cost Growth and Schedule Delays Continue, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program remains DOD's most expensive weapon system program. It is estimated to cost over $1.7 trillion to buy, operate, and sustain. DOD is 4 years into a development effort to modernize the F-35 aircraft's capabilities. An important element to operating and maintaining the F-35 is a complex logistics system called ALIS [Autonomic Logistics Information System]. In 2020, DOD began an effort to improve ALIS after years of concerns regarding its performance. Congress included provisions in two statutes for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the F-35 program. This report (1) identifies the F-35's progress towards full-rate production, (2) addresses the program's progress and improvements towards developing, testing, and delivering modernization capabilities, and (3) describes DOD's plan for improving its logistics system."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Traffic Safety: Implementing Leading Practices Could Improve Management of Mandated Rulemakings and Reports, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "According to NHTSA [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration] estimates, 38,824 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 on U.S. roads and highways, with even more projected to have died in 2021. NHTSA is responsible for overseeing the safety of motor vehicles on U.S. roads. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine NHTSA's processes for developing statutorily required, or 'mandated,' rulemakings and reports. In this report, GAO examined: (1) the number of rulemakings and reports mandated by MAP-21 [Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act] and the FAST [Fixing America's Surface Transportation] Act that NHTSA completed, and factors that affected its completion of selected mandates; and (2) the extent to which NHTSA followed leading project schedule management practices when developing mandated rulemakings and reports, among other objectives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Evidence-Based Policy Making: USDA's Decision to Relocate Research Agencies to Kansas City Was Not Fully Consistent with an Evidence-Based Approach, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "USDA [U.S Department of Agriculture] is made up of several agencies, including the research agencies, ERS [Economic Research Service] and NIFA. ERS reviews trends and emerging issues in food, agriculture, the environment, and rural America, while NIFA [National Institute of Food and Agriculture] administers federal funding through formula and competitive grants, among other things. In October 2019, USDA relocated most staff positions at ERS and NIFA from their headquarters in Washington, D.C. to Kansas City, Missouri. This decision was based on USDA's economic analysis. USDA stated the move would save taxpayers more than $300 million over 15 years compared to remaining in the Washington, D.C. region. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess the analysis USDA used to support its decision to relocate ERS and NIFA to the Kansas City region. This report reviewed how USDA made its relocation decision, the underlying analyses, and the use of evidence in its decision-making."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Scientific Integrity: HHS Agencies Need to Develop Procedures and Train Staff on Reporting and Addressing Political Interference, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "Since 2007, Congress and multiple administrations have taken actions to help ensure that federal science agencies have scientific integrity policies and procedures in place that, among other things, protect against the suppression or alteration of scientific findings for political purposes. GAO [Government Accountability Office] defined scientific integrity as the use of scientific evidence and data to make policy decisions that are based on established scientific methods and processes, are not inappropriately influenced by political considerations, and are shared with the public when appropriate. GAO was asked to review scientific integrity policies and procedures, and how allegations of political interference in scientific decision-making are addressed at CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], FDA, NIH [National Institutes of Health], and ASPR [Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response]. This report examines the procedures in place to address such allegations and the extent to which agencies received them. It also examines training provided by selected agencies on scientific integrity policies and procedures, including those related to political interference. GAO analyzed the agencies' scientific integrity policies, procedures, and trainings; interviewed agency officials, and employees, which includes managers and non-managers; and deployed a confidential hotline."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Suicide Prevention: DOD Should Enhance Oversight, Staffing, Guidance, and Training Affecting Certain Remote Installations, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In 2020, DOD recorded 384 active component suicide deaths, representing a 33.5 percent increase in the suicide rate since 2016. Some of these servicemembers were stationed at remote OCONUS [outside the contiguous United States] installations, defined by GAO [Government Accountability Office] as meeting DOD criteria involving factors such as harsh living conditions and limited resources. In response to a provision in the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, this report examines, among other objectives, the extent to which DOD and the military services have, in relation to remote OCONUS installations (1) collected required suicide incident data, and what is known about the incidence of suicide and related risk factors among servicemembers during 2016-2020; (2) established and ensured implementation of policies, programs, and activities that address suicide prevention; and (3) established guidance and training for key personnel for responding to suicide deaths and attempts."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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COVID-19: Current and Future Federal Preparedness Requires Fixes to Improve Health Data and Address Improper Payments, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "By the end of March 2022, the U.S. had about 80 million reported cases of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and over 980,000 reported deaths, according to CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. The country also experiences lingering economic repercussions related to the pandemic, including rising inflation and ongoing supply chain disruptions. As of February 28, 2022 (the most recent date for which data were available), the federal government had obligated $4.2 trillion and expended $3.6 trillion for pandemic relief. These amounts reflect 91 and 79 percent, respectively, of the total amount of COVID-19 relief funds provided by the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act and five other relief laws. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on its ongoing monitoring and oversight efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report--GAO's 10th comprehensive report--examines the federal government's continued efforts to respond to, and recover from, the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, GAO's March 17, 2022 testimony included 10 new legislative suggestions to enhance the transparency and accountability of federal spending, which we reiterate here."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Oil and Gas: Federal Actions Needed to Address Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Development, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Methane is emitted into the atmosphere during oil and gas production--either through intentional releases or leaks. These emissions also result in the loss of marketable natural gas. BLM [Bureau of Land Management] oversees oil and gas operations on federal lands, and EPA regulates emissions from these operations. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review methane emissions from oil and gas development on federal lands. This report (1) describes the steps federal agencies have taken to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas, and implementation challenges; (2) examines actions selected industry entities are taking to reduce methane emissions; and (3) examines how selected states regulate methane emissions and to what extent those efforts could inform federal actions."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Freedom of Information Act: Selected Agencies Adapted to COVID-19 Challenges but Actions Needed to Reduce Backlogs, Statement of James R. Mctigue, Jr., Director, Strategic Issues, Testimony Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate
From the Highlights: "FOIA [Freedom of Information Act] seeks to improve the public's access to government information and promote openness and accountability in government. However, the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic presented challenges for FOIA administration by significantly affecting how federal employees performed their work as agencies adopted a maximum telework posture and limited on-site work. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to testify on FOIA government-wide performance and the associated impact of the pandemic. Specifically, this statement summarizes the results from GAO's previously issued reports on (1) government-wide FOIA performance for fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 and long-term trends from fiscal years 2012 through 2020; (2) selected agencies' initial pandemic-related challenges and their use of leading practices to maintain FOIA operations; (3) selected agencies' continuing challenges with FOIA request backlogs; and (4) selected agencies' use of proactive information disclosures--making records publicly available without waiting for specific requests."
United States. Government Accountability Office
McTigue, James R., Jr.
2022-03-29
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Management Report: Improvements Needed in the Bureau of the Fiscal Service's Information System Controls Related to the Schedule of Federal Debt [March 17, 2022]
From a letter to Commissioner Timothy E. Gribben from Director Cheryl E. Clark Regarding Improvements Needed in the Bureau of the Fiscal Service's Information System Controls Related to the Schedule of Federal Debt: "[W]e determined that information system control deficiencies identified in prior audits that remained unresolved as of September 30, 2021, collectively represent a significant deficiency in Fiscal Service's internal control over financial reporting. Although the deficiencies are not a material weakness, they warrant the attention of those charged with governance of Fiscal Service. While the significant deficiency in internal control did not affect our opinion on Fiscal Service's fiscal year 2021 Schedule of Federal Debt, misstatements may occur in other financial information that Fiscal Service reported that it may not prevent, or detect and correct, on a timely basis because of this significant deficiency. While this significant deficiency in internal control over financial reporting continued to exist as of September 30, 2021, Fiscal Service made some progress in addressing information system general control weaknesses during fiscal year 2021. However, most of the target dates Fiscal Service established for fully addressing the remaining previously identified control deficiencies related to security management, access controls, and configuration management extend beyond fiscal year 2021. Consequently, nearly all of the deficiencies that contributed to the significant deficiency we reported as of fiscal year 2020 remained unresolved."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Clark, Cheryl E.
2022-03-17
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Emergency Relief Funds: Significant Improvements Are Needed to Ensure Transparency and Accountability for COVID-19 and Beyond, Statement of Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, Testimony Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate
From the Highlights: "During emergencies, federal agencies must get relief funds out quickly while ensuring appropriate financial safeguards are in place. GAO [Government Accountability Office] noted early in the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic that agencies gave priority to swiftly distributing funds and implementing new programs; however, tradeoffs were made that limited progress in achieving transparency and accountability goals. As of January 31, 2022 (the most recent data available), the federal government had obligated $4.2 trillion and expended $3.6 trillion, 90 percent and 79 percent, respectively, of the $4.6 trillion in funds from six COVID-19 relief laws. This testimony focuses on GAO's assessment of (1) federal agencies' application of fundamental internal controls and financial and fraud risk management practices for COVID-19 spending, and (2) opportunities for Congress to improve these practices during emergencies and national crises. GAO reviewed its COVID-19 findings on internal controls and financial and fraud risk management practices. GAO compared those findings to fundamental practices for internal control, financial management, and fraud risk management."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Dodaro, Gene L.
2022-03-17
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Aircraft Noise: FAA Should Improve Efforts to Address Community Concerns, Statement of Heather Krause, Director Physical Infrastructure, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Aviation, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "While airports provide access to transportation for millions of people each day, aircraft noise can be disruptive to communities. It can potentially expose residents to a variety of negative effects, such as disrupted sleep and health issues, and spur community objections to airport operations and growth. FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] has a responsibility to balance the growing demand for aviation capacity against the effects of aircraft noise on the environment and communities. It works to address noise concerns by (1) ensuring that aircraft meet federal noise standards, (2) assessing potential noise effects of proposed flight path changes, and (3) conducting community outreach on the potential noise impacts of such changes, among other efforts. This statement describes FAA's efforts to engage with communities on aircraft noise concerns related to PBN implementation, among other issues. It is based largely on GAO's [Government Accountability Office's] 2020 and 2021 work on aviation noise, including GAO-21-103933 [hyperlink]. To update this work, GAO reviewed information from FAA on its efforts to implement GAO's recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Krause, Heather
2022-03-17
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Trends Affecting Government and Society
From the Foreword: "The continuation of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic into 2022 has created new and unexpected challenges across domestic and global issue areas. The pandemic brought about such challenges and changes to nearly every sector in the United States, from health care to education to defense, to name a few. [...] Through environmental scanning and analysis, GAO [Government Accountability Office] has identified 12 key trends the agency anticipates will affect the domestic and global context for years to come. To identify these 12 trends that reflect the breadth and scope of GAO's work across the federal government, GAO's subject matter experts conducted research across a range of domains. These observations point to the uncertainties and implications of various trends over the near term (five years) and longer term (10-15 years). The trends are not designed to predict the future; rather they help GAO and our stakeholders understand possible implications. By exploring these trends, key uncertainties, and their possible implications, GAO can better be prepared to respond to the national issues of greatest concern to the Congress and the American people in the years ahead. With these 12 trends, GAO's Center for Strategic Foresight aims to ensure that GAO is prepared to assist the Congress as it addresses evolving challenges and seeks innovative solutions. GAO will continue producing work that elaborates on the trends through the span of our 2022-2027 Strategic Plan. The Center for Strategic Foresight will maintain focus on its ongoing environmental scanning systems and trend analysis capabilities, to ensure that GAO remains agile and responsive in its mission to serve Congress and the American people."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-03-15?
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Strategic Plan: Key Efforts 2022-2027
From the Foreword: "The Key Efforts are an essential part of the U.S. Government Accountability Office's (GAO) 2022-2027 Strategic Plan. The areas of focus detailed here highlight the array of work the agency intends to focus on during this five year period, including the related work areas that will help the agency to accomplish its Performance Goals. These Performance Goals, in turn, support GAO's Strategic Objectives across four major goals. GAO's Key Efforts correspond with the agency's near-term priorities, and support our longer-term mission to provide Congress with timely and fact-based analyses. For GAO, the Key Efforts reflect work the agency expects to cover during this period and congressional priorities. GAO maintains an overarching internal process which regularly assesses its priorities and establishes work in consultation with the Congress and consistent with our Congressional Protocols. This process helps to inform these periodic updates to our Key Efforts. Rapidly changing external forces may also shift certain GAO priorities from year to year. Periodic review, and updates as appropriate, of the Key Efforts during the 2022-2027 planning period will help to ensure that GAO remains agile and responsive to the areas of greatest national importance to the Congress and the American people."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-03-15?
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GAO 2022-2027 Strategic Plan: Goals and Objectives for Serving Congress and the Nation
From the Document: "I am pleased to present GAO's [Government Accountability Office] Strategic Plan for Serving the Congress and the Nation for fiscal years 2022 to 2027. As the nation works to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, new and long-standing challenges face the federal government. This plan describes our goals and strategies in this evolving environment to support the Congress. It is designed to identify cost savings and other financial opportunities; to make government more accountable, efficient, and effective; and ultimately to improve the safety, security, and well-being of the American people. [...] At the beginning of this planning period, GAO continues to oversee and evaluate the over $4 trillion in spending in response to COVID-19--the largest rescue package in U.S. history. The pandemic has resulted in substantial loss of life and significant economic repercussions. Until public health goals can be achieved, the pandemic will likely remain an obstacle to stable and robust economic activity. After such goals are attained and the economy substantially recovers, swift and focused attention will be needed to develop an approach to place the government on a sustainable long-term fiscal path."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-03-15?
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Climate Resilience: Opportunities to Improve Federal Planning and Implementation, Statement of J. Alfredo Gomez, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Testimony Before the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The increasing number of natural disasters in the U.S. and reliance on federal assistance to address them are sources of federal climate-related fiscal exposure. 'Limiting the Federal Government's Fiscal Exposure by Better Managing Climate Change Risks' has been on GAO's [U.S. Government Accountability Office's] High-Risk List since 2013, in part because of the increasing costs of federal disaster response and recovery efforts. For example, from fiscal years 2015 through 2021, select appropriations for disaster assistance totaled $315 billion. GAO has previously found that enhancing climate resilience could help limit future costs. Enhancing climate resilience means taking actions to reduce potential future losses by planning and preparing for potential climate hazards. Agencies have taken some actions, including in the areas of climate resilience planning. This testimony focuses on how Congress and federal agencies can improve climate resilience planning and implementation by applying principles of GAO's 'Disaster Resilience Framework'. This testimony is based on findings and methodologies of GAO reports on climate resilience from May 2011 through September 2021. [...] Since 2003, GAO has made 84 recommendations and suggested six matters for congressional consideration related to enhancing climate resilience and limiting the federal government's fiscal exposure to climate change. As of March 2022, 31 recommendations are not yet implemented."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Gómez, J. Alfredo
2022-03-08
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NASA Lunar Programs: Moon Landing Plans Are Advancing but Challenges Remain, Statement of W. William Russell, 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 developing multiple highly complex and interdependent programs to achieve the lunar landing mission, known as Artemis III, as well as longer-term goals to create a sustained lunar presence. In the fiscal year 2022 president's budget request, NASA requested at least $32 billion over the next 5 years to support these efforts. To land astronauts on the Moon, NASA will need to develop a lunar lander and new space suits. It will also need to execute uncrewed and crewed test flights, planned for spring 2022 and 2024, respectively, of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and the Space Launch System. NASA has delayed the first test flight multiple times, which places pressure on the schedule for subsequent missions. In prior reports, GAO [Government Accountability Office] highlighted progress NASA has made toward these missions, as well challenges the agency faces in managing and integrating these systems and missions. This statement updates NASA's progress and challenges in working towards the first three Artemis missions."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Russell, William
2022-03-01
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Critical Infrastructure Protection: CISA Should Improve Priority Setting, Stakeholder Involvement, and Threat Information Sharing, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "The risk environment for critical infrastructure ranges from extreme weather events to physical and cybersecurity attacks. The majority of critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector, making it vital that the federal government work with the private sector, along with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners. CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] is the lead federal agency responsible for overseeing domestic critical infrastructure protection efforts. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review CISA's critical infrastructure prioritization activities. This report examines (1) the extent to which the National Critical Infrastructure Prioritization Program currently identifies and prioritizes nationally significant critical infrastructure, (2) CISA's development of the National Critical Functions framework, and (3) key services and information that CISA provides to mitigate critical infrastructure risks."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-03
