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Science & Tech Spotlight: E-Cigarettes
From the Document: "With millions of teens and young adults using e-cigarettes, a new generation could become addicted to nicotine and face other health risks. For some adult smokers, e-cigarettes may offer a less harmful substitute for traditional cigarettes. However, long-term effects on users, second-hand exposure, and environmental effects are not yet fully known."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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FY 2019 Government Shutdown: Selected Agencies Could Improve Contingency Planning for Potential Shutdown Scenarios and Strengthen Some Internal Controls, Report to the Ranking Member Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate
From the Document: "A lapse in appropriations resulted in the federal government partially shutting down from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to evaluate agency contingency plans and operations during the FY 2019 shutdown. This report assesses the extent to which selected agencies and selected components (1) had contingency plans that were consistent with applicable OMB [Office of Management and Budget] guidance, (2) planned for a potential prolonged shutdown and changed operations during the shutdown, and (3) had shutdown policies and procedures consistent with relevant internal control principles. GAO selected CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection], IRS [Internal Revenue Service], ITA [International Trade Administration], and USTR [U.S. Trade Representative] as agency components for review because they are under the jurisdiction of the Senate Committee on Finance and were affected by the FY 2019 shutdown. GAO reviewed OMB's guidance, agencies' contingency plans, and other documentation. GAO interviewed agency and component officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-06
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Mining on Federal Lands: More Than 800 Operations Authorized to Mine and Total Mineral Production is Unknown
From the Document: "You asked us to review mining on federal lands. This report identifies (1) the number of operations authorized to produce solid minerals on federal lands as of September 30, 2018, and selected characteristics of those operations, and (2) the federal royalties obtained from and quantity of solid minerals produced on federal lands for fiscal year 2018. We also have ongoing work examining hardrock mining systems and stakeholder views of the systems."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-28
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GAO Audits Involving DOD: Status of DOD's Efforts to Schedule and Hold Timely Entrance Conferences (May 22, 2020)
From the Document: "GAO's [Government Accountability Office] agency protocols govern GAO's relationships with audited entities. These protocols, coordinated with federal agencies including the Department of Defense (DOD), assist GAO in scheduling an entrance conference within 14 calendar days of receiving notice of a new audit. Entrance conferences provide GAO an opportunity to communicate its audit objectives and enable agencies to assign key points of contact to support its work. In past years, DOD has experienced difficulty meeting the protocol target for the timely facilitation of entrance conferences."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-22
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Infection Control Deficiencies Were Widespread and Persistent in Nursing Homes Prior to COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Document: "In light of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, you asked us to examine CMS's [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid] oversight of infection prevention and control protocols and the adequacy of emergency preparedness standards for emerging infectious diseases in nursing homes, as well as CMS's response to the pandemic. This report describes the prevalence of infection prevention and control deficiencies in nursing homes prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Future GAO [Government Accountability Office] reports will examine more broadly infection prevention and control and emergency preparedness in nursing homes and CMS's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including recent actions CMS has announced."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-20
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Management Report: Improvements Are Needed to Enhance the Internal Revenue Service's Information System Security Controls [May 13, 2020]
From the Document: "In connection with our audit of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) fiscal years 2019 and 2018 financial statements, we reported that although internal controls could be improved, IRS maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2019, based on criteria established under 31 U.S.C. [United States Code] § 3512(c), (d), commonly known as the Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act. [...] However, during our fiscal year 2019 audit, we identified new and continuing deficiencies in information system security controls that while not collectively considered a material weakness, were important enough to merit attention by those charged with governance of IRS and therefore represented a significant deficiency in IRS's internal control over its financial reporting systems. [...] This report for IRS management presents the new control deficiencies we identified during our fiscal year 2019 testing of information system security controls that are relevant to IRS's internal control over financial reporting and associated recommendations to address them. The report also includes the results of our follow-up on the status of the agency's corrective actions to address deficiencies in information system security controls and associated recommendations contained in our July 2019 report that remained open as of September 30, 2018."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-13
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Biomedical Research: HHS Has Not Yet Used New Authorities to Improve Recruitment and Retention of Scientists
From the Document: "The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has cited difficulties in recruiting and retaining individuals in medicine, science, engineering, and other related fields to support its mission. Since 2001, we have designated strategic human capital management as a government-wide high-risk area in part because of the need to address current and emerging skills gaps that are undermining agencies' abilities to meet their missions."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-08
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Priority Open Recommendations: General Services Administration
From the Document: "The purpose of this letter is to provide an update on the overall status of the General Services Administration's (GSA) implementation of GAO's [Government Accountability Office] recommendations and to call your personal attention to open recommendations that deserve high priority. In November 2019, we reported that, on a government-wide basis, 77 percent of our recommendations made 5 years ago were implemented. GSA implemented all 15 of the recommendations we made to GSA in fiscal year 2015. As of April 2020, GSA had 67 open recommendations. Fully implementing all of these recommendations could significantly improve GSA's operations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-06
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Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Defense [May 4, 2020]
From the Document: "The purpose of this letter is to provide an update on the overall status of the Department of Defense's (DOD) implementation of GAO's [Government Accountability Office] recommendations and to call DOD's continued attention to areas in which open recommendations should be given high priority. Many of the recommendations in this letter directly address key challenges--such as rebuilding readiness, mitigating cyber threats, and controlling costs--that significantly affect DOD's ability to accomplish its mission."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-04
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Private Citizens' Involvement in Decision-Making at the Department of Veterans Affairs: Information on the Purpose, Scope, and Time Frames of Interactions Between 2016 and 2018
From the Document: "With a budget of $201.1 billion in fiscal year 2019, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides benefits to veterans, including various types of financial assistance, burial services, and health care to more than 9 million veterans. In managing and overseeing its complex activities, VA has faced longstanding challenges, including providing veterans with timely access to health care, managing and overseeing its information technology acquisitions, and maintaining leadership stability in its top personnel positions. VA has undertaken various efforts to address these challenges, such as awarding a contract to acquire a commercial electronic health record system in 2018. As part of such efforts, VA may solicit input from entities including federal advisory committees and veterans service organizations (VSO) as well as from private citizens--individuals not employed by a federal agency."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05-04
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Foreign Military Sales: DOD Should Further Strengthen Financial Oversight of Transportation Fees, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "From fiscal years 2007 to 2018, DOD collected about $2.3 billion in fees into the FMS [Foreign Military Sales] transportation accounts and expended about $1.9 billion from the accounts. Foreign partners can pay DOD a fee to cover the costs of DOD transporting items. Fees are collected into transportation accounts in the FMS Trust Fund, and expenditures for related transportation are paid from those accounts. DSCA [Defense Security Cooperation Agency] is responsible for financial oversight of the accounts, and DFAS [Defense Finance and Accounting Service]--a service provider to DSCA-- also has some accounting responsibilities related to the accounts. House Report 114-537 and Senate Report 114-255 included provisions that GAO [Government Accountability Office] review DSCA's management of FMS fees. This report examines (1) DSCA's oversight of DOD components' activities that affect fees collected into the FMS transportation accounts, and (2) DSCA's financial oversight of expenditures from the FMS transportation accounts."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Employment-Related Identity Fraud: Improved Collaboration and Other Actions Would Help IRS and SSA Address Risks, Report to the Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Employment-related identity fraud poses risks to IRS's [Internal Revenue Service] ability to collect taxes owed on wages and to SSA's [Social Security Administration] ability to correctly calculate and manage Social Security benefits. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review employment-related identity fraud. This report examines (1) the potential scope of employment-related identity fraud, including what IRS knows about this type of fraud and what GAO could determine by analyzing Department of Health and Human Services' National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) and IRS data; (2) SSA and IRS actions to detect and deter this fraud as well as notify victims; and (3) SSA and IRS's collaboration on the issue."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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FEMA Disaster Workforce: Actions Needed to Address Deployment and Staff Development Challenges, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "During the 2017 and 2018 disaster seasons, several large-scale disasters created an unprecedented demand for FEMA's workforce. FEMA deployed 14,684 and 10,328 personnel at the peak of each of these seasons and reported staffing shortages during the disasters. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review issues related to the federal response to the 2017 disaster season. This report addresses (1) how FEMA's disaster workforce is qualified and deployed, (2) how effective FEMA's qualification and deployment processes were during the 2017 and 2018 disaster seasons in ensuring workforce needs were met in the field, and (3) the extent to which FEMA's disaster workforce receives staff development to enhance skills and competencies."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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National Flood Insurance Program: FEMA Can Improve Community Oversight and Data Sharing, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "NFIP's [National Flood Insurance Program] effectiveness depends in part on communities implementing FEMA requirements on floodplain management and post-disaster rebuilding efforts. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of federal disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. This report examines (1) requirements NFIP communities must meet and challenges they face, (2) FEMA's use of community visits to ensure compliance, and (3) how FEMA oversees community implementation of NFIP requirements for conducting substantial damage assessments."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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National Preparedness Additional Actions Needed to Address Gaps in the Nation's Emergency Management Capabilities, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "FEMA uses the National Preparedness System to help assess the nation's emergency management capabilities in preparing for disasters and, in part, to help prioritize federal preparedness grants it provides to state and local jurisdictions. Since 2002, FEMA has provided over $52 billion in such grants intended to enhance preparedness capabilities. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine national preparedness. This report examines the extent to which: (1) FEMA's National Preparedness System and associated preparedness grants have assisted jurisdictions in preparing for disasters; (2) FEMA has strengthened the National Preparedness System and what steps remain; and (3) FEMA is using after-action reports to identify lessons learned and strengthen future preparedness. GAO evaluated agency guidance, analyzed 2013 to 2017 capability data--the most current available; conducted site visits to five states; and interviewed FEMA, state, and local emergency management officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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U.S. Postal Service: Congressional Action is Essential to Enable a Sustainable Business Model, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "An independent establishment of the executive branch, USPS [U.S. Postal Service] is required to provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to the public. While USPS is to be self-sustaining, it lost about $78 billion from fiscal years 2007 through 2019 due primarily to declining mail volumes and increased costs. Given USPS's poor financial condition, in 2009 GAO [Government Accountability Office] identified USPS's financial viability as a high-risk area, a designation it retains today. GAO was asked to explore issues related the transformation of USPS and potential implications for stakeholders. This report (1) examines major challenges facing USPS, (2) identifies how selected domestic businesses and foreign posts reportedly have addressed serious challenges, (3) examines critical foundational elements of USPS's current business model, and (4) identifies key previously issued GAO matters for congressional consideration regarding USPS and actions taken in response."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Poverty Reduction: HHS Can Improve Information to Assist States and Localities in Adopting Approaches That Serve Whole Families, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Document: "In 2018, nearly one in six children in the United States lived in families with incomes below the federal poverty thresholds, or about $26,000 annually for a family of four. Research has shown that poverty is associated with negative outcomes for the entire family. State and local entities are currently using two-generation, or whole family, approaches to reduce poverty and move families towards economic self-sufficiency. Senate Committee Report 115-150 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review two-generation approaches. GAO examined (1) the primary federal programs that support two-generation approaches and how these programs were leveraged by selected state and local entities, and (2) the challenges selected state and local entities faced implementing two-generation approaches and steps federal agencies have taken to address those challenges. GAO reviewed relevant federal, state, and local agency documentation; and interviewed officials from five federal agencies, and from 23 state and local entities in five states. States were selected to achieve variation in approaches used and percentage of families with children in poverty, among other factors."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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DHS Service Contracts: Increased Oversight Needed to Reduce the Risk Associated with Contractors Performing Certain Functions, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "DHS's spending on services--such as guard services and technology support--represents over 75 percent of its annual contract obligations. The Office of Management and Budget has recognized that some service contracts require extra management attention because they pose a risk that the government could lose control of its decisions or operations. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review DHS's use of and planning for service contracts. This report addresses, among other objectives, the extent to which DHS and selected components and offices use, oversee, and budget for service contracts. GAO analyzed Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation data from fiscal years 2013 through 2018; selected non-generalizable samples of four components with high service contract obligations and eight service contracts requiring heightened management attention; and interviewed DHS officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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2020 Census: Update on the Census Bureau's Implementation of Partnership and Outreach Activities, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The decennial census is used to apportion seats in Congress, redraw congressional districts, and allocate hundreds of billions of dollars in federal assistance annually and helps to guide public policy decisions based on social, economic, and demographic data. While recent censuses appear to have been increasingly accurate, measurement errors are not evenly distributed across the population. Given the uses of census data, ensuring an accurate count is important. As part of its partnership and outreach efforts, the U.S. Census Bureau's (Bureau) Partnership Program works with local and national organizations, businesses, and governments to promote awareness of and participation in the census, as well as to help recruit census workers. GAO was asked to review the Bureau's partnership and outreach efforts, including paid advertising and targeted communications. This report examines the Bureau's progress in addressing selected prior census challenges in these areas. GAO reviewed relevant Bureau planning documentation, collected regular Bureau reports on progress, and interviewed Bureau officials responsible for partnership and outreach efforts."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Social Distancing During Pandemics
From the Document: "Infectious diseases like COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] can spread rapidly from person to person. Social distancing saves lives by slowing disease transmission and reducing the load on the health care system. The scientific research regarding effective social distancing practices continues to evolve. [...] Social distancing, also known as physical distancing, is the practice of maintaining physical distance from others and avoiding large gatherings, with the intent of reducing the rate of transmission of infectious diseases. COVID-19 has brought social distancing practices to the forefront worldwide as a means of controlling local spread of the disease. [...] Practicing social distancing reduces the rate of new infections by limiting person-to-person transmission. This in turn can 'flatten the curve,' by reducing the peak number of patients to levels the health care system can better manage, ultimately saving lives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Asistencia de los Estados Unidos a México: El Departamento de Estado podría mejorar su monitoreo de los proyectos de la Iniciativa Mérida
"La Iniciativa Mérida es una colaboración bilateral entre los Estados Unidos y México para abordar el crimen y la violencia y mejorar el estado de derecho en México. A través de esta iniciativa, dirigida por State/INL [La Oficina Internacional de Asuntos Antinarcóticos y Procuración de Justicia (INL, por sus siglas en inglés)] y USAID [La Agencia de los Estados Unidos para el Desarrollo Internacional (USAID, porsus siglas en inglés)], los Estados Unidos han provisto una amplia variedad de asistencia, incluido entrenamiento y herramientas. Desde el año fiscal 2008, el financiamiento de los Estados Unidos a la Iniciativa Mérida suma en total a aproximadamente US$3 mil millones."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Environmental Liabilities: DOE Needs to Better Plan for Post-Cleanup Challenges Facing Sites, Report to the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "After over 70 years of nuclear weapons production and energy research at hundreds of sites across the country, DOE [Department of Energy] faces over $500 billion in environmental liabilities associated with cleanup of hazardous contamination and long-term management of these sites. LM [Office of Legacy Management] is responsible for the portion of these liabilities associated with long-term management of sites after active cleanup has been completed. LM oversees 100 sites across the country. Depending on the sites' clean-up standards and intended reuse, LM will likely be managing some sites for centuries. Senate Report 116-48 accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2020 includes a provision for GAO to review LM's operations, including the nature of its environmental liability. This report examines (1) LM's environmental liability, and (2) any challenges LM faces in managing its sites and how it is addressing those challenges. GAO analyzed data on LM's environmental liability; interviewed officials at LM headquarters and those responsible for the nine sites requiring the most intensive level of management; and reviewed relevant policies, procedures, and guidance."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Critical Infrastructure Protection: Actions Needed to Enhance DHS Oversight of Cybersecurity at High-Risk Chemical Facilities, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Thousands of high-risk chemical facilities may be subject to the risk posed by cyber threat adversaries-- terrorists, criminals, or nations. [...] In accordance with the DHS Appropriations Act, 2007, DHS established the CFATS [Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards] program to, among other things, identify and assess the security risk posed to chemical facilities. GAO was asked to examine the cybersecurity efforts of the CFATS program, including the extent to which the program (1) assesses the cybersecurity efforts of covered facilities, and (2) determines the specialty training and level of staff needed to assess cybersecurity at covered facilities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Homeless Veterans: Opportunities Exist to Strengthen Interagency Collaboration and Performance Measurement Procedures, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Despite a large decline over the past decade, an estimated 37,000 veterans in the United States experienced homelessness in 2019. GAO was asked to review federal assistance programs for homeless veterans. Among other objectives, this report (1) discusses challenges agencies and service providers cited in implementing selected programs; (2) evaluates how USICH [U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness], VA [Department of Veterans Affairs], and HUD [Department of Housing and Urban Development] collaborate; and (3) reviews selected programs' performance."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Export Controls: State and Commerce Should Improve Guidance and Outreach to Address University-Specific Compliance Issues, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "Although foreign students and scholars contribute to U.S. research, there is a risk that they will 'export' sensitive knowledge they gain to their home countries. To mitigate this risk, the U.S. government implements export controls. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review agency guidance and universities' security practices. This report examines (1) the extent to which State and Commerce have provided guidance and outreach that supports U.S. universities' understanding of export control regulations; (2) challenges U.S. universities face working with other federal agencies, such as DOD; and (3) the extent to which universities' export compliance practices align with State and Commerce guidelines."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Actions Needed to Address Manufacturing and Modernization Risks, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Document: "The acquisition cost for the F-35 program increased substantially in 2019, partially due to the program's addition of estimated costs for modernization of hardware and software systems, referred to as its Block 4 efforts. This is the fifth report under the provision that Congress included in statute for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the F-35 program annually until the program reaches full-rate production. This is also the first report under another provision in statute to review the program's production and Block 4 progress annually through 2024. Among other objectives, this report assesses (1) the program's production performance and (2) the program's modernization cost estimate and development progress. GAO reviewed Department of Defense (DOD) and contractor documentation and interviewed DOD officials and contractor representatives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant: DOE is Pursuing Pretreatment Alternatives, but Its Strategy is Unclear While Costs Continue to Rise, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Document: "The Hanford Site in Washington State contains large quantities of nuclear waste. EM [Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environmental Management] has been building the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant--which consists of multiple facilities, including a key pretreatment facility--to treat a large portion of the nuclear waste at Hanford. Under way since 2000 and costing over $11 billion to date--$3.8 billion of that spent on the pretreatment facility--the plant has faced technical challenges, cost overruns, and schedule delays. In late 2012, work on the pretreatment facility stopped until technical challenges could be resolved. In 2018, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported that at current annual funding levels, completing the pretreatment facility on time would not be possible. Senate Report 116-48 accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2020 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review this project. This report examines (1) the cost of pretreatment efforts from fiscal year 2013 through fiscal year 2018, (2) the status of the technical challenges facing the pretreatment facility, and (3) the steps EM is taking to start treating waste by 2023 as required, among other things. GAO toured the facility, analyzed EM documents and expenditure data, and interviewed EM officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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U.S. Assistance to Mexico: State Department Could Improve Its Monitoring of Mérida Initiative Projects, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "The Mérida Initiative is a bilateral U.S.- Mexico partnership to address crime and violence and enhance the rule of law in Mexico. Through this initiative, managed by State/INL [Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs] and USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development], the United States has provided a wide range of assistance, including training and equipment. Since fiscal year 2008, U.S. funding for the Mérida Initiative has totaled about $3 billion. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has identified key practices for monitoring foreign assistance programs that agencies should implement to address impediments, effectively manage foreign assistance, and meet assistance goals. These practices are generally consistent with policies of State, USAID, and the Office of Management and Budget. GAO was asked to review issues related to Mérida Initiative implementation and objectives. This report examines the extent to which State/INL and USAID follow key practices in monitoring Mérida Initiative projects and track project performance against established measures. GAO reviewed State and USAID documents and data for a nongeneralizable sample of 20 highdollar value projects, and interviewed officials from State; USAID; and other U.S. agencies in Washington, D.C., and Mexico City."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Technology Assessment: Forensic Technology, Algorithms Used in Federal Law Enforcement, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "Forensic algorithms help forensic experts partially automate the process of assessing whether or not evidence collected in an investigation may have originated from an individual, potentially increasing the speed of investigations and reducing human bias and error. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to conduct a technology assessment on the use of forensic algorithms in federal law enforcement. GAO is conducting this assessment in two phases. The first phase describes algorithms being used by federal law enforcement agencies and how these technologies work. The second phase will assess the approaches and challenges related to how federal law enforcement agencies apply these technologies and will identify policy options for addressing these challenges going forward."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
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Science & Tech Spotlight: COVID-19 Testing
From Why This Matters: "As the nation works to save lives and flatten the curve of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] cases, widespread testing could help reduce the death rate, help identify those who should self-isolate, and help businesses recover. There are challenges, however, associated with the use and availability of tests, as well as with determining their accuracy."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-05
