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COVID-19: Federal Agencies' Initial Reentry and Workplace Safety Planning, Report to Congressional Addressee

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From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "The federal government employs approximately 2.8 million civilian workers, a workforce that plays an important role in maintaining vital government services. The White House, OMB [Office of Management and Budget], and other cognizant agencies issued guidance to support federal agencies as they developed tailored plans for bringing the federal workforce back to offices and safely conducting on-site work. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act included a provision for GAO to monitor and oversee the federal government's response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. This report (1) examines agencies' approaches to initial reentry planning, (2) assesses the extent to which agencies' workplace safety plans are consistent with federal guidance, and (3) examines the coordination and oversight of federal reentry and workplace safety planning across the government. GAO analyzed federal guidance from cognizant agencies to identify crosscutting themes for reentry planning, and reviewed OMB guidance on workplace safety principles. GAO assessed workplace safety plans, reentry plans, and relevant documentation from the 24 CFO [Chief Financial Office] Act agencies against the themes and principles identified in guidance and interviewed agency officials. GAO also reviewed guidance to identify oversight and coordination responsibilities and reviewed prior GAO work on pandemic preparedness and interagency collaboration."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-10
COVID-19: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Accountability and Program Effectiveness of Federal Response, Report to Congressional Committees

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From the Highlights: "As of September 23, 2021, the U.S. had about 43 million reported cases of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and about 699,000 reported deaths, according to CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. The country also continues to experience economic repercussions from the pandemic. Six relief laws, including the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act, had been enacted as of August 31, 2021, to address the public health and economic threats posed by COVID-19. As of that same date (the most recent for which governmentwide data was available), the federal government had obligated a total of $3.9 trillion and expended $3.4 trillion of the $4.8 trillion in COVID-19 relief funds that had been appropriated by these six laws, as reported by federal agencies. 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 examines the federal government's continued efforts to respond to, and recover from, the COVID-19 pandemic."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-10
U.S. Agency for Global Media: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Oversight of Broadcasting Networks, Report to Congressional Committees

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From the Highlights: "USAGM [United States Agency for Global Media], formerly known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors, is an independent federal agency whose mission is to provide unbiased news in some countries where freedom of information is restricted. With a budget of around $810 million in fiscal year 2020, USAGM oversees two federal networks--Voice of America and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting--and four grantees--Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks, and Open Technology Fund. Each grantee has a separate board. A Senate committee report included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to consult with the Committee on Appropriations on an evaluation of USAGM's governance structure and oversight processes for its broadcasting entities. This report examines (1) how recent statutory amendments affected USAGM's governing authority and organizational structure, (2) the extent to which USAGM's management actions aligned with its policies on protecting editorial independence, and (3) the extent to which USAGM has taken actions to ensure oversight of network operations and accountability of its grantees."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-10
Department of Energy Contracting: NNSA Has Taken Steps to Improve Its Work Authorization Process, but Challenges Remain, Report to Congressional Requesters

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From the Highlights: "NNSA [National Nuclear Security Administration] relies on seven M&O [management and operating] contractors to manage and operate its eight laboratory and production sites. NNSA uses documents called WAs [work authorizations] to direct the work of its contractors. NNSA's program offices collectively issued on average 94 WAs per fiscal year from 2018 to 2020. In 1990, GAO [Government Accountability Office] designated the Department of Energy's (DOE) contract management as a high-risk area and continues to identify ongoing challenges with NNSA's management of its contractors. As part of an effort to understand the status of NNSA's actions to address contract management challenges, GAO was asked to review NNSA's work authorization process and documentation. This report examines NNSA's (1) efforts to improve its work authorization process, and (2) use of WAs in its contractor performance evaluation process."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-10
COVID-19: Lessons Learned from Interior and Treasury's Administration of Cares Act Funds Could Improve Federal Emergency Relief to Tribes, Report to Congressional Committees

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From the Highlights: "GAO [United States Government Accountability Office] has previously found that COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] disproportionately harmed the public health and economies of tribal nations in the U.S. In March 2020, the CARES Act [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act] appropriated over $9 billion for federal programs for tribes and their members--this amount included $8 billion for Treasury's CRF [Community Reinvestment Fund] Tribal Set-Aside and $453 million for Interior's OIP [Operation of Indian Programs] (CARES Act funds). The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO to report on its ongoing monitoring and oversight efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report is part of that body of work. It examines (1) approaches Interior and Treasury took to distribute CARES Act funds to tribes and steps necessary for tribes to access and use these funds, and (2) challenges the agencies and selected tribes faced and lessons learned that could improve future federal emergency relief to tribes."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-10
Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women: New Efforts Are Underway but Opportunities Exist to Improve the Federal Response, Report to Congressional Requesters

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From the Highlights: "According to researchers, AI/AN [American Indian and Alaska Native] women in the U.S. experience higher rates of violence than most other women, and tribal and federal officials have stated that this incidence of violence constitutes a crisis. Various federal officials and tribal stakeholders have raised concerns about challenges with cross-jurisdictional cooperation and a lack of comprehensive national data on cases. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the federal response to the missing or murdered AI/AN women crisis. This report examines the extent to which (1) the number of missing or murdered AI/AN women in the U.S. is known and (2) DOJ [ Department of Justice] and DOI [Department of the Interior] have taken steps to address the crisis."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-10
Critical Infrastructure Protection: Education Should Take Additional Steps to Help Protect K-12 Schools from Cyber Threats, Report to Congressional Requesters

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From the Highlights: "When the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic forced the closure of schools across the nation, many K-12 [kindergarten through twelfth grade] schools moved from in-person to remote education, increasing their dependence on IT [information technology] and making them potentially more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Education Facilities, including K-12 schools, is one of the nation's critical infrastructure subsectors. Several agencies have a role in protecting the subsector. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review cybersecurity in K-12 schools. The objective of this report is to determine the extent that federal agencies have assisted schools in protecting themselves from cyber threats. To do so, GAO identified laws and federal guidance that specify the roles and responsibilities of federal agencies to assist schools in protecting against cyber threats. GAO analyzed documentation of the types of products and services federal agencies have in place to identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover from attacks. In addition, GAO interviewed federal officials about such products and services they offer to K-12 schools."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-10
Nuclear Waste Cleanup: DOE Needs to Better Coordinate and Prioritize Its Research and Development Efforts, Report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives

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From the Highlights: "R&D [research and development] has played an essential role in EM [United States Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management]'s efforts to clean up massive amounts of contamination from decades of nuclear weapons production and energy research. Such R&D has led to safer, more efficient, and more effective cleanup approaches. Prior studies have found that investments in R&D could reduce the future costs of EM's cleanup efforts, which have increased by nearly $250 billion in the last 10 years. However, funding designated for nuclear cleanup R&D has declined since 2000. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review EM's R&D efforts. This report examines (1) how EM identifies cleanup-related R&D needs, (2) how and the extent to which EM coordinates R&D across the EM complex, and (3) the extent to which EM prioritizes cleanup-related R&D efforts. GAO reviewed DOE [United States Department of Energy] and EM documents and interviewed EM site and headquarters officials and national laboratory representatives. In addition, GAO compared EM's coordination of R&D to leading practices for collaboration and compared EM's efforts to prioritize R&D with GAO's risk-informed decision-making framework."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-10
Emergency Watershed Protection: Assistance Program Helps Meet Post-Disaster Needs and Could Be Improved with Additional Guidance, Report to Congressional Requesters

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From the Highlights: "Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters can damage watersheds, creating threats to life and property. According to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, extreme weather events in the United States are becoming more frequent and intense, in part due to climate change, which GAO [Government Accountability Office] has reported poses a significant fiscal risk to the federal government. USDA's EWP [Emergency Watershed Protection] program provides technical and financial assistance to help project sponsors relieve imminent threats to life and property created by natural disasters. Congress appropriated over $1.3 billion to the EWP program from fiscal years 2015 through 2020. GAO was asked to review the EWP program. This report (1) describes the process through which USDA provides assistance under the EWP program and (2) examines stakeholder perspectives on the EWP program, including any challenges and opportunities for improvement."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-10
Department of Homeland Security: Progress Made Strengthening Management Functions, but Work Remains, Statement of Chris Currie, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives

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From the Highlights: "The events of September 11, 2001, led to profound changes in government agendas, policies, and structures to confront homeland security threats. In 2003, DHS began operations, with missions to prevent terrorist attacks and reduce the country's vulnerability to future terrorism. GAO's [Government Accountability Office] High-Risk List identifies programs and operations (such as DHS's management functions) that are vulnerable to waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement, or in need of transformation. GAO's five criteria for removing areas from the High-Risk List guide the assessment of DHS's progress. This statement addresses DHS's progress and actions needed to strengthen its management functions. It is based on reports in GAO's high-risk series, including its most recent March 2021 update, as well as selected updates on DHS's efforts as of September 2021. For this work, GAO analyzed DHS documents and data and interviewed DHS officials."

United States. Government Accountability Office

Currie, Chris

2021-09-30
COVID-19: Reviewing Existing Policies Could Help Selected Agencies Better Prepare for Dedicated User Fee Revenue Fluctuations, Report to Congressional Committees

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From the Highlights: "Each year, federal agencies collect billions of dollars in dedicated user fee revenue from fees charged to users of federal goods and services, which are dedicated by law for a specific purpose or program. The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic disrupted critical government operations for agencies that rely on these revenues. The CARES Act [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act] included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the effects of the pandemic on public institutions of the U.S. This report examines how dedicated user fee revenues have changed since the onset of the pandemic and how selected agencies managed revenue changes related to the pandemic, among other objectives. To determine revenue changes, GAO compared dedicated user fee revenues in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to amounts from prior years. GAO selected three agencies to review-- FAA [Federal Aviation Administration], NPS [National Park Service], and USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services]--based on whether they relied on dedicated user fee revenue to a high (FAA and USCIS) or low (NPS) extent, among other factors. GAO interviewed officials at the selected agencies and reviewed relevant documents to determine how these agencies managed revenue changes, and compared those actions to internal control standards and leading practices for fee design."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-29
IT Modernization: HUD Needs to Improve Its Estimation and Oversight Practices for Single-Family Housing, Report to the Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives

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From the Highlights: "For many years, HUD [Department of Housing and Urban Development] has insured a portfolio of single-family mortgages worth over $1 trillion, relying on an outdated IT [information technology] infrastructure and manual processes. HUD has made several unsuccessful attempts to modernize IT in the past, leaving it dependent on legacy systems. In April 2019, FHA [Federal Housing Administration] and HUD's Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), initiated FHA Catalyst. GAO [s Government Accountability Office] was requested to review HUD's single-family housing modernization program. This report examines (1) the extent to which HUD has implemented leading practices for managing requirements and identifying and mitigating risks for FHA Catalyst, (2) the reliability of the program's estimated costs and schedule, and (3) the extent to which HUD has established effective oversight for the program. GAO compared FHA Catalyst documentation on requirements, risk, cost, schedule, and oversight to leading practices identified in the Capability Maturity Model Integration, and GAO's guides on cost, schedule, and investment management. GAO also interviewed FHA and OCIO officials."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-29
High-Performance Computing: Advances Made Towards Implementing the National Strategy, but Better Reporting and a More Detailed Plan Are Needed, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate

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From the Highlights: "In 2015, Executive Order 13702 established the NSCI [National Strategic Computing Initiative] to maximize the benefits of high-performance computing for economic competitiveness and scientific discovery. The order directed 10 agencies to implement the NSCI and pursue five strategic objectives, including accelerating delivery of a capable exascale computing system, which is anticipated to be at least three times more powerful than the current top-ranked system. The NSCI Executive Council, established by the executive order and co-chaired by OSTP [Office of Science and Technology Policy] and the Office of Management and Budget, issued a strategic plan in 2016, which was updated in 2020. GAO was asked to review the status of the NSCI. This report examines (1) agencies' efforts and OSTP's and agencies' reporting on progress towards meeting the objectives of the 2016 strategic plan and (2) the extent to which the 2020 strategic plan includes desirable characteristics of a national strategy. GAO analyzed key NSCI documents, administered a questionnaire to 10 NSCI agencies, and interviewed OSTP and other agency officials and nonfederal stakeholders."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-29
Highway Bridges: Federal Highway Administration Could Better Assist States with Information on Corrosion Practices, Report to Congressional Committees

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From the Highlights: "In 2021, U.S. bridges, including those on the NHS [National Highway System], were estimated to need billions of dollars in repairs, including efforts to mitigate the effects of corrosion. House Report 116-106 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the status of states' bridge corrosion-control planning. This report examines: (1) trends in the condition of bridges on the NHS and what is known about how corrosion affects bridge condition, (2) practices states use to address corrosion on NHS bridges and how selected states prioritize efforts to address corrosion, and (3) how FHWA [Federal Highway Administration] assists states in addressing bridge corrosion. GAO reviewed applicable statutes, regulations, guidance, and studies related to corrosion prevention and management, and analyzed data on NHS bridges. GAO selected five states--Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Rhode Island, and Wyoming--based on factors, such as the percentage of bridge deck area in good and poor condition and geographic diversity. Finally, GAO interviewed FHWA, state transportation, and various association officials and assessed FHWA's actions against internal controls for using quality information."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-28
COVID-19: Additional Risk Assessment Actions Could Improve HUD Oversight of CARES Act Funds, Report to Congressional Committees

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From the Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic and resulting economic downturn created housing instability for many families and individuals. Congress appropriated about $12.4 billion to HUD [Department of Housing and Urban Development] in CARES Act [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act] funds to prevent, prepare for, and respond to housing needs related to COVID-19. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has previously reported on HUD's persistent management challenges and noted the potential for these challenges to affect the implementation and oversight of HUD's COVID-19 response. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO to monitor the federal government's efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report examines HUD's actions to oversee its CARES Act funding and manage risks, and HUD's implementation and monitoring of the CARES Act funds of selected community development, homelessness, and rental assistance programs. GAO reviewed HUD documentation and analyzed HUD spending data, focusing on the four programs that received the most CARES Act funding. GAO also interviewed HUD officials and associations representing HUD funding recipients."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-28
COVID-19: Selected Agencies Overcame Technology Challenges to Support Telework but Need to Fully Assess Security Controls, Report to Congressional Addressees

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From the Highlights: "In response to the onset of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, in March 2020 the Office of Management and Budget directed federal agencies to maximize their use of telework to enable the workforce to remain safe while ensuring that government operations continue. Telework is essential to continuity of operations but also brings added cybersecurity risks. The 'CARES Act' [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act] contains a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to monitor the federal response to the pandemic. GAO was also asked to examine federal agencies' preparedness to support expanded telework. GAO's objectives were to determine (1) selected agencies' initial experiences in providing the IT [information technology] needed to support remote access for maximum telework and (2) the extent to which selected agencies followed federal information security guidance for their IT systems that provide remote access. GAO selected 12 agencies for review that varied in their percentages of reported employee telework use and sent a questionnaire to solicit these agencies' perspectives on the use of IT in transitioning to maximum telework. GAO also reviewed the selected agencies' information security documentation and interviewed relevant officials."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-28
DOD Software Acquisition: Status of and Challenges Related to Reform Efforts, Report to Congressional Committees

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From the Highlights: "GAO [Government Accountability Office] reported in June 2021 that DOD planned to invest over $1.8 trillion to acquire its costliest new weapon systems. DOD is also investing billions more in IT [information technology] systems and capabilities. The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 included a provision for GAO to brief congressional defense committees on DOD's implementation of software acquisition reforms for certain systems and activities. This report summarizes past GAO findings about the extent to which DOD implemented required or recommended software acquisition reforms for weapon and business systems. Other elements of the provision will be addressed in future work. For this report, GAO reviewed its June 2021 assessments of DOD weapon and major business IT systems, as well as other relevant prior work. GAO also identified software acquisition reforms initiated in response to recent statutory mandates. No new audit work was conducted for this report."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-28
U.S. Postal Service: Better Use of Climate Data Could Enhance the Climate Resilience of Postal Facilities, Report to Congressional Requesters

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From the Highlights: "USPS [United States Postal Service] has one of the largest asset portfolios in the United States. Its post offices and other facilities are essential to the processing and delivery of mail, which millions of Americans rely on for communication and commerce. Weather-related natural disasters resulting from extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, can damage USPS's facilities and present financial and operational risks. According to a recent study, some extreme weather events are projected to become more frequent and intense due to climate change. Investing in climate resilience--taking actions to reduce potential damage by planning for extreme weather events--can help to manage climate change risks. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the climate resilience of USPS's facilities. This report addresses: (1) how USPS's facilities have been affected by recent weather-related natural disasters; (2) the extent to which USPS's facilities may be affected by climate change effects; and (3) the extent to which USPS has taken steps to incorporate climate resilience into its facilities. GAO analyzed USPS facilities' data and financial data as well as federal climate data; reviewed prior GAO work on climate resilience, the 'Fourth National Climate Assessment,' USPS policies and facility inspection reports; and interviewed USPS officials."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-27
COVID-19: Defense-Wide Working Capital Fund Cash Management and Defense Logistics Agency Pandemic Response

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From the Document: "This report responds to a request from the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee that we review DOD's management of the Defense-Wide Working Capital Fund's (DWWCF) cash balance and DLA's [Defense Logistics Agency] response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, and is also part of our body of work in response to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). We briefed congressional committees on our work in July, August, and September 2021."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-22
Workforce Diversity: Analysis of Federal Data Shows Hispanics Are Underrepresented in the Media Industry

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From the Document: "As the U.S. population has become more diverse, many media companies have come to recognize the importance of employing a diverse workforce and reflecting diverse perspectives on screen and in print. However, news reports, studies, and policymakers have raised ongoing questions about racial and ethnic diversity in the media industry, including for Hispanic workers. [...] To describe representation of Hispanics within the media industry, we analyzed workforce data from the annual American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) from the Census Bureau and from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) annual Employer Information Reports (EEO-1)."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-21
Veterans Justice Outreach Program: Further Actions to Identify and Address Barriers to Participation Would Promote Access to Services, Report to Congressional Committees

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From the Highlights: "In response to the Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) data show the agency hired 51 Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) specialists, though VA completed its hiring and reporting after the statute's deadline. The program relies on nearly 400 VJO specialists-- primarily social workers--who work with jails and municipal courts to identify and assess the needs of arrested or incarcerated veterans, and connect them to VA health care services. In addition, VA's reporting to Congress lacked required information, such as the number of veterans who lack access to VJO specialists. Although VA does not collect these data, VJO program officials said that future research will help them estimate this number. VA has identified and taken some steps to address barriers that veterans may face in accessing VJO specialists and receiving services. GAO [Government Accountability Office] additionally found that veterans with other-than-honorable discharges--often at greater risk of mental health issues and suicide--may not know they are eligible under a 2020 VA policy that extends mental health care services to certain members of this subgroup. In addition, this policy change and newly available services are not reflected in training for VJO specialists. As a result, veterans may not meet with VJO specialists and miss an opportunity to get help accessing VA's health care services."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-14
Federal Real Property Asset Management: Additional Direction in Government-Wide Guidance Could Enhance Natural Disaster Resilience, Report to Congressional Requesters

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From the Highlights: "The federal government spends billions of dollars each year to manage real property assets, such as buildings, levees, and roads. The rising frequency and severity of natural disasters expose these assets to damage and the government to fiscal liabilities. In 2020, the United States experienced 22 separate billion-dollar natural disasters. As the owner of real property assets, federal agencies can enhance the natural disaster resilience of real property through asset management. This can include actions to prepare for disasters. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to determine how agencies prevent or reduce damage to real property caused by natural disasters. This report addresses (1) how selected agencies have incorporated natural disaster resilience into their assets and (2) the extent to which government-wide guidance directs agencies to incorporate natural disaster resilience into asset management. To conduct this work, GAO reviewed key characteristics and principles for asset management and natural disaster resilience from GAO's prior work; reviewed agency documents; interviewed officials from four selected agencies that owned a large number of assets (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, General Services Administration, National Park Service, and FWS [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]); and reviewed OMB [Office of Management and Budget] guidance. GAO recommends that OMB direct agencies to incorporate assessments of natural disaster risk information, such as from vulnerability assessments, into asset management investment decisions. OMB had no comments on this recommendation."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-14
Public Transportation: Identifying Lessons Learned Could Help Improve FTA's Process to Manage Safety Risks, Report to Congressional Requesters

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From the Highlights: "In recent years, new laws gave the Department of Transportation's FTA [Federal Transit Administration] additional requirements and authorities to oversee transit safety. In turn, FTA now requires, among other things, transit agencies to develop new safety plans that incorporate SMS [Safety Management Systems] to manage and mitigate safety risk. FTA also incorporated SMS in its transit agency oversight to better identify and assess safety risks, and determine appropriate mitigation efforts, including mandatory safety standards. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine how FTA is implementing its new responsibilities and authorities. This report examines (1) selected transit agencies' experiences in incorporating SMS in their new safety plans; (2) steps FTA is taking to identify, assess, and mitigate safety risks; and (3) FTA's status on mandating safety standards and stakeholders' views on the benefits and challenges of such standards. GAO reviewed FTA documents on safety oversight policies and practices and interviewed officials from 12 transit agencies and their 9 respective state oversight agencies. GAO selected transit agencies to reflect a variety of modes, sizes, age, and geographic diversity. GAO recommends that FTA identify and document lessons learned from the camera pilot, including a plan to implement needed changes. DOT [Department of Transportation] concurred with this recommendation and provided technical changes to the draft report, which we incorporated as appropriate."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-14
Science & Tech Spotlight: Advanced Plastic Recycling

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From the Document: "Plastics are found in many everyday items--including food packaging, water bottles, bags, and appliances. They are largely made from fossil fuel-based chemicals combined with various additives--such as stabilizers or flame retardants--to achieve a desired result (e.g., strength, rigidity, color, heat resistance). The majority of plastic waste in the U.S. ends up in landfills, with a relatively small portion incinerated and an even smaller portion recycled. The accumulating plastic waste in landfills generally does not biodegrade or break down. Plastic recycling technologies reprocess or remanufacture plastic waste for reuse. Currently, the dominant technology for plastic recycling is mechanical recycling, which uses physical processes--such as sorting, grinding, washing, separating, drying, and re-granulating--to recover plastics that can be substituted for virgin, or new, plastics. However, mechanical recycling technology is expensive, labor intensive, and generally results in lower quality plastics than virgin plastics. Consequently, industry is considering advanced recycling technologies-- namely, chemical recycling--as an alternative or complement to mechanical recycling. Chemical recycling technologies use heat, chemical reactions, or both, to recycle used plastic into virgin-equivalent plastic, fuel, or other chemicals. In addition, recent advances in sorting technology--one of the physical processes common to both chemical and mechanical recycling technologies--may also increase the efficiency of chemical recycling and lead to increased plastic recycling. For example, artificial intelligence technologies have the potential to increase automated sorting efficiency. Similarly, another advanced technology efficiently sorts materials by identifying their molecular vibrations."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-14
Post-Government Employment Restrictions: DOD Could Further Enhance Its Compliance Efforts Related to Former Employees Working for Defense Contractors, Report to Congressional Committees

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From the Highlights: "Each year, civilian and military personnel leave DOD and go to work for contractors that do business with DOD. These individuals are potentially covered by laws restricting their new employment activities. The laws--some of which include penalties for violations--seek in part to protect against conflicts of interest and to promote public trust in the integrity of the government's decision-making processes, which facilitate the award of contracts worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually. The conference report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to update its 2008 report on major defense contractors' recent employment of former DOD officials. This report (1) identifies the extent to which major defense contractors employed potentially covered ex-DOD officials in 2019, and (2) examines practices DOD and contractors use related to contractors hiring former DOD officials. GAO reviewed and surveyed 14 selected defense contractors with obligations above a certain dollar threshold. GAO also reviewed DOD documentation, and interviewed agency officials and contractor representatives. GAO recommends that DOD assess whether to incorporate recent lobbying prohibitions into its acquisition regulations. DOD concurred with the recommendation."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-09
Technology Assessment: Exposure Notification, Benefits and Challenges of Smartphone Applications to Augment Contact Tracing, Report to Congressional Addressees

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From the Highlights: "With the emergence and rapid global spread of COVID-19 [[coronavirus disease 2019], smartphone apps have been developed to supplement manual contact tracing, which is a public health measure used to slow the spread of infectious disease. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to conduct a technology assessment of exposure notification apps. This report discusses (1) the benefits of exposure notification apps; (2) the current level of deployment in the U.S.; (3) challenges affecting their use; and (4) policy options that may help address these challenges for future use. To address these objectives, GAO reviewed agency documentation, met with officials from several federal agencies, and conducted a review of technical and policy literature. GAO also interviewed representatives from companies involved in the development of exposure notification apps, public health organizations, federally funded research and development centers, and academic researchers. In addition, GAO analyzed information from a selection of states. GAO is identifying policy options in this report. GAO received technical comments on a draft of this report from five federal agencies and five organizations included in the review, which it incorporated as appropriate."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09-09
Health Care Capsule: Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

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From the Document: "Health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease, or in opportunities to achieve optimal health experienced by socially disadvantaged racial, ethnic, and other population groups. This capsule pulls together information from past GAO [Government Accountability Office] reports to provide examples of health disparities, barriers that can contribute to disparities, and federal efforts to address these disparities."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09
Government Performance Management: Key Considerations for Implementing Cross-Agency Priority Goals and Progress Addressing GAO Recommendations, Report to Congressional Committees

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From the Highlights: "The nation faces unprecedented challenges that require the federal government to perform better, be more responsive to the American people, and achieve greater results. GPRAMA [GPRA [Government Performance Results Act of 1993] Modernization Act of 2010] provides important tools that can help decision makers address crosscutting challenges facing the federal government. GPRAMA includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to periodically report on the act's implementation. This report (1) identifies key considerations that can facilitate CAP [cross-agency priority] goal implementation; and (2) assesses OMB [Office of Management and Budget]'s and agencies' progress in addressing GAO recommendations related to GPRAMA."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09
Aircraft Noise: FAA Could Improve Outreach Through Enhanced Noise Metrics, Communication, and Support to Communities, Report to Congressional Requesters

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From the Highlights: "As part of its effort to modernize the National Airspace System, FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] has been implementing new flight paths using satellite-based navigation, called PBN [performance-based navigation], at airports across the country. GAO [Government Accountability Office] reviewed FAA's implementation of PBN with regard to noise and FAA's related public outreach activities. This report discusses: (1) how FAA assesses potential noise impacts for proposed PBN changes; (2) the extent to which FAA's noise impact analysis conveys expected changes; and (3) FAA's community outreach related to PBN and actions to improve this outreach."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09
Addressing Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication: Progress in Enhancing Government Effectiveness and Achieving Hundreds of Billions of Dollars in Financial Benefits, Report to Congressional Addressees

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From the Highlights: "The federal government continues to respond to and recover from significant public health and economic challenges battling the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. While the size and scope of these efforts demand strong accountability and continued agility, opportunities also exist for achieving billions of dollars in financial savings and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of a wide range of federal programs in other areas. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has responded with annual reports to a statutory provision directing it to identify and report on federal programs, agencies, offices, and initiatives--either within departments or government-wide. These entities and initiatives have duplicative, overlapping, or fragmented goals or activities, as well as additional opportunities to achieve cost savings or enhance revenue collection. This report discusses the progress Congress and executive branch agencies have made in addressing actions GAO identified in its 2011 to 2021 reports. Additionally, the report provides examples of open actions where further steps by Congress and executive branch agencies could yield significant financial and non-financial benefits."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-09

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