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Overstay Enforcement: Additional Mechanisms for Collecting, Assessing, and Sharing Data Could Strengthen DHS's Efforts but Would Have Costs, Report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "According to Pew Hispanic Center estimates, approximately 4 million to 5.5 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States entered the country legally on a temporary basis but then overstayed their authorized periods of admission--referred to as overstays. As requested, GAO [Government Accountability Office] examined the extent to which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (1) takes action to address overstays and its reported results; and (2) identifies overstays and shares this information among its border security and immigration enforcement components. GAO reviewed relevant documents, such as standard operating procedures, DHS guidance, and overstay investigations data from fiscal years 2006 through 2010; interviewed officials from DHS components; and visited 6 DHS field offices and 12 ports of entry based on geographic dispersion, among other factors. The results of these visits are not generalizable, but provided insights into DHS operations. [...] GAO recommends, among other things, that DHS establish a time frame for completing overstay enforcement planning, performance measurement mechanisms, and, if benefits outweigh costs, a mechanism for collecting departure forms at land borders and alerts for additional categories of overstays. DHS concurred with our recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2011-04-15
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Research Reliability: Federal Actions Needed to Promote Stronger Research Practices, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "In 2019, the U.S. government funded more than $42 billion in basic scientific research across a wide range of scientific disciplines. Unsuccessful attempts to reproduce and replicate research results have been documented across many scientific disciplines, including those funded by NASA, NIH [National Institutes of Health], and NSF [National Science Foundation]. The scientific community has expressed concern over the difficulty of replicating prior research results. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review strategies to improve the reliability of federally funded research. Among other things, this report (1) examines what actions, according to experts, federal agencies could take to foster rigor and transparency in the research they fund; and (2) assesses the extent to which selected federal science funding agencies have taken actions to improve rigor and transparency."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07
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Cloud Computing: DOD Needs to Improve Workforce Planning and Software Application Modernization, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In fiscal year 2022, DOD plans to spend approximately $38.6 billion on unclassified IT investments. To help drive cloud adoption, OMB [Office of Management and Budget] requires agencies to modernize, retire, or consolidate their portfolios of software applications--a process known as application rationalization. OMB also requires agencies to use TBM [Technology Business Management] to categorize IT [information technology] and cloud-related spending. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess DOD's reported use of cloud services. This report examines the extent to which (1) DOD's planned cloud strategy addresses key requirements in OMB's federal cloud strategy, (2) the department has plans for developing and implementing an enterprise-wide application rationalization process, and (3) DOD is using TBM to track and report spending data for cloud services."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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Persistent Chemicals: Technologies for PFAS Assessment, Detection, and Treatment, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "PFAS [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances] are a large group of heat and stain resistant chemicals, first developed in the 1940s. PFAS are used in a wide range of products, including carpet, nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, and firefighting foam used at airports and military bases. PFAS can persist in the environment, including in water, soil, and air, for decades or longer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that most people in the U.S. have been exposed to two of the most widely studied PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Both have been linked to human health problems. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to conduct a technology assessment on PFAS assessment, detection, and treatment. This report examines (1) technologies for more efficient assessments of the adverse health effects of PFAS and alternative substances; (2) the benefits and challenges of current and emerging technologies for PFAS detection and treatment; and (3) policy options that could help enhance benefits and mitigate challenges associated with these technologies."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07
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Coast Guard: Actions Needed to Enhance IT Program Implementation, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The U.S. Coast Guard, a component of the Department of Homeland Security, relies extensively on IT [information technology] systems and services to carry out its 11 statutory missions. It also relies on operational technology, which encompasses a broad range of programmable systems or devices that interact with the physical environment, such as sensors and radar. Historically, the Coast Guard has had longstanding issues managing its technology resources. As such, it plans to spend $93 million to improve the reliability and performance of these resources in fiscal year 2022. The 'William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021' included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review several aspects of the Coast Guard's IT program. This report addresses, among other things, the extent to which the Coast Guard (1) has a process to plan for network capacity; (2) has cybersecurity risk management processes for IT and for operational technology; and (3) has incorporated federal requirements in its strategy for cloud computing."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07
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Air Travel and Communicable Diseases: Federal Leadership Needed to Advance Research, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has intensified ongoing concerns about air travel's role in spreading disease and raised questions about the safety of passengers and crew. Research that could provide quality information on communicable diseases in air travel can help to protect public health. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to monitor and report on federal efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. GAO was also asked to review research on disease transmission in air travel. This report examines: (1) the status of research on communicable diseases in air travel, including stakeholders' views on additional needed research and challenges to conducting it, and (2) the extent to which FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] and other federal agencies are advancing such research."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07
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Credit Reform: Transparency Needed for Evaluation of Potential Federal Involvement in Projects Seeking Loans, Report to the Chairman, Committee on the Budget, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "FCRA [Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990] was enacted to improve the accuracy of the cost of federal credit programs reported in the federal budget, among other things. It requires agencies to measure the government's cost of federal credit programs over the length of a loan. This facilitates better cost comparisons between credit and noncredit programs. FCRA applies only to loans and loan guarantees made to non-federal borrowers. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review how the non-federal borrower concept is applied in practice. This report examines (1) OMB's [Office of Management and Budget] policies for evaluating whether federal loan programs would potentially fund a federal borrower or federal activities; and (2) processes that selected agencies--EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Transportation--use to screen loan applications for potential federal activities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07
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U.S. Courts: Action Needed to Improve IT Management and Establish a Chief Information Officer, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts relies on IT [information technology] systems to manage information to support its lines of business. These lines of business include case management, court administration, and probation and pretrial services. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the Office's IT management. This report evaluates, among other things, the extent to which the Office (1) implemented selected leading IT workforce planning and management practices, (2) implemented selected best practices for planning and managing IT projects, and (3) has a CIO [Chief Information Officer] with the authority to exercise enterprise control and oversight of the Office's IT workforce and project portfolio."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07
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Information Management: Additional Actions Are Needed to Meet Requirements of the Managing Government Records Directive, Report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "The federal government collects large amounts of information, increasingly in electronic form, to accomplish its missions. This greater reliance on electronic communication and information technology systems has, as a result, radically increased the information that agencies must manage. In 2012, NARA [National Archives and Records Administration] and OMB [Office of Management and Budget] issued a directive to reform federal records management in response to a 2011 presidential memorandum on managing government records. The directive requires federal agencies, NARA, OMB, and OPM [Office of Personnel Management] to take actions toward reforming records management policies and practices. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was requested to evaluate federal agencies' implementation of the directive. GAO's objectives were to (1) assess the extent to which federal agencies have taken the actions called for in the directive and (2) determine the extent to which OPM, OMB, and NARA have taken actions called for in the directive. To do this, GAO reviewed policies, guidance, and other documentation of actions taken through December 31, 2014, by 24 selected federal agencies, NARA, and OMB, and interviewed the agencies' records management officials. GAO is making 10 recommendations to 5 federal agencies and NARA to ensure records management directive requirements on designating senior officials and identifying, reporting, and managing records are met. In commenting on a draft of this report, the agencies and NARA generally agreed with the recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-05-14
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Regulatory Guidance Processes: Selected Departments Could Strengthen Internal Control and Dissemination Practices, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Agencies rely on guidance to clarify regulatory text or statutes, to respond to the questions of affected parties in a timely way, and to inform the public about complex policy implementation topics. Unlike regulations, guidance is not legally binding. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine guidance processes at four departments. This report reviews how (1) agencies use guidance and decide to issue guidance rather than regulations; (2) follow applicable criteria and leading practices in their policies, procedures, and practices for producing guidance; and (3) agencies disseminate guidance to ensure public access and feedback. GAO reviewed guidance processes at all 25 components in the four departments that (1) were within the requesting committee's jurisdiction, and (2) engaged in regulatory or grant activities. GAO reviewed relevant requirements, written procedures, guidance and websites, and interviewed agency officials. GAO is recommending that HHS [Health and Human Services] and DOL [Department of Labor] ensure consistent application of OMB requirements for significant guidance. GAO also recommends that USDA, Department of Education, HHS, and DOL strengthen the use of internal controls in guidance production processes and improve online guidance dissemination. USDA, Education, HHS and DOL generally agreed with the recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-04-16
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USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Program: Volunteers Provide Technical Assistance, but Actions Needed to Improve Screening and Monitoring, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "First authorized in the 1985 Farm Bill, the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program leverages U.S. agricultural expertise by sending volunteers on short-term assignments to provide technical assistance to farmers, farm groups, and agribusinesses in developing and middle-income countries. During fiscal years 2009 through 2013, F2F funded about 2,984 volunteer assignments and obligated an average of $11.5 million annually. In the 2014 Farm Bill, Congress mandated that the GAO [Government Accountability Office] conduct a review of the F2F program. GAO examined (1) how the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) administers the program, (2) how partners implement volunteer assignments and screen volunteers, and (3) the extent to which USAID uses monitoring and evaluation to manage the program. To address these objectives, GAO reviewed program documents and met with USAID F2F officials and current implementing partners. In addition, we conducted fieldwork in two countries that we selected based on factors, including the number of volunteers assigned. GAO is recommending that USAID (1) ensure F2F partners screen volunteer candidates against terrorist watch lists, (2) develop guidance on the other types of background checks implementing partners should perform, (3) ensure that implementing partners systematically share negative volunteer assessment information, and (4) monitor the extent to which the objectives and activities in the scopes of work are accomplished. USAID concurred with GAO's recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-04-30
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Hanford Waste Treatment: DOE Needs to Evaluate Alternatives to Recently Proposed Projects and Address Technical and Management Challenges, Report to the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "The WTP [Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant] is a key part of DOE's [Department of Energy] strategy for treating 56 million gallons of radioactive waste held in underground tanks at the Hanford site in Washington State. The WTP is being constructed under a design-build contract and has a history of technical and management challenges. DOE stopped construction in 2012 on parts of the WTP, including the Pretreatment facility, pending resolution of these challenges and has stated that several milestones will likely be missed. In September 2013, DOE proposed a waste treatment strategy that may allow some waste to be treated before resolving WTP's technical issues, including construction of two new facilities. Senate Report 113-44 accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to examine the status of construction and operations at the WTP. This report examines (1) how DOE's two new proposed facilities help achieve Hanford's waste treatment mission and how they were selected, (2) the extent to which DOE's estimated costs and schedules for constructing the facilities meet best practices for reliable estimates, and (3) the extent to which technical and management challenges continue to affect the WTP. GAO reviewed DOE and contractor data and documents. GAO recommendations include that DOE (1) broaden the facilities' statements of mission need to allow for a full analysis of alternatives, (2) revise the facilities' cost and schedule estimates in accordance with industry best practices, and (3) enlist the services of an external entity to assist with oversight of the WTP contractor. DOE generally agreed with GAO's recommendations but not some of the conclusions. GAO continues to believe its conclusions are fair and well supported."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-05-07
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Oil and Gas Resources: Interior's Production Verigication Efforts and Royalty Data Have Improved, but Further Actions Needed, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "Production of oil and natural gas from leased federal lands and waters is a significant source of revenue for the federal government--accounting for almost $48 billion for fiscal years 2009 through 2013. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has issued many reports on Interior's management of federal oil and gas resources, including its programs for verifying oil and gas production volumes and ensuring accurate royalty collections. These reports raised questions about whether the government was collecting all the revenue it was due and included 36 recommendations to strengthen royalty collection, among other things. In 2011, GAO added Interior's management of federal oil and gas resources to its list of programs at high risk of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. GAO was asked to review Interior's efforts to improve verification of oil and gas produced from federal leases and the accuracy of royalty data. This report examines efforts Interior has taken since fiscal year 2009 and the reasonableness and completeness of Interior's royalty data. GAO reviewed relevant laws, regulations, and guidance; analyzed Interior data for fiscal years 2009 through 2013; and interviewed Interior officials. GAO recommends that Interior meet its established time frames for updating its onshore measurement regulations, reconvene its gas and oil measurement team, and schedule and complete the review of the implementation of its commingling agreement guidance, among other things. Interior generally concurred with GAO's recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-04-07
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DOD Operational Testing: Oversight Has Resulted in Few Significant Disputes and Limited Program Cost and Schedule Increases, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "DOD conducts extensive operational testing and evaluation of its military systems prior to full-rate production and fielding. The Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) plays an integral role in operational test and evaluation by issuing policy and procedures, overseeing operational test planning, and independently evaluating and reporting test results. At times, DOT&E and acquisition programs may disagree about what is needed to adequately demonstrate operational capability, which sometimes may affect programs' cost or schedule. The Joint Explanatory Statement to Accompany the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 directed GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review DOT&E's oversight activities. This report examines (1) the extent to which DOD acquisition programs have had significant disputes, if any, with DOT&E over operational testing, and (2) the circumstances and impact of identified disputes. GAO evaluated documentation and interviewed officials from DOT&E, other DOD test organizations, and the acquisition community. GAO also conducted 10 case studies from among 42 programs identified by military service officials as having had significant disputes with DOT&E. GAO analyzed information received from acquisition and testing officials to verify the merits and degree of those disputes. Based on this assessment, GAO selected case studies that were representative of the most significant disputes identified across the military services."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-06-02
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National Highways: Analysis of Available Data Could Better Ensure Equitable Pavement Condition, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The National Highway System is key to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility. It comprises approximately 220,000 miles of roads and accounts for about 54 percent of all vehicle miles traveled. Poor pavement condition on National Highway System roads could pose safety issues and impede the flow of traffic. House Report 116-106 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review issues related to pavement condition of the National Highway System. This report assesses the extent to which: (1) pavement condition varies on the National Highway System and (2) FHWA [Federal Highway Administration] assesses National Highway System pavement condition within states, such as at the local level."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07
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Federal Budget: Selected Agencies and Programs Used Strategies to Manage Constraints of Continuing Resolutions, Report to Congressional Requestors
From the Highlights: "In all but 3 of the last 46 fiscal years, Congress enacted a CR [continuing resolution]. This allowed federal agencies and programs to continue operations when Congress and the President had not reached agreement on and enacted their regular appropriations by the start of the federal fiscal year. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review how CRs affect federal agencies and programs. This report describes (1) the history and characteristics of CRs for fiscal years 2010 through 2022 and (2) how selected agency and program operations and services to the public have been affected by CRs, as well as the actions taken to mitigate these effects. GAO reviewed enacted CR legislation and selected agency- and program-specific documents. GAO selected three agencies and programs based on criteria such as whether they provide benefits and services to individuals with low incomes and receive the majority of their funds through discretionary, 1-year appropriations. The three agencies and programs selected were USDA's [United States Department of Agriculture] Section 521 Rural Rental Assistance, Education's PBI [Predominantly Black Institutions] Formula Grants, and HHS' [Department of Health and Human Services's] LIHEAP [Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program]. GAO interviewed selected agency budget officials, program staff, and a nongeneralizable sample of program recipients and national organizations that represent program recipients."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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Nuclear Waste Cleanup: Hanford Site Cleanup Costs Continue to Rise, but Opportunities Exist to Save Tens of Billions of Dollars
From the Document: "The Hanford Site in Washington State is home to one of the largest environmental cleanup projects in the world. It comprises a 586-square-mile campus established in 1943 to conduct research on and produce weapons-grade nuclear materials. After these activities ceased in the late 1980s, the Department of Energy (DOE) began cleanup of the resulting hazardous and radioactive waste. This waste includes 54 million gallons of liquids and sludge stored in 177 large underground waste storage tanks at the site. This waste must be retrieved and treated (immobilized) before disposal, according to legal requirements and agreements made with federal and state environmental regulators. Other cleanup activities at the site include decommissioning old facilities and decontaminating soil and groundwater. In 2022, DOE estimated that completing cleanup of the entire site would cost between $300 billion and $640 billion and take decades.1 Over the last 5 fiscal years, the site has received annual appropriations of about $2.4 billion to $2.6 billion. DOE manages the Hanford cleanup through two separate offices: the Office of River Protection, which oversees the tank waste cleanup mission, and the Richland Operations Office, which oversees site cleanup not related to the waste in the tanks. For each of the last 5 fiscal years, the tank waste mission received appropriations of about $1.6 billion dollars, while the Richland Operations Office received about $0.9 billion."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07-29
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Countering Violent Extremism: Actions Needed to Define Strategy and Assess Progress of Federal Efforts, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Violent extremism--generally defined as ideologically, religious, or politically-motivated acts of violence--has been perpetrated in the United States by white supremacists, anti-government groups, and radical Islamist entities, among others. In 2011, the U.S. government developed a national strategy and SIP [Strategic Implementation Plan] for CVE [countering violent extremism] aimed at providing information and resources to communities. In 2016, an interagency CVE Task Force led by DHS and DOJ [U.S. Department of Justice] was created to coordinate CVE efforts. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review domestic federal CVE efforts. This report addresses the extent to which (1) DHS, DOJ, and other key stakeholders tasked with CVE in the United States have implemented the 2011 SIP and (2) the federal government has developed a strategy to implement CVE activities, and the CVE Task Force has assessed progress. GAO assessed the status of activities in the 2011 SIP; interviewed officials from agencies leading CVE efforts and a non-generalizable group of community-based entities selected from cities with CVE frameworks; and compared Task Force activities to selected best practices for multi- agency efforts. [...] GAO recommends that DHS and DOJ direct the CVE Task Force to (1) develop a cohesive strategy with measurable outcomes and (2) establish a process to assess the overall progress of CVE efforts. DHS and DOJ concurred with both recommendations and DHS described the CVE Task Force's planned actions for implementation."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2017-04-06
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K-12 Education: Student Population Has Significantly Diversified, but Many Schools Remain Divided Along Racial, Ethnic, and Economic Lines, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "It is widely recognized that a history of discriminatory practices has contributed to inequities in education, intertwined with disparities in wealth, income, and housing. Because district boundaries typically define the schools a student can attend and public education is partially funded by local property tax revenues, lower-income communities generally have fewer resources available for schools. For example, GAO previously reported that students who are poor, Black, and Hispanic generally attend schools with fewer resources and worse outcomes. GAO was asked to examine the prevalence and growth of segregation in K-12 [kindergarten through twelfth grade] public schools. This report examined the extent of (1) racial, ethnic, and economic divisions in K-12 public schools, and (2) district secession and any resulting student demographic shifts. To determine the extent of divisions along racial, ethnic, and economic lines in schools, GAO analyzed demographic data from Education's Common Core of Data by school type, region, and community type, covering school years 2014-15 to 2020-21, the most recent available data since GAO last reported on this topic in 2016. To identify the number and location of districts that seceded from school year 2009-10 through 2019-20, GAO analyzed and compared school district data from the Common Core of Data for the new and remaining districts in the year after secession to identify and describe any differences in demographic and socioeconomic characteristics."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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Social Security Disability, SSA Expedited Most Critical Cases at Hearings Level but Lacks Consistent Policy Implementation, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Individuals who do not agree with an initial decision on a claim for Social Security disability benefits can appeal and eventually receive a hearing before an administrative law judge. SSA [Social Security Administration] prioritizes certain disability appeals as critical for medical or financial reasons in order to resolve them more quickly. From fiscal years 2010 through 2020, SSA identified about 425,000 critical cases out of over 7 million appeals at the hearings level. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review challenges that disability applicants who file appeals face. GAO examined (1) how SSA identifies critical cases at the hearings level and (2) the extent to which SSA expedites these cases. [...] GAO is making two recommendations: that SSA (1) review the use of documentation of dire needs situations for consistency and (2) examine its handling of cases that indicate homelessness, eviction, or other critical need, to ensure these are expedited in accordance with policy. SSA agreed with our recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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Maritime Infrastructure: A Strategic Approach and Interagency Leadership Could Improve Federal Efforts in the U.S. Arctic, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "Arctic sea ice has diminished, lengthening the navigation season and increasing opportunities for maritime shipping. However, the U.S. Arctic lacks maritime infrastructure--such as a deep-draft port and comprehensive nautical charting--to support increased traffic. The lack of infrastructure exacerbates risks inherent to shipping in the Arctic such as vast distances and dangerous weather. This report examines (1) how U.S. Arctic shipping trends have changed since 2009 and factors that have shaped shipping in the region, and (2) the extent to which U.S. agencies' efforts to address Arctic maritime infrastructure gaps have aligned with leading management practices. GAO [Government Accountability Office] collected U.S. Coast Guard traffic data from 2009 through 2019 and interviewed 20 stakeholders selected to represent a range of views. GAO also analyzed Arctic strategies, interviewed selected agencies involved with maritime infrastructure, and compared efforts to leading management practices."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-04
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Federal Research Centers: Revising DOD Oversight Policy Could Assure Access to Performance and Effectiveness Information, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "FFRDCs [Federally Funded Research and Development Centers] are intended to meet DOD's long-term research and development needs that cannot be met effectively by the department or private sector alone. DOD historically awards FFRDC contracts on a sole-source basis (i.e., noncompetitively). Some industry representatives have raised questions about this approach, stating that others could provide similar support to DOD. An explanatory statement included a provision for GAO to review DOD-sponsored FFRDCs. This report describes the analyses DOD conducts to justify the award of sole-source FFRDC contracts, and assesses the extent to which DOD oversight includes an evaluation of FFRDC performance and effectiveness. GAO reviewed relevant federal and defense regulations, documents, and guidance; interviewed relevant officials; and analyzed contracting documents."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07
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Healthy Eating: Government-Wide Solutions for Promoting Healthy Diets, Food Safety, and Food Security
From the Highlights: "Each year, millions of people in the U.S. die from diet-related chronic health conditions, get sick from foodborne illnesses, or go hungry. We have recommended a government-wide approach to addressing these widespread and often preventable food-related challenges."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07-19
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Tribal Broadband: National Strategy and Coordination Framework Needed to Increase Access, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Broadband is critical to modern life. Despite federal efforts, broadband access on tribal lands has traditionally lagged behind the rest of the country. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review federal efforts for improving broadband on tribal lands. This report examines: (1) the extent to which federal funding programs have supported the deployment of broadband infrastructure on tribal lands; (2) barriers tribes and providers face in accessing federally funded programs to serve tribal lands; and (3) the extent to which federal agencies focus on tribal issues related to broadband access."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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Preventing a Dirty Bomb: Vulnerabilities Persist in NRC's Controls for Purchases of High-Risk Radioactive Materials, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Radioactive materials are commonly used throughout the U.S. in technological devices for medical, industrial, and research purposes. However, these materials, if used improperly, can be harmful and dangerous. For example, in the hands of terrorists, even a small amount could be used to construct a radiological dispersal device, also known as a dirty bomb. A dirty bomb uses conventional explosives to spread radioactive material. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review NRC's [Nuclear Regulatory Commission] license verification system for high-risk radioactive materials. This report examines (1) the effectiveness of NRC's license verification system for ensuring that high-risk radioactive materials are not purchased using a forged or altered license and (2) vulnerabilities that could affect NRC's ability to verify licenses for the purchase of high-risk radioactive material."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07
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Maritime Cargo Security: CBP Should Provide Additional Guidance for Certain Non-Containerized Cargo Inspections, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "In 2020, non-containerized cargo accounted for about 32 percent of the $1.5 trillion total maritime cargo value. Non-containerized cargo includes goods, such as liquids, grains, and those transported individually or packaged and shipped on pallets or crates. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review CBP's [U.S. Customs and Border Protection 's] policies and procedures for securing non-containerized maritime cargo. This report examines the extent to which CBP's inspections of inbound non-containerized maritime cargo vary across selected U.S. seaports. GAO reviewed CBP policies, procedures, and documentation for inspecting inbound non-containerized maritime cargo. GAO also interviewed CBP headquarters and field officials to gather information about how the agency implemented the policies and procedures. This included interviewing officials from a non-generalizable sample of 11 U.S. seaports and four field offices. GAO selected seaports that varied based on port size (i.e. total volume of cargo processed), types of non-containerized maritime cargo processed, and geographic location. [...] GAO recommends that CBP (1) identify additional actions that CBP personnel at seaports should take to address the identified risks of crated cargo and (2) update national maritime cargo processing guidance to reflect the identified actions. The Department of Homeland Security concurred with these recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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State Department: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Workplace Diversity and Inclusion, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "State leaders have highlighted the importance of fostering an inclusive workforce that reflects the diversity of the U.S. State has made efforts to increase DEIA [diversity,
equity, inclusion, and accessibility]. However, in January 2020, GAO [Government Accountability Office] found that State continued to face longstanding diversity issues. These included underrepresentation of historically disadvantaged racial or ethnic groups and women in the senior ranks. Federal guidance requires State to systematically identify, assess, and remove barriers to equal participation in its workforce and to report on such barriers annually. GAO was asked to review issues related to State's DEIA efforts. This report examines (1) the extent to which State's actions address leading practices for managing diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and (2) the extent to which State has taken steps to identify, investigate, and eliminate barriers to workforce diversity since January 2020."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07
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Foreign Assistance: State and USAID Are Taking Actions to Advance Equity Abroad and Mitigate Challenges, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "The President issued several executive orders and a memorandum (executive directives) that expressed policy commitments on behalf of the administration in 2021. These commitments include advancing racial equity and supporting underserved communities, preventing and combating discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, and promoting and protecting the human rights of LGBTQI+ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex] persons in the U.S. and abroad. In response to these directives, State [U.S. Department of State] and USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] have committed to better incorporating racial and ethnic equity into U.S. foreign assistance and to supporting historically marginalized or underserved groups abroad. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess State and USAID efforts to advance equity and support for marginalized groups abroad, among other things. This report examines: (1) how State and USAID incorporate support for marginalized groups abroad into their strategies and activities, (2) how State and USAID track progress toward achieving goals and objectives that support such groups, and (3) actions State and USAID have undertaken to respond to recent directives related to advancing equity and support for such groups."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07
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Semiconductor Supply Chain: Policy Considerations from Selected Experts for Reducing Risks and Mitigating Shortages, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "A global semiconductor shortage that began in 2020 has since affected multiple U.S. industries. Beyond having an immediate economic impact, the shortage has exposed long-term risks in the semiconductor supply chain. Further, U.S. policymakers have expressed concerns about the nation's declining share of global production. Accordingly, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have both passed bills aimed at incentivizing construction of new semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the U.S. This report summarizes the views of selected experts on policy options to reduce semiconductor supply chain risks and help mitigate future shortages in the U.S. GAO [Government Accountability Office] conducted a literature review and compiled a list of potential policy options across multiple areas of federal activity. GAO then selected and interviewed 17 experts, including industry executives, government officials, and knowledgeable representatives from academia and nonprofits. In the interviews, GAO asked the experts about their views on which of the policy options had the greatest potential to mitigate supply chain risks."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07
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F-35 Aircraft: DOD Should Assess and Update Its Engine Sustainment Strategy to Support Desired Outcomes, Report to the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "The F-35 aircraft, with its advanced capabilities, represents a growing portion of DOD's tactical aviation fleet--with over 400 aircraft in use to date. DOD plans to procure about 2,000 more F-35s with estimated life-cycle costs of the program exceeding $1.7 trillion; $1.3 trillion of those costs are associated with sustaining the aircraft. GAO previously reported that challenges sustaining the F-35 engine may pose its greatest sustainment risk over the next 10 years. House Report 116-442 included a provision for GAO to review F-35 engine sustainment challenges. This report evaluates the extent to which (1) the F-35's engine sustainment strategy has been aligned with military service desired outcomes; (2) DOD has met performance goals for sustaining the F-35 engine; and (3) DOD has developed and implemented plans to address any challenges. GAO reviewed program documentation, analyzed sustainment data, and interviewed officials from DOD and the prime contractor for the F-35 engine, Pratt & Whitney."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-07