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Nation's Fiscal Health: After Pandemic Recovery, Focus Needed on Achieving Long-term Fiscal Sustainability, An Annual Report to Congress
From the Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has resulted in catastrophic loss of life and substantial damage to the global economy, stability, and security. This continuing crisis prompted a major federal response. Death tolls remain high and many people remain unemployed, including both those temporarily laid off and those who have permanently lost their jobs."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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Tráfico de Armas de Fuego: Los Esfuerzos de EE.UU. para Interrumpir El Tráfico de Armas de Fuego a México se Beneficiarían de Datos y Análisis Adicionales
"El tráfico de armas por la frontera entre EE.UU. y México ayuda a facilitar el tráfico ilegal de drogas y tiene vínculos con el crimen organizado. La Agencia de Alcohol, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos (ATF, por sus siglas en inglés) ha recopilado datos sobre armas recuperadas en México y rastreó muchas de ellas hasta fuentes estadounidenses. Pero los datos de ATF sólo muestran una imagen parcial; por ejemplo, los datos reportados por el Fiscal General de México pueden no incluir armas recuperadas por otras agencias mexicanas. Además, más análisis, por ejemplo, el análisis del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de EE.UU. de los datos sobre armas de origen estadounidense incautadas en México, podría mejorar la comprensión de las fuentes y las rutas de tráfico.Nuestras recomendaciones abordan estos problemas y más."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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Defense Cleanup: Efforts at Former Military Sites on Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico, Are Expected to Continue Through 2032, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "For several decades, DOD used the islands of Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico, for training sites that left extensive amounts of munitions, hazardous substances, and other contaminants on the islands and in their surrounding waters. DOD began cleanup efforts on Culebra in the early 1990s and on Vieques in the mid-2000s. Both efforts are conducted pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended. On Vieques, the U.S. Navy funds and leads the cleanup efforts, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has oversight responsibilities. On Culebra, the Corps funds and leads the cleanup efforts, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has oversight responsibilities. The conference report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (H.R. Rep. No. 116-333) contained a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to study the status of the federal cleanup on Vieques and Culebra. This review (1) discusses the status and cost of cleanup efforts, (2) identifies challenges to the cleanup efforts and examines how DOD is addressing them, and (3) describes the cleanup technologies DOD is using at these sites and how federal agencies assess the feasibility of innovative technologies. GAO reviewed agency data, documentation, and guidance; and interviewed DOD, EPA, and other federal officials, Commonwealth officials, academic researchers, and residents of both islands."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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National Labor Relations Board: Meaningful Performance Measures Could Help Improve Case Quality, Organizational Excellence, and Resource Management, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "NLRB [National Labor Relations Board] carries out its statutory responsibility for administering and enforcing the National Labor Relations Act through two primary functions: (1) preventing employers and unions from engaging in unfair labor practices, and (2) conducting secret-ballot elections for employees to consider representation by a union. Recent increases in unobligated funds, reductions in staff levels, and policy changes at NLRB have raised concern about its ability to accomplish its mission. GAO was asked to examine the effects of these changes. This report examines: (1) how NLRB has obligated its annual appropriations since fiscal year 2010; (2) how staff numbers have changed since fiscal year 2010; and (3) the extent to which NLRB has met its performance goals since fiscal year 2015, and stakeholder perspectives on factors affecting its ability to do so. GAO reviewed NLRB budget and employee survey data, strategic plans, and performance and accountability reports. GAO also interviewed NLRB officials and stakeholders, including representatives of large labor organizations and industry groups selected to obtain a range of views."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprise Development: USAID Needs to Develop a Targeting Process and Improve the Reliability of Its Monitoring, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Millions of poor families throughout the developing world derive income from MSME [micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise] activities. For decades, USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] has sought to use MSME assistance as a tool to achieve economic growth and poverty reduction in low-income countries. To improve programs and activities relating to women's entrepreneurship and economic empowerment, Congress passed the Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment (WEEE) Act of 2018. Congress included a provision in this statute for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to assess USAID's MSME assistance. This report examines (1) USAID's planned MSME assistance for fiscal years 2015-2020; (2) the extent to which USAID targeted its MSME assistance to women and the very poor and developed a targeting process that it uses to comply with statutory requirements; and (3) the extent to which USAID has an appropriate process for monitoring its MSME assistance. GAO analyzed USAID documents and planned spending levels and interviewed USAID officials in Washington, D.C., and at 10 missions in regions in which USAID operates."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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Earthquakes: Progress Made to Implement Early Warning System, but Actions Needed to Improve Program Management, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Earthquakes and related hazards are a significant threat to people and infrastructure in the U.S. For instance, magnitude 6.4 and 7.1 earthquakes centered west of Searles Valley in California, struck in July 2019, causing over $5 billion in damage. USGS [United States Geological Survey] is the lead federal agency for providing earthquake monitoring and notification. USGS began implementing ShakeAlert, its earthquake early warning system, in California, Oregon, and Washington State in 2012. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess, among other things, USGS efforts to identify earthquake hazards. This report addresses, among other things, (1) USGS actions to identify earthquake hazards, (2) the extent USGS actions to achieve its earthquake hazard mission meet leading practices; and (3) what progress USGS and its partners have made implementing ShakeAlert. GAO evaluated agency guidance and other planning documents, such as USGS's ShakeAlert implementation plans; assessed its ShakeAlert cost estimate; conducted site visits to selected cities; and interviewed federal and state officials, among others."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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High-Risk Series: Federal Government Needs to Urgently Pursue Critical Actions to Address Major Cybersecurity Challenges, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "Federal agencies and the nation's critical infrastructures--such as energy, transportation systems, communications, and financial services--are dependent on information technology systems to carry out operations. The security of these systems and the data they use is vital to public confidence and national security, prosperity, and wellbeing. GAO [Government Accountability Office] first designated information security as a government-wide high-risk area in 1997. This was expanded to include protecting (1) cyber critical infrastructure in 2003 and (2) the privacy of personally identifiable information in 2015. In 2018, GAO reported that the federal government needed to address four major cybersecurity challenges: (1) establishing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy and performing effective oversight, (2) securing federal systems and information, (3) protecting cyber critical infrastructure, and (4) protecting privacy and sensitive data. Within these four challenges are 10 actions critical to successfully dealing with the serious cybersecurity threats facing the nation (see the figure at right identifying the four challenges and 10 actions). This report provides an update on the progress that the federal government has made in addressing GAO's recommendations for the four major cybersecurity challenges, as of December 2020."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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West Bank and Gaza Aid: Should Funding Resume, Increased Oversight of Subawardee Compliance with USAID's Antiterrorism Policies and Procedures May Reduce Risks, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "Since 1993, the U.S. government has provided more than $6.3 billion in bilateral assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. According to USAID and State, because of a combination of policy and legal actions, ESF [Economic Support Fund] funding ceased as of January 2019. USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] is primarily responsible for administering ESF assistance to the West Bank and Gaza and ensuring compliance with its antiterrorism policies and procedures. Appropriations acts for fiscal years 2015-2019 include provisions for GAO to review the uses of ESF funds for the West Bank and Gaza program. GAO was also asked to review how ceasing this assistance affected USAID's staffing resources. This report examines the (1) status of USAID's ESF assistance to the program for fiscal years 2015-2019, as of September 30, 2020; (2) steps USAID took for ongoing projects and staffing levels when ESF assistance ceased; and (3) extent to which USAID complied with its antiterrorism policies and procedures for fiscal years 2015- 2019. GAO reviewed laws and agency policies, procedures, documents, and data, and assessed a generalizable sample of 245 subawards for compliance with USAID's antiterrorism policies and procedures."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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Subminimum Wage Program: Factors Influencing the Transition of Individuals with Disabilities to Competitive Integrated Employment, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 permits, in certain circumstances, the payment of subminimum wages-- wages that are below the federal minimum wage--to individuals with disabilities, often those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. To pay such wages, employers must apply for and hold a 14(c) certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. As of October 2020, more than 1,200 organizations held or had applied for 14(c) certificates to employ workers with disabilities, often in segregated settings. At the same time, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, calls for maximizing opportunities for individuals with disabilities to earn competitive wages in non-segregated settings. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the 14(c) program, including how and why individuals transition from 14(c) employment to CIE. This report describes (1) factors that help or hinder transition from 14(c) employment to CIE [competitive integrated employment], and (2) the extent to which the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic might affect this transition."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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Native American Cultural Resources: Improved Information Could Enhance Agencies' Efforts to Analyze and Respond to Risks of Theft and Damage, Report to the Committee on Indian Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Federal laws prohibit the theft and damage of Native American cultural resources, such as pottery, tools, and sacred objects, on federal and Indian lands. Federal agencies help protect these resources by attempting to prevent theft and damage and by investigating and prosecuting such crimes. These agencies include the Department of Agriculture's U.S. Forest Service; the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and the Tennessee Valley Authority. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review these agencies' efforts. This report examines (1) approaches selected federal agencies have taken to prevent and detect theft and damage; and (2) factors that have hindered agencies' efforts to prevent, investigate, and prosecute incidents of theft and damage. GAO analyzed data from seven federal agencies, reviewed agency documents, and interviewed agency officials and representatives of Native American tribes."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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Low-Income Workers: Millions of Full-Time Workers in the Private Sector Rely on Federal Health Care and Food Assistance Programs, Statement of Cindy Brown Barnes, Managing Director, Education, Workforce and Income Security, Testimony Before the Committee on the Budget, U.S. Senate
From the Document: "We were asked to examine several aspects of working adult Medicaid enrollees and SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] recipients, including the employers for whom they work. My testimony today summarizes the findings from our October 2020 report, which examined (1) what is known about the labor characteristics of wage-earning adult Medicaid enrollees and SNAP recipients, and (2) what is known about where wage-earning adult Medicaid enrollees and SNAP recipients work."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Brown Barnes, Cindy S.
2021-02-25
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Service Acquisitions: DOD's Report to Congress Identifies Steps Taken to Improve Management, But Does Not Address Some Key Planning Issues
From the Document: "The Department of Defense (DOD) relies on contractors to provide a wide array of services, including support for management, information technology, and weapon systems. In fiscal year 2019, DOD obligated about $190 billion on service acquisitions, which accounted for nearly half of DOD's total contract obligations. Our past work, however, has identified issues with DOD's management of service acquisitions, including limited visibility into DOD's future spending plans, and narrowly-scoped requirements reviews focused on individual contracts rather than a more holistic approach that comprehensively considers service requirements within and across portfolios. Since 2011, we have made 29 recommendations for improvement, 22 of which DOD has acted on to date, but seven of which remain unimplemented. In 1992, we added DOD contracting to our High-Risk List, which we update every two years to identify programs and operations that are 'high risk' due to their vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, or that need transformation. Since 2001, we have highlighted service acquisitions as an issue for oversight within the DOD Contract Management area."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02-22
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Financial Audit: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Funds' 2020 and 2019 Financial Statements
From the Director's Letter: "This report transmits the GAO [Government Accountability Office] auditor's report on the results of our audits of the 2020 and 2019 financial statements of the two funds that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) administers--the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) and the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC) Resolution Fund (FRF). The auditor's report is incorporated in the enclosed Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 2020 Annual Report. As discussed more fully in the auditor's report that begins on page 117 of the enclosed agency annual report, we found [1] the financial statements of the DIF and of the FRF as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020, and 2019, are presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; [2] although internal controls could be improved, FDIC maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting relevant to the DIF and to the FRF as of December 31, 2020; and [3] with respect to the DIF and to the FRF, no reportable instances of noncompliance for 2020 with provisions of applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements we tested."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02-18
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Electronic Health Records: VA Has Made Progress in Preparing for New System, but Subsequent Test Findings Will Need to Be Addressed, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] relies on its health information system-- the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA)--to deliver health care to 9 million patients annually. VistA contains the department's EHR [electronic health record] and exchanges information with many other applications and interfaces. However, VistA is a technically complex system, has been in operation for more than 30 years, is costly to maintain, and does not fully support VA's needs. In May 2018, VA contracted to acquire a commercial EHR system as part of its EHRM [Electronic Health Record Modernization] program over 10 years at a maximum cost of $10 billion. GAO was asked to review VA's EHR deployment. This report discusses progress VA is making on implementing the new EHR system, among other topics. To perform its review, GAO assessed VA's progress toward making system configuration decisions, developing system capabilities, developing system interfaces, completing end user training, and resolving system test findings. GAO also interviewed relevant officials. GAO is making two recommendations, including that VA should postpone deployment of its new EHR system at planned locations until any resulting critical and high severity test findings are appropriately addressed. VA concurred with the recommendations and described actions the department plans to take to address them."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02-11?
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Operation Warp Speed: Accelerated COVID-19 Vaccine Development Status and Efforts to Address Manufacturing Challenges, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "As of February 5, 2021, the U.S. had over 26 million cumulative reported cases of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and about 449,020 reported deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The country also continues to experience serious economic repercussions, with the unemployment rate and number of unemployed in January 2021 at nearly twice their pre-pandemic levels in February 2020. In May 2020, OWS [Operation Warp Speed] was launched and included a goal of producing 300 million doses of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines with initial doses available by January 2021. Although FDA has authorized two vaccines for emergency use, OWS has not yet met its production goal. Such vaccines are crucial to mitigate the public health and economic impacts of the pandemic. GAO was asked to review OWS vaccine development efforts. This report examines: (1) the characteristics and status of the OWS vaccines, (2) how developmental processes have been adapted to meet OWS timelines, and (3) the challenges that companies have faced with scaling up manufacturing and the steps they are taking to address those challenges. GAO administered a questionnaire based on HHS's [Department of Health and Human Services] medical countermeasures TRL [technology readiness levels] criteria to the six OWS vaccine companies to evaluate the COVID-19 vaccine development processes. GAO also collected and reviewed supporting documentation on vaccine development and conducted interviews with representatives from each of the companies on vaccine development and manufacturing."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02-11?
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Department of Energy: Improved Performance Planning Could Strengthen Technology Transfer, Report to the Honorable Joseph Manchin, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Researchers at DOE [Department of Energy] and its 17 national labs regularly make contributions to new energy technologies, such as more efficient batteries for electric vehicles. Technology transfer officials at the labs help these researchers license intellectual property and partner with private-sector companies to bring these technologies to market. However, several recent reports have highlighted barriers and inconsistencies in technology transfer at DOE, including a 2015 commission report that found barriers related to the costs of collaboration and low maturity level of many DOE technologies. This report examines (1) steps DOE has taken to address barriers to technology transfer and (2) the extent to which DOE plans and tracks the performance of its technology transfer and commercialization activities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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2018 Pacific Island Disasters: Federal Actions Helped Facilitate the Response, but FEMA Needs to Address Long-Term Recovery Challenges, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The CNMI [Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands], Guam, and Hawaii experienced an unprecedented number of natural disasters in 2018-- including typhoons, earthquakes, mudslides, and volcanic eruptions. FEMA is the lead federal agency responsible for helping states and territories prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters. Due to the remoteness of Hawaii and the Pacific territories, disaster response and recovery can be challenging. Title IX of the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review FEMA's response and recovery efforts for 2018 natural disasters, including those in the Pacific region. This report examines (1) how FEMA and its federal partners prepared for and responded to the 2018 disasters in the CNMI, Guam, and Hawaii; and (2) the extent to which FEMA assisted the CNMI, Guam, and Hawaii in recovering from the 2018 natural disasters."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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Veterans Community Care Program: Immediate Actions Needed to Ensure Health Providers Associated with Poor Quality Care Are Excluded, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] MISSION Act of 2018 established a new community care program, the VCCP [Veterans Community Care Program], aimed at providing care to veterans when it could not reasonably be delivered by providers at VA medical facilities. The act also requires VA to exclude from participation in the VCCP providers who lost a license for violating medical license requirements in any state or who VA removed from employment for quality of care concerns or otherwise suspended from VA employment. The VA MISSION Act included provisions for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on the implementation of restrictions on certain health care providers' participation in the VCCP. This report examines, among other issues, VA and contractor processes to implement these eligibility restrictions on provider participation in the VCCP."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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Disaster Resilience: FEMA Should Take Additional Steps to Streamline Hazard Mitigation Grants and Assess Program Effects, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The rising number of natural disasters and increasing reliance on federal assistance are key sources of federal fiscal exposure. FEMA has four grant programs to increase disaster resilience through hazard mitigation projects. The Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019, included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the federal response to disasters in 2018. This report addresses 1) FEMA's use of grants to support hazard mitigation; 2) challenges reported by selected jurisdictions applying for grants; and 3) how FEMA has assessed the effects of its hazard mitigation projects and shared the results."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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Sexual Harassment and Assault: Guidance Needed to Ensure Consistent Tracking, Response, and Training for DOD Civilians
From the Highlights: "With nearly 900,000 federal civilian employees around the world, DOD has responsibilities for preventing and responding to sexual harassment and assault within its workforce. In fiscal year 2018, DOD estimated that about 49,700 civilian employees experienced sexual harassment and about 2,500 civilian employees experienced work-related sexual assault in the prior year. House Report 116-120 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review DOD's prevention of and response to sexual harassment and assault involving DOD federal civilian employees. GAO's report examines, among other things, the extent to which DOD has (1) visibility over such reported incidents, and (2) developed and implemented policies and procedures to respond to and resolve these incidents. GAO reviewed policies and guidance; analyzed program data from fiscal years 2015 through 2019; interviewed officials at a nongeneralizable sample of five military installations; evaluated DOD training materials; and interviewed DOD, service, and civilian officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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Venezuela: Additional Tracking Could Aid Treasury's Efforts to Mitigate Any Adverse Impacts U.S. Sanctions Might Have on Humanitarian Assistance
From the Highlights: "Venezuela has been experiencing an economic, political, and humanitarian crisis. The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state oil company, government, and central bank, among others, in response to activities of the Venezuelan government and certain individuals. Treasury and the Department of State lead the implementation of the sanctions program, and USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] is primarily responsible for implementing humanitarian assistance for Venezuelans. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review U.S. sanctions related to Venezuela. This report examines: (1) how the Venezuelan economy performed before and since the imposition of sanctions in 2015; (2) the steps U.S. agencies have taken to identify and mitigate potential negative humanitarian consequences of sanctions related to Venezuela; and (3) what is known about the impact of U.S. sanctions related to Venezuela on the U.S. oil industry. GAO analyzed economic indicators, reviewed documents, interviewed agency officials, and spoke with representatives from selected humanitarian organizations and the U.S oil industry."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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General Aviation: Stakeholders Expressed Mixed Views of FAA Policies on Private Pilot Expense Sharing, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Private flying is expensive, and FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] allows private pilots to reduce their costs by carrying passengers and sharing certain flight expenses with them. However, private pilots cannot engage in common carriage. If pilots do engage in common carriage, they are subject to FAA's more stringent regulations covering commercial air carriers. Some private pilots have sought to use internet applications to find expense-sharing passengers. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 directed FAA to issue advisory guidance clarifying how private pilots may share expenses. In February 2020, FAA released this guidance as an advisory circular. The Act also includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review FAA's policies on expense sharing. This report describes: (1) FAA's rationale for its policies on how private pilots may find expense-sharing passengers and (2) selected stakeholder perspectives on FAA's policies and the risks and benefits of arranging these expense-sharing flights online."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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Defense Transportation: DOD Can Better Leverage Existing Contested Mobility Studies and Improve Training, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "China and Russia are strengthening their militaries to neutralize U.S. strengths, including mobility--the ability of U.S. military airlift and air refueling aircraft and sealift ships to rapidly move equipment and personnel from the United States to locations abroad to support DOD missions. Senate Report 116-48 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review DOD's ability to operate in a contested mobility environment. This report assesses the extent to which DOD has studied contested mobility and tracked the implementation of study recommendations, assesses the extent to which DOD has revised its training to incorporate contested mobility challenges, and describes the technologies that DOD uses to mitigate contested mobility challenges."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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Bureau of Prisons: Opportunities Exist to Better Analyze Staffing Data and Improve Employee Wellness Programs, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "As of November 2020, BOP [Federal Bureau of Prisons] employed more than 37,000 individuals responsible for the care and custody of more than 125,000 federal inmates in BOP institutions. Questions have been raised about BOP's ability to fully staff its institutions, the effects of staffing shortfalls, and the mental health of corrections staff."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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Countering Violent Extremism: DHS Needs to Improve Grants Management and Data Collection, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "From 2010 through 2019, data collected through the Extremist Crime Database show that 205 deaths resulted from 59 violent extremist attacks in the United States. DHS received funding in 2016 to establish a new CVE [Countering Violent Extremism] Grant Program to support efforts by state and local governments and nongovernmental organizations to reduce risk factors associated with violent extremism. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review management of the CVE Grant Program. This report examines, among other things, the extent to which DHS (1) announced, reviewed, and awarded CVE grants in accordance with OMB [Office of Management and Budget] guidance and (2) evaluated the performance of CVE grantees and the overall program. GAO reviewed documentation of DHS's actions in announcing, reviewing and awarding CVE grants; and documentation on steps taken to assess the performance of grantees and the overall program; as compared to requirements in key documents, including the CVE grant announcement, elements of internal control, and a DHS 2017 report to Congress."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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Airport Worker Screening: TSA Could Further Strengthen Its Approach to Estimating Costs and Feasibility of Security Measures, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Any of the 1.8 million airport workers with unescorted access to security-restricted areas of the nation's airports could pose an 'insider threat.' The TSA Modernization Act (Act) required TSA to submit a study examining the cost and feasibility of enhanced worker screening measures. In its September 2020 study, TSA determined that implementing these measures is feasible and estimated implementation costs of $2.9-$3.6 billion, with ongoing annual costs of $2.5-$3.1 billion."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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Southwest Border Security: Actions Are Needed to Address the Cost and Readiness Implications of Continued DOD Support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "For decades, the U.S. southwest border has been vulnerable to cross-border illegal activity such as illegal entries, smuggling of drugs and contraband, and terrorist activities. Since 2002, DOD has supported DHS's mission to secure the nation's borders and episodically supported its efforts to manage surges in foreign nationals without valid travel documents who are seeking entry-- most recently since April 2018, when the President directed the Secretary of Defense to support DHS in securing the southwest border."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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Servicemember Rights: Mandatory Arbitration Clauses Have Affected Some Employment and Consumer Claims but the Extent of Their Effects is Unknown, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Servicemembers are among millions of Americans who enter into contracts or agreements with mandatory arbitration clauses. For example, these provisions may be included in the contracts servicemembers sign when they enter the civilian workforce, obtain a car loan, or lease an apartment. These contracts generally require disputes to be resolved in private proceedings with arbitrators rather than in court. Due to concerns these clauses may not afford servicemembers certain employment and consumer rights, Congress included a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to study their effects on servicemembers' ability to file claims under USERRA [Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994] and SCRA [Servicemembers Civil Relief Act]. This report examines (1) the effect mandatory arbitration has on servicemembers' ability to file claims and obtain relief for violations of USERRA and SCRA, and (2) the extent to which data are available to determine the prevalence of mandatory arbitration clauses and their effect on servicemember claims."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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Technology Assessment Design Handbook: Handbook for Key Steps and Considerations in the Design of Technology Assessments
From the Preface: "The Government Accountability Office (GAO) provides Congress, federal agencies, and the public with non-partisan, objective, reliable information to help the government save money and work more efficiently and effectively. Science and technology (S&T) issues figure prominently in problems that Congress confronts, and one component of the assistance GAO provides to Congress is the production of technology assessments (TA). GAO TAs analyze recent S&T developments, highlight potential effects of technological change, and strive to make S&T concepts readily accessible to policymakers. [...] The TA Design Handbook provides GAO staff and others with tools to consider for supporting robust and rigorous TAs, while following internal GAO guidance. This handbook is particularly important given the need for GAO to provide insight and foresight on the effects of technologies and corresponding policy implications related to a wide range of S&T issues. Other organizations may also find portions of this handbook useful as they consider or conduct TAs, although their needs, approaches, and relationships with stakeholders and government bodies may differ."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
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Coastal Barrier Resources Act: Fish and Wildlife Service Should Better Ensure it Carries Out Required Consultation and Mapping Activities, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "CBRA [Coastal Barrier Resources Act] was enacted to remove federal incentives to develop certain areas-- mostly along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts-- that contain coastal barriers such as islands and wetlands. The act generally prohibits new federal expenditures and financial assistance in these areas. It allows exceptions for certain projects in the CBRS [Coastal Barrier Resources System] but requires federal agencies to consult with FWS [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] before making expenditures or providing assistance within the CBRS. FWS is also responsible for maintaining and updating CBRS maps, which can be used to determine whether properties are in the CBRS. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review FWS and Corps [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers] activities under CBRA. This report examines (1) FWS's consultation process and consultations by selected FWS field offices in fiscal years 2018-2019, (2) FWS's processes for updating CBRS maps, and (3) Corps projects in the CBRS and the Corps' process for complying with CBRA. GAO reviewed FWS and Corps guidance and interviewed officials at headquarters, regional, and field levels. GAO also examined documents from selected FWS field offices and Corps districts chosen based on geographic diversity and other factors."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-02
