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Federal Research: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Public Access to Research Results, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Research and development helps catalyze breakthroughs that improve the overall health and wellbeing of our society. Federal research and development expenditures averaged about $135 billion annually for fiscal years 2015 to 2017. According to OSTP [Office of Science and Technology Policy], providing free public access to federally funded research results can improve both the impact and accountability of this important federal investment. In February 2013, OSTP directed federal agencies with more than $100 million in annual research and development expenditures to develop a plan to support increased public access to the results of federally funded research. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine public access to federally funded research results. This report examines the extent of agencies' (1) progress implementing plans to increase public access to federally funded research results and (2) coordination on public access plan implementation. GAO administered a questionnaire to 19 federal agencies selected based on annual research and development expenditure amounts, among other criteria; reviewed agency documents; and interviewed officials from 11 agencies, OSTP, and 21 stakeholder organizations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11
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Coast Guard: Assessing Deployable Specialized Forces' Workforce Needs Could Improve Efficiency and Reduce Potential Overlap or Gaps in Capabilities, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The U.S. Coast Guard, within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is the principal federal agency charged with ensuring the security and safety of the waters under U.S. jurisdiction. To help carry out its missions, the Coast Guard maintains Specialized Forces units with the capabilities needed to handle drug interdiction, terrorism, and other threats to the U.S. maritime environment. The Coast Guard reorganized the command structure of these units in 2007 and again in 2013. The Maritime Security Improvement Act of 2018 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to evaluate Specialized Forces units and provide a report to Congress. This report examines the extent to which the Coast Guard addressed key practices and considerations for assessing reorganization of its Specialized Forces units. GAO assessed the Coast Guard report and associated workforce planning documentation and data used for its 2013 reorganization and analyzed the extent to which the agency applied key practices. GAO also analyzed guidance and data on Specialized Forces capabilities and operations to identify potential overlap or gaps and interviewed agency officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11
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Defense Health Care: Opportunities to Improve Future TRICARE Managed Care Support Contract Transitions, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "DOD contracts with private sector companies--referred to as managed care support contractors--to deliver health care services to its TRICARE program beneficiaries through networks of civilian providers. In July 2016, DOD awarded its fourth generation of TRICARE contracts, referred to as T2017, for management of civilian providers in its two regions (East and West). For new TRICARE contracts, DOD provides a transition period-- usually 9 to 12 months--for the incoming and outgoing contractors. During this time, the incoming contractors must take specific steps to prepare for health care delivery. The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the T-2017 transition. This report examines (1) how the requirement to implement TRICARE Select affected the transition, (2) challenges DOD experienced executing the T-2017 transition process, and (3) how DOD addressed problems after the start of health care delivery. GAO reviewed and analyzed DOD guidance, contract requirements, and other relevant documentation, and interviewed DOD officials, TRICARE contractors, and other stakeholders."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11
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Defense Management: Defense-Wide Working Capital Fund Agencies Apply Most Key Operating Principles but Should Improve Pricing Transparency, Report to the Senate Armed Services Committee
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "This report evaluates the extent to which DFAS [Defense Finance and Accounting Service], DISA [Defense Information Systems Agency], and DLA [Defense Logistics Agency] (1) have a process for setting rates to recover costs and provide transparent pricing to customers and (2) clearly delineate roles and responsibilities, measure performance, and assess resource requirements and customer needs. GAO reviewed relevant sections of DOD's 'Financial Management Regulation' and agency documentation and interviewed officials from DFAS, DISA, and DLA and the military departments in comparing the agencies' management practices to the key operating principles for effective management of working capital funds."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11
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Water Scarcity: DOD Has Not Always Followed Leading Practices to Identify at-Risk Installations, Report to the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "DOD reported in January 2019 that critical installations are at risk of water scarcity--that is, of not having sufficient water available to meet their mission needs. According to military department officials, installations depend on water for activities such as training, weapons testing, fire suppression, and sanitation. In its 2018 'Fourth National Climate Assessment,' the U.S. Global Change Research Program reported that warming temperatures will continue to cause worsening droughts and the decline of surface water quality. Senate Report 115-262 included a provision for GAO to review DOD's identified or potential effects of water scarcity. For this report, GAO evaluated the extent to which DOD has assurance that it is using reliable information to identify installations at risk of water scarcity. GAO analyzed DOD's six assessments conducted from April 2017 through January 2019 to identify installations at risk of water scarcity and compared the assessments with five leading practices for identifying and analyzing water scarcity. GAO also interviewed officials from OSD [Office of the Secretary of Defense] and the military departments and contacted a nongeneralizable sample of 17 installations identified in OSD's assessments to reflect diversity in military service, mission, and water scarcity."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11
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Environmental Protection Agency: Recent Policy Could Improve Working Relations Between EPA's Office of Inspector General and Office of Homeland Security
From the Document: "For at least 7 years, conflict has existed between the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Offices of Inspector General (OIG) and Homeland Security (OHS) with respect to their jurisdiction over certain activities, according to EPA and OIG officials. [...] This report examines (1) the key activities of OIG and OHS, the extent to which these activities overlap, and the responsibility for any overlapping activities and (2) the extent to which OIG and OHS have coordinated any overlapping activities. [...] To determine the extent to which OIG and OHS have coordinated any overlapping activities, we reviewed OIG and agency documents. We interviewed officials from OIG, OHS, and EPA's Office of General Counsel about coordination between OIG and OHS. We compared coordination efforts against relevant agency policy--including EPA's new May 2019 policy, Order 3230-Intelligence Operations, as well as selected leading collaboration practices we identified in prior work. We focused on the three practices most relevant to our work: (1) clarifying roles and responsibilities, (2) agreeing on common terminology and definitions, and (3) developing ways to continually update and monitor written agreements on how agencies coordinate."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10-30
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Federal Financial Management: Substantial Progress Made Since the CFO Act of 1990 and Preliminary Observations on Opportunities for Enhancement, Statement of Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, Testimony Before the Committee on the Budget, U.S. Senate
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "This statement is based on preliminary observations from GAO's ongoing review of the federal government's efforts to meet the requirements of the CFO Act [Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990]. GAO reviewed federal financial management legislation, guidance, and reports. GAO also conducted interviews and a panel discussion with experts in federal financial management, and surveyed federal CFOs [Chief Financial Officers], inspectors general, and independent public accountants."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10-30
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Transportation Security: TSA Has Taken Steps to Improve Security Areas Identified in the TSA Modernization Act, but Additional Actions Are Needed, Statement of William Russell, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Threats to the nation's transportation systems persist and continue to evolve. Within DHS, TSA is the federal agency with primary responsibility for the prevention of and defense against terrorist and other threats to the United States' civil aviation, and rail, public transit, pipeline, and other surface transportation systems. The TSA Modernization Act includes provisions intended to enhance security across this broad range of systems and further calls on GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review TSA's progress in these areas. This statement summarizes past and ongoing work related to TSA's actions to address selected aviation and surface transportation security areas covered by the TSA Modernization Act. This statement is based on products GAO issued from December 2017 through October 2019 and draft reports currently with TSA for comment."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Russell, William
2019-10-29
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Child Welfare: Various HHS Offices Provided Input on Decision to Grant Exception from Religious Nondiscrimination Requirement
From the Document: "In fiscal year 2017, over 440,000 children were in the foster care system in the United States. Most of these children--77 percent--were in foster family homes. Over the last few years, the number of children entering the child welfare system has generally increased even as many states have struggled to recruit foster families. To help cover the costs of operating foster care programs, including costs associated with foster family recruitment, state child welfare agencies receive federal funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under title IV-E of the Social Security Act. The state agencies may, in turn, contract with private child welfare agencies, in some instances faith-based organizations, to help carry out their foster care programs. States participating in title IV-E are required to ensure that their programs comply with various program-specific requirements established by the statute and regulations. In addition, as recipients of HHS funding, these state and private child welfare agencies are also required to comply with HHS's uniform administrative grant requirements. HHS may authorize certain exceptions from its administrative grant requirements on a case-by-case basis. [...] You asked us to review HHS's use of regulatory exceptions from nondiscrimination requirements that apply to federally-funded foster care programs. This report describes HHS's process for reviewing and approving requests for exceptions from its administrative grant requirements, including nondiscrimination requirements."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10-25
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Federal Rulemaking: Selected Agencies Should Clearly Communicate Public Comment Posting Practices Associated with Identity Information, Statement of Seto J. Bagdoyan, Director of Audits, Forensic Audits and Investigative Service, Testimony Before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Federal agencies publish on average 3,700 proposed rules yearly and are generally required to provide interested persons (commenters) an opportunity to comment on these rules. In recent years, some high-profile rulemakings have received extremely large numbers of comments, raising questions about how agencies manage the identity information associated with comments. While the APA [Administrative Procedure Act] does not require the disclosure of identifying information from a commenter, agencies may choose to collect this information. This testimony summarizes GAO's [Government Accountability Office] June 2019 report on public comment posting practices (GAO-19-483). In that report, GAO examined (1) the identity information collected by comment websites; (2) the guidance agencies have related to the identity of commenters; (3) how selected agencies treat identity information; and (4) the extent to which selected agencies clearly communicate their practices associated with identity information."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Bagdoyan, Seto J.
2019-10-24
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Substance Use Disorder: Prevalence of Recovery Homes, and Selected States' Investigations and Oversight, Statement of Mary Denigan-Macauley Director, Health Care, Testimony Before the Committee on Finance, United States Senate
From the Highlights: "Substance abuse and illicit drug use, including the use of heroin and the misuse of alcohol and prescription opioids, is a growing problem in the United States. Individuals with a substance use disorder may face challenges in remaining drug- and alcohol-free. Recovery homes can offer safe, supportive, drug- and alcohol-free housing to help these individuals maintain their sobriety and can be an important resource for recovering individuals. [...] This statement describes (1) what is known about the prevalence of recovery homes across the United States; and (2) investigations and actions selected states have undertaken to oversee such homes."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Denigan-Macauley, Mary
2019-10-24
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Disaster Recovery: Recent Disasters Highlight Progress and Challenges, Statement of Chris Currie, Director Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Recent hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding have highlighted the challenges the federal government faces in responding effectively to natural disasters. [...] This statement discusses, among other things, FEMA's and other federal agencies' progress and challenges related to disaster resilience, recovery programs, and workforce management. This statement is based on GAO [Government Accountability Office] reports issued from September 2012 through October 2019, and also includes preliminary observations from ongoing GAO reviews."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Currie, Chris
2019-10-22
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Small Business Administration: Steps Taken on Long-Standing Weaknesses in SBA's Oversight of Tribal 8(a) Firms, but Additional Actions Needed, Statement of Seto J. Bagdoyan, Director, Forensic Audits and Investigative Service, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations, Committee on Small Business, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Federal obligations under SBA's [Small Business Administration] 8(a) Business Development Program totaled about $10.9 billion in fiscal year 2019, according to federal procurement data reported as of October 7, 2019. SBA's 8(a) program is one of the federal government's primary vehicles for developing socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses, including firms owned by ANCs [Alaska Native Corporations]. One of the key benefits of this program is the ability for ANC-owned firms to receive federal contract awards that have been set aside solely for 8(a) firms. From 2006 through 2016, GAO [Government Accountability Office] issued three reports detailing the limitations of SBA's oversight and monitoring of ANC-owned firms participating in the 8(a) program. GAO's testimony discusses the highlights of the aforementioned three reports and the extent to which SBA has addressed the recommendations GAO made in those reports, as of October 2019. GAO examined SBA files and other documents, conducted site visits, and interviewed program officials to perform the work of those reports."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Bagdoyan, Seto J.
2019-10-22
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Federal Land Management Agencies: Additional Actions Needed to Address Facility Security Assessment Requirements, Statement of Anne-Marie Fennell, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives
From the Document: "Thank you for the opportunity to discuss our recent review of how four federal land management agencies--the Forest Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and National Park Service (Park Service) in the Department of the Interior--protect their employees and secure their facilities. [...] My statement today summarizes the findings of our September 2019 report on federal land management agencies' efforts to protect their employees and secure their facilities. Specifically, for the four federal land management agencies, I will discuss (1) what is known about the number of threats and assaults against their employees, (2) the approaches the agencies used to protect their employees from threats and assaults and factors affecting their ability to do so, and (3) the extent to which the agencies met federal facility security assessment requirements."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Fennell, Anne-Marie
2019-10-22
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Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: Limited Information Available on State or Local Requirements That Are Equivalent to Federal Cross-Cutting Environmental Requirements
From the Document: "The United States faces significant challenges addressing old and deteriorating drinking water infrastructure, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the nation's drinking water utilities need $472.6 billion in infrastructure investments over the next 20 years. [...] The largest source of federal funding for drinking water infrastructure is EPA's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. [...] Section 2019 of the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 includes a provision for GAO to examine federal cross-cutting environmental requirements and potentially equivalent state and local requirements. This report describes (1) the federal cross-cutting environmental requirements that apply to drinking water infrastructure projects financed by loans from the Drinking Water SRF program; and (2) what is known about which state or local requirements are equivalent to federal cross-cutting environmental requirements."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10-18
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Freedom of Information Act: DHS Needs to Reduce Backlogged Requests and Eliminate Duplicate Processing, Statement of Vijay A. D'Souza Director, Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management and Accountability, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "FOIA [Freedom of Information Act] requires federal agencies to provide the public with access to government records and information based on the principles of openness and accountability in government. Each year, individuals and entities file hundreds of thousands of FOIA requests. DHS continues to receive and process the largest number of FOIA requests of any federal department or agency. For fiscal year 2018, over 40 percent of federal FOIA requests (about 396,000) belonged to DHS. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to summarize its November 2014 and June 2018 reports which addressed, among other things, (1) DHS's methods to reduce backlogged FOIA requests and (2) duplication in DHS's processing of FOIA requests."
United States. Government Accountability Office
D'Souza, Vijay A.
2019-10-17
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VA Health Care: Actions Needed to Ensure Provider Qualifications and Competence, Statement of Sharon M. Silas, Director Health Care, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Nearly 165,000 licensed health care providers, such as physicians and nurses, provide care in VHA's [Veterans Health Administration] VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] medical centers and outpatient facilities. Medical center staff must determine whether to hire and retain health care providers by reviewing and verifying information about their qualifications and practice history. [...] Medical center staff must also investigate any concerns that arise about the clinical care their providers deliver. Depending on the findings from these reviews, medical centers may take an adverse privileging action against a provider. [...] This testimony is primarily based on GAO's [Government Accountability Office] 2019 and 2017 reports on VHA processes for reviewing and reporting quality and safety concerns about VA providers. It addresses VA medical centers' implementation and VHA's oversight of (1) reviews of adverse information about providers in the NPDB [National Practitioner Data Bank]; (2) reviews of providers' clinical care after concerns are raised; and (3) reporting of providers to the NPDB and state licensing boards."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Silas, Sharon M.
2019-10-16
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Economic Sanctions: Agencies Assess Impacts on Targets, and Studies Suggest Several Factors Contribute to Sanctions' Effectiveness, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "GAO was asked to review issues related to the implementation and effectiveness of economic sanctions. Among other things, this report (1) examines the extent to which U.S. agencies assess the effectiveness of sanctions, and (2) identifies factors that have been shown by publicly available studies to contribute to the effectiveness of economic sanctions. GAO reviewed documents and interviewed officials at Treasury, State, and Commerce and in the U.S. Intelligence Community. GAO also reviewed academic studies that used rigorous statistical methods to analyze the impact and effectiveness of economic sanctions across many sanctions programs."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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Telecommunications: FCC Should Take Additional Action to Manage Fraud Risks in Its Program to Support Broadband Service in High-Cost Areas, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The Universal Service Fund's high-cost program provides financial support to telecommunications carriers in areas where the cost to provide broadband is high. Through this program, FCC [Federal Communications Commission] provides about $2.5 billion in annual support payments to rate-of-return carriers. The manner in which FCC currently provides the support payments to some of these carriers is prone to fraud risks. A prior case involved a rate-of-return carrier that received at least $27 million in improper payments from the program. GAO was asked to review funding reforms and fraud controls FCC has implemented for rate-of-return carriers. This report examines the extent to which FCC: (1) has implemented funding reforms specific to rate-of-return carriers, and (2) is managing fraud risks for the high-cost program in accordance with leading practices. GAO reviewed FCC's and USAC's [Universal Service Administrative Company] procedures, relevant regulations, and guidance, and assessed these documents against applicable criteria, including federal internal-control standards, FCC's strategic plan, and GAO's fraud risk framework. GAO interviewed FCC and USAC officials, in addition to industry and other stakeholders representing a variety of non-generalizable viewpoints."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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Tobacco User Fees: Further Action Needed to Ensure Calculations Are Based on Complete and Accurate Data, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Tobacco use causes more than 480,000 deaths each year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). To protect the public, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act granted FDA [Food and Drug Administration], an agency within HHS, authority to regulate tobacco products. To fund FDA's tobacco regulation activities--such as those aimed at preventing youth use of tobacco products--the act authorizes FDA to assess and collect a specified total amount of user fees from tobacco manufacturers and importers each fiscal year. The total amount of user fees are to be allocated based on the individual manufacturers' and importers' market share in six FDA-regulated tobacco product classes. GAO was asked to review FDA's tobacco user fees. This report examines FDA's process for the calculation, billing, and collection of these fees. GAO reviewed the relevant law and regulations, as well as FDA policies and procedures, and interviewed FDA officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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Superfund: EPA Should Take Additional Actions to Manage Risks from Climate Change, Report to Congressional Requesters
From GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Administered by EPA [Environmental Protection Agency], Superfund is the principal federal program for addressing sites containing hazardous substances. EPA lists some of the most seriously contaminated sites--most of which are nonfederal--on the NPL [National Priorities List] and has recorded over 500 contaminants, including arsenic and lead, at those sites. Climate change may make some natural disasters more frequent or more intense, which may damage NPL sites and potentially release contaminants, according to the Fourth National Climate Assessment. GAO was asked to review issues related to the impact of climate change on nonfederal NPL sites. This report examines, among other objectives, (1) what available federal data suggest about the number of nonfederal NPL sites that are located in areas that may be impacted by selected climate change effects and (2) the extent to which EPA has managed risks to human health and the environment from the potential impacts of climate change effects at such sites. GAO analyzed available federal data; reviewed laws, regulations, and documents; interviewed federal officials and stakeholders; visited three nonfederal NPL sites that experienced natural disasters; and compared EPA actions to manage risk to GAO's six essential elements of enterprise risk management."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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Religious-Based Hate Crimes: DOJ Needs to Improve Support to Colleges Given Increasing Reports on Campuses, Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "On average, 205,000 U.S. residents report being victims of hate crimes every year, according to DOJ [Department of Justice] officials. Hate crimes, including those motivated by bias against an actual or perceived religion, can have a broader effect than other kinds of violent crimes because they target both the victim and the group the victim represents. GAO was asked to review religious-based hate crimes on college campuses. This report reviews 1) the prevalence of religious-based hate crimes and bias incidents on college campuses; 2) what steps colleges are taking to address them; and 3) the extent to which Education and DOJ help colleges, campus law enforcement, and other stakeholders monitor and address these crimes and bias incidents."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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Infrastructure Projects: Actions Needed to Fully Develop Performance Schedules for Environmental Reviews, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "FAST-41 [Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act Title 41] outlined specific procedures for improving the timeliness, predictability, and transparency of the environmental review and authorization process for certain infrastructure projects in 10 specific sectors, including pipelines, renewable energy projects, and electricity transmission. Congress included provisions in statute for GAO to review the efforts of the Permitting Council to implement FAST41. This report examines, among other objectives, the Permitting Council's process for developing and assessing implementation of best practices for environmental reviews, and the steps the Permitting Council has taken to develop performance schedules for the 10 infrastructure sectors. GAO reviewed the Permitting Council's documents and guidance; evaluated the council's process for developing performance schedules against selected GAO best practices related to the development of the schedules; and interviewed officials from federal agencies that are members of the Permitting Council, as well as selected project sponsors selected based on several factors, including projects' status and infrastructure sector."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2019-10
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2020 Census: Actions Needed to Improve Census Bureau's Process for Working with Governments to Build Address List, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "A complete address list is a cornerstone of the Bureau's effort to conduct an accurate census. LUCA [Local Update of Census Addresses] is one of several operations the Bureau uses to produce its address list. It gives tribal, state, and local governments the opportunity to review the address list for their areas and provide the Bureau with any updates before the census. GAO was asked to review the status of LUCA, including its effect on other operations, as well as LUCA's overall effectiveness and necessity. This report examines (1) LUCA's status and its likely effects on 2020 field operations, and (2) what considerations the Bureau and other stakeholders could use to reexamine LUCA for 2030. GAO reviewed Bureau plans, analyzed data from LUCA participation and the Bureau's review of submissions, and held 9 discussions on a possible reexamination of LUCA with relevant Bureau officials, a council representing participating governments, and census data subject matter specialists."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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Disaster Resilience Framework: Principles for Analyzing Federal Efforts to Facilitate and Promote Resilience to Natural Disasters
From the Disaster Resilience Framework: "GAO [Government Accountability Office] created the Disaster Resilience Framework to serve as a guide for analysis of federal actions to facilitate and promote resilience to natural disasters. This Framework is organized around three broad overlapping principles and a series of questions that those who provide oversight or management of federal efforts can consider when analyzing opportunities to enhance their contribution to national disaster resilience."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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Climate Resilience: A Strategic Investment Approach for High-Priority Projects Could Help Target Federal Resources, Report to the Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Committee on Environment and Public Works, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Federal funding for disaster assistance since 2005 has totaled at least $450 billion, including a 2019 supplemental appropriation of $19.1 billion for recent disasters. In 2018 alone, 14 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disaster events occurred across the United States, with total costs of at least $91 billion including the loss of public and private property, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Disaster costs will likely increase as certain extreme weather events become more frequent and intense due to climate change, according to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, a global change research coordinating body that spans 13 federal agencies. In 2013, GAO [Government Accountability Office] included 'Limiting the Federal Government's Fiscal Exposure by Better Managing Climate Change Risks' on its list of federal program areas at high risk of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, or most in need of transformation. The cost of recent weather disasters has illustrated the need to plan for climate change risks and invest in climate resilience. Investing in climate resilience can reduce the need for far more costly steps in the decades to come."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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Surplus Plutonium Disposition: NNSA's Long-Term Plutonium Oxide Production Plans Are Uncertain, Report to the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "The United States has 57.2 MT [metric tons] of weapons-usable plutonium that it has declared surplus and that still requires disposition. This plutonium exists in various metal and non-metal forms, including pits--the central core of a nuclear weapon. To prevent insidious use of this plutonium, DOE [Department of Energy] plans to disassemble pits into metal; convert the plutonium metal to plutonium oxide, a powder-like substance; dilute it with inert material; and dispose of it at WIPP [Waste Isolation Pilot Plant]. [...] GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review DOE's plans for plutonium oxide production to dispose of surplus plutonium. This report (1) examines the amount of surplus plutonium in DOE's inventory that could be converted to plutonium oxide for dilution and disposal and (2) examines DOE's capacity to produce plutonium oxide."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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Space Command and Control: Comprehensive Planning and Oversight Could Help DOD Acquire Critical Capabilities and Address Challenges, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The House Armed Services Committee report accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 contained a provision for GAO to review DOD's newest efforts to develop space command and control capabilities. This report describes the status of these efforts and identifies challenges the Air Force faces in bringing them to fruition."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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Information Technology: Agencies Need to Fully Implement Key Workforce Planning Activities, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "GAO was asked to conduct a government-wide review of IT [information technology] workforce planning. The objective was to determine the extent to which federal agencies effectively implemented IT workforce planning practices. To do so, GAO compared IT workforce policies and related documentation from each of the 24 Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 agencies to activities from an IT workforce planning framework GAO issued. GAO rated each agency as having fully, substantially, partially, minimally, or not implemented for each activity. GAO supplemented its reviews of agency documentation by interviewing agency officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
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2020 Census: Status Update on Early Operations, a Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "GAO was asked to provide regular updates on the 2020 Census. This report examines: 1. cost and progress of key 2020 census operations critical to a cost-effective enumeration, and 2. major trends or early warnings that may require Census Bureau or congressional attention. GAO also provides an enclosure with background information on the cost, scope, and methods of the Census."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-10
