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VA Real Property: Preliminary Observations on Challenges Limiting VA's Ability to Effectively Manage Its Assets, Statement of Andrew Von Ah, Director, Physical Infrastructure, Testimony Before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] manages a vast portfolio of real property assets, including a healthcare system that provides care at 171 VA medical centers and 1,112 outpatient sites to over 9 million veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VA has pressing infrastructure needs, including adapting to changes in veterans' demographics and maintaining or replacing aging facilities. GAO's [Government Accountability Office] key characteristics of an asset management framework state that effectively managing assets requires, among other things, maintaining leadership support that provides the necessary resources; a collaborative organizational culture; and a system for evaluating and improving asset management performance. However, GAO's previous and ongoing work has found that VA continues to face challenges on these fronts. Although VA has implemented some GAO recommendations, several priority recommendations remain outstanding in areas related to asset management, such as staffing and capital planning. GAO was asked to testify about VA's management of its capital asset portfolio. This statement summarizes GAO's findings from prior reports and preliminary observations from ongoing work examining VA's capital asset management. In ongoing work, GAO reviewed VA documentation and interviewed officials from VA headquarters offices involved in asset management. GAO also interviewed personnel at a selection of eight VA medical centers and seven regional offices and from four Veterans Service Organizations about VA's asset management."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Von Ah, Andrew
2021-06-09
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Weapon Systems Annual Assessment: Updated Program Oversight Approach Needed, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Document: "GAO's [Government Accountability Office] 19th annual assessment of the Department of Defense's (DOD) weapon programs comes at a time of significant internal changes to the department's acquisition process. Specifically, DOD began implementing its new acquisition framework intended to, among other things, deliver solutions to the end user in a timely manner. However, GAO found that many programs have planned acquisition approaches that, unless properly managed and overseen, could result in cost and schedule challenges similar to those GAO has reported on for nearly the past 2 decades. DOD's new acquisition framework allows program managers to use one or more of six acquisition pathways--including the major capability acquisition and middle-tier acquisition (MTA) pathways used by the programs GAO reviewed. Each pathway is governed by separate policies for milestones, cost and schedule goals, and reporting."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06-08
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National Science Foundation: COVID-19 Affected Ongoing Construction of Major Facilities Projects
From the Document: "Since GAO's [Government Accountability Office] April 2020 report on the status of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) major facilities projects, the Large Hadron Collider High Luminosity Upgrade program began construction, and it along with the four other major facilities projects in construction (see figure), have weathered schedule delays associated with the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. To partially account for increased costs associated with the pandemic, such as the cost of paying project staff while work is paused, NSF has authorized $38.9 million in total project cost increases to the award recipients constructing three of the five projects: [1] $18.9 million for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, [2] $10.0 million for the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, and [3] $10.0 million for Regional Class Research Vessels. Because the pandemic is ongoing and its full effects are not yet known, NSF expects to make further adjustments to the cost and schedule of all five major projects in construction. Design work on an additional major facility project continued without significant interruption from the pandemic. Further, NSF made awards to begin the agency's first three mid-scale research infrastructure projects."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06-08
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Department of Energy: Environmental Liability Continues to Grow, but Opportunities May Exist to Reduce Costs and Risks
From the Document: "The Department of Energy (DOE) has the difficult task of cleaning up hazardous and radioactive waste at sites across the country. The waste was created by nuclear weapons research and production dating back to World War II and the Cold War. DOE's cleanup mission includes addressing contaminated soil and groundwater; deactivating and decommissioning contaminated facilities; and designing, constructing, and operating facilities to treat millions of gallons of radioactive waste. [...] We prepared this report under the authority of the Comptroller General to assist Congress with its oversight responsibilities. This report describes the status of DOE's environmental liability and challenges and opportunities GAO [Government Accountability Office] has identified that DOE faces in managing its cleanup responsibilities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06-08
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COVID-19: DOD Has Focused on Strategy and Oversight to Protect Military Servicemember Health, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic poses risks to the health of U.S. servicemembers. Protecting forces from COVID-19 is therefore essential to DOD's ability to defend the United States, maintain warfighting readiness, and support the whole-of-government response to the pandemic. To help facilitate the COVID-19 pandemic response, Congress appropriated about $10.5 billion to DOD through the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on its ongoing monitoring and oversight related to the pandemic. GAO was also asked to examine the military health system response to COVID-19. This report examines, in regard to COVID-19, DOD's (1) strategy for protecting military servicemember health, (2) oversight of its strategy, and (3) research and development projects for vaccines, therapeutics, and testing. GAO reviewed guidance and plans for health protection and pandemic response that comprise DOD's strategy, and evaluated alignment of the strategy with key considerations from prior GAO work on pandemic preparedness. To identify oversight efforts, GAO reviewed DOD briefings on the progress of health protection measures, and analyzed 2020 DOD data on COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and testing. GAO also interviewed DOD leaders, officials from the military department medical organizations, combatant commands, and four military medical treatment facilities selected on the basis of military department and location."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06-03
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Social Security Administration: New Data Exchanges with Some States Provide Limited Information on Foster Care Beneficiaries
From the Document: "Certain children in foster care are eligible to receive funds from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Specifically, qualifying low-income children with a disability may be eligible to receive funds through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, and certain children, such as those who are eligible survivors, may receive funds through the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program. [...] The Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018 (the Act) included provisions for, among other things, stronger monitoring of representative payees and additional information sharing between SSA and state agencies. Section 103(a) of the Act requires SSA to (1) enter into agreements with states to share and match child welfare and SSA data on a monthly basis, and (2) for any represented minor beneficiary in foster care whose foster care arrangements have changed, redetermine the appropriate representative payee. Additionally, the Act included a provision for GAO to evaluate the number of represented minor beneficiaries in foster care under the responsibility of a state, and for those beneficiaries, the type of representative payee and how the Social Security funds were used.3 This report describes (1) the status of the Section 103(a) data exchanges between SSA and state child welfare agencies, and (2) the available data on the number of represented minor beneficiaries in foster care and, for those beneficiaries, the type of representative payee and the use of Social Security funds."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06-03
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Limpieza efectuada por el DOD: Se anticipa que los esfuerzos que se llevan a cabo en los antiguos sitios militares en Vieques y Culebra, Puerto Rico, continúen hasta el año 2032, Informe para los comités del Congreso
"Durante varias décadas, el Departamento de Defensa (DoD, por sus siglas en inglés) utilizó las islas de Vieques y Culebra, Puerto Rico, como sitios de entrenamiento que generaron grandes cantidades de municiones, sustancias peligrosas y otros agentes contaminantes en las islas y sus aguas circundantes. El DoD comenzó los esfuerzos de limpieza en Culebra a principios de la década de 1990, y en Vieques, a mediados de la década de 2000. Ambas gestiones se llevan a cabo de conformidad con la Ley de Responsabilidad, Compensación y Respuesta Ambiental Integral (CERCLA, por sus siglas en inglés) de 1980, en su versión enmendada. La Marina de los EE. UU. financia y dirige las iniciativas de limpieza en Vieques, y la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los EE. UU. (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) tiene a su cargo la supervisión de estas. El Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejército de los EE. UU. financia y dirige las iniciativas de limpieza en Culebra, y el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico tiene a su cargo la supervisión de estas."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Nuclear Security Enterprise: NNSA Should Use Portfolio Management Leading Practices to Support Modernization Efforts, Report to the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "NNSA [National Nuclear Security Administration] is simultaneously modernizing the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile and the infrastructure on which weapons research and production programs depend. These efforts include multi-billion-dollar defense programs and projects that provide the capabilities needed for maintenance and modernization programs. Congress previously directed NNSA to identify its needed capabilities. The Senate report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review NNSA's approach to managing its defense programs and to identifying capabilities. This report examines the extent to which NNSA (1) used selected portfolio management leading practices to manage its maintenance and modernization programs and projects and (2) developed a comprehensive and complete capability assessment to support portfolio management."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Renewable Ocean Energy
From the Document: "Renewable ocean energy has the potential to reduce global carbon emissions from fossil fuels by 500 million tons by 2050, and could also meet the energy needs of isolated communities, which may not have access to reliable electricity sources. However, the technologies can be costly and more research is needed to understand their potential effects on marine wildlife."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Facial Recognition Technology: Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Should Better Assess Privacy and Other Risks, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Federal agencies that employ law enforcement officers can use facial recognition technology to assist criminal investigations, among other activities. For example, the technology can help identify an unknown individual in a photo or video surveillance. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review federal law enforcement use of facial recognition technology. This report examines the 1) ownership and use of facial recognition technology by federal agencies that employ law enforcement officers, 2) types of activities these agencies use the technology to support, and 3) the extent that these agencies track employee use of facial recognition technology owned by nonfederal entities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Small Business Innovation Research: Agencies Need to Fully Implement Requirements for Managing Fraud, Waste, and Abuse, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Federal agencies awarded small businesses almost $4 billion in SBIR [Small Business Innovation Research] and STTR [Small Business Technology Transfer] awards in fiscal year 2019 to perform research and development and commercialize technologies. SBA [Small Business Administration] oversees the programs, which are carried out by officials in 11 participating agencies. SBA established 10 minimum requirements for participating agencies to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in the programs. The Small Business Act, as amended, also requires efforts by the 11 agencies' OIGs [Offices of Inspector General] to mitigate the programs' fraud risks. The Act also includes a provision that GAO [Government Accountability Office] study fraud, waste, and abuse in the programs and report to Congress every 4 years. This GAO report, its third, examines (1) the extent to which the 11 agencies have implemented SBA's minimum requirements and (2) the efforts OIGs have taken to mitigate fraud, waste, and abuse in SBIR and STTR programs."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Artificial Intelligence: An Accountability Framework for Federal Agencies and Other Entities
From the Highlights: "AI [artificial intelligence] is a transformative technology with applications in medicine, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, defense, and many other areas. It also holds substantial promise for improving government operations. Federal guidance has focused on ensuring AI is responsible, equitable, traceable, reliable, and governable. Third-party assessments and audits are important to achieving these goals. However, AI systems pose unique challenges to such oversight because their inputs and operations are not always visible. GAO [Government Accountability Office]'s objective was to identify key practices to help ensure accountability and responsible AI use by federal agencies and other entities involved in the design, development, deployment, and continuous monitoring of AI systems. To develop this framework, GAO convened a Comptroller General Forum with AI experts from across the federal government, industry, and nonprofit sectors. It also conducted an extensive literature review and obtained independent validation of key practices from program officials and subject matter experts. In addition, GAO interviewed AI subject matter experts representing industry, state audit associations, nonprofit entities, and other organizations, as well as officials from federal agencies and Offices of Inspector General."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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U.S. Territories: Public Debt Outlook - 2021 Update, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The five permanently inhabited U.S. territories-Puerto Rico, USVI [United States Virgin Islands], American Samoa, CNMI [Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands], and Guam- borrow through financial markets. Puerto Rico, in particular, has amassed large amounts of debt, and began to default on debt payments in 2015. In 2017, hurricanes caused widespread damage in Puerto Rico and USVI. Further, in 2018, American Samoa, CNMI, and Guam experienced typhoons and cyclones. The effects of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic on the territories' economies is not yet fully known. In June 2016, Congress passed and the President signed the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act. It contains a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the public debt of the five territories every 2 years. In this report, for each of the five territories, GAO updates (1) trends in public debt and its composition; (2) trends in revenue and its composition, and in overall financial condition; and (3) the fiscal risk factors that affect each territory's ability to repay public debt."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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COVID-19: Implementation and Oversight of Preparedness Strategies at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, Report to Congressional Addresses
From the Highlights: "VHA [Veterans Health Administration] provides health care to more than 10 million veterans each year, offering a range of services at approximately 170 VAMCs [Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers] nationwide. In January 2020, components of VHA's emergency management system began coordinating the agency's efforts to prepare for the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic so VAMCs could continue the delivery of services while maintaining the health and safety of patients and staff. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on its ongoing monitoring and oversight efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report describes VHA efforts to prepare for COVID-19, including (1) how selected VAMCs implemented VHA's COVID-19 preparedness strategies; and (2) the steps VHA took to oversee VAMCs' implementation of preparedness strategies."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Immigration Detention: Ice Efforts to Address COVID-19 in Detention Facilities, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Detention facilities can present a challenging environment to manage the risk of transmission of infectious diseases, including COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement], within the Department of Homeland Security, is the lead federal agency responsible for providing safe, secure, and humane confinement for detained individuals of foreign nationality while they wait for resolution of their immigration cases, or removal from the United States. As of March 2021, ICE confirmed over 10,000 cases of COVID-19 among detainees within its detention facilities nationwide and recorded eight deaths. This report examines: (1) ICE's policies and procedures for responding to COVID-19 in immigration detention facilities and how they were implemented at select facilities; (2) ICE's mechanisms for conducting oversight of COVID-19 related health and safety measures; and (3) ICE's data on COVID-19 cases and identified high-risk health factors among detainees."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Firearm Injuries: Health Care Service Needs and Costs, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "In 2019, close to 40,000 people died from a firearm injury in the U.S., and around twice that number sustained non-fatal injuries. Over 100 organizations representing health care providers consider the number of firearm injuries that occur each day to be a public health epidemic. Health care costs associated with firearm injuries--both those for services provided during initial hospital treatment and those for services provided long-term--are paid for, at least in part, by public payers, such as Medicaid and Medicare. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the health care costs of firearm injuries. This report describes the initial hospital costs of firearm injuries in the U.S. and what is known about the costs of subsequent care, as well as the post-discharge services that may be needed to treat these injuries."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Veterans Community Care Program: VA Took Action on Veterans' Access to Care, but COVID-19 Highlighted Continued Scheduling Challenges, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "In June 2019, VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] implemented a new community care program--the VCCP [Veterans Community Care Program]--under which eligible veterans can receive care from community providers. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has previously reported on challenges VA has faced regarding oversight of its community care programs, including the VCCP. VA's ability to ensure veterans have timely access to care under the VCCP is especially important as VA continues to respond to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act includes a provision for GAO to report on its ongoing monitoring and oversight efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report describes (1) VA's response to the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to the VCCP and (2) challenges selected VA medical facilities experienced scheduling VCCP appointments."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Cybersecurity: HHS Defined Roles and Responsibilities, but Can Further Improve Collaboration, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] and the healthcare and public health sector rely heavily on information systems to fulfill their missions, including delivering healthcare-related services and responding to national health emergencies, such as COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. Federal laws and guidance have set requirements for HHS to address cybersecurity within the department and the sector. Federal guidance also requires collaboration and coordination to strengthen cybersecurity at HHS and in the sector. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review HHS's organizational approach to address cybersecurity. This report discusses HHS's roles and responsibilities for departmental cybersecurity; HHS's roles and responsibilities for healthcare and public health sector cybersecurity; and HHS's efforts to collaborate to manage its cybersecurity responsibilities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Voters with Disabilities: State and Local Actions and Federal Resources to Address Accessibility of Early Voting, Voters with Disabilities State and Local Actions and Federal Resources to Address Accessibility of Early Voting, Voters with Disabilities State and Local Actions and Federal Resources to Address Accessibility of Early Voting, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "An estimated 38 million Americans with disabilities were eligible to vote in the November 2020 election, according to a Rutgers University study. Federal law generally requires that all aspects of voting be accessible to people with disabilities. Recent increases in voting in person and by mail prior to Election Day have focused attention on these voting modes. GAO was asked to examine the accessibility of voting prior to Election Day and voting information. This report addresses steps taken by selected states and localities to (1) make voting prior to Election Day accessible, and the challenges in doing so; and (2) make voting information available and accessible, and the challenges in doing so. It also addresses (3) DOJ and EAC [Election Assistance Commission] efforts to assist states and localities with voting accessibility."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Spectrum Management: Agencies Should Strengthen Collaborative Mechanisms and Processes to Address Potential Interference, Report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "Spectrum is a scarce resource that supports vital services, such as mobile communications and Earth-observing satellites. In the U.S., FCC [Federal Communications Commission] and NTIA [National Telecommunications and Information Administration] regulate and manage nonfederal and federal spectrum use, respectively, while the ITU [International Telecommunication Union's] sets global regulations and hosts conferences to update them. Recent U.S. and ITU activities have sought to designate spectrum for possible 5G [5th generation] use and to study how to do so without causing harmful interference to other uses, particularly satellites like those operated by NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] and NASA [National Aeronautics and Space Administration] that contribute to weather forecasting and climate science. GAO was asked to review how agencies coordinate on and study these matters. Among other objectives, this report examines: (1) the extent that cognizant federal agencies follow leading practices in collaborating on potential interference effects on weather forecasting and (2) their processes to conduct and review technical interference studies."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Imported Agriculture: Updated Planning and Communication Could Enhance Agency Coordination of Inspections, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "USDA estimates that over 50,000 invasive species are already in the U.S., costing almost $120 billion annually in environmental damages and losses. Federal inspectors at U.S. ports of entry help prevent threats from invasive species by inspecting agricultural products (e.g., plants, seeds, and animals) entering the U.S. CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] conducts the majority of inspections, APHIS [Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service] sets inspection standards, and FWS [Fish and Wildlife Service] inspects imported wildlife. The Protecting America's Food and Agriculture Act of 2019 authorized $221.6 million in appropriations to increase CBP staffing levels for inspectors for fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022. The act includes a provision that GAO [Government Accountability Office] review federal efforts to address risks to the agricultural supply. This report examines, among other things, how federal agencies coordinate responsibilities for inspection of imported agriculture."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Small Business Administration: Use of Supplemental Funds for Administering COVID-19-Related Programs, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic disrupted small businesses and generated an immediate need for emergency funding to keep businesses operating. In response, Congress dramatically increased the amount of loans, grants, and other financial assistance available from SBA [Small Business Administration]. To help SBA manage the large volume of assistance, Congress provided the agency additional funds for administrative expenses. Congress included a provision in statute for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on SBA's use of supplemental appropriations provided in fiscal year 2020 for administrative expenses. This report discusses (1) the amount of supplemental appropriations SBA received in fiscal year 2020 for administrative expenses and SBA's planned uses for these funds, and (2) the extent to which SBA had obligated and expended these funds as of January 31, 2021, and for what purposes."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Navy Ships: Timely Actions Needed to Improve Planning and Develop Capabilities for Battle Damage Repair, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The ability to repair and maintain ships plays a critical role in sustaining Navy readiness. After the Cold War, the Navy divested many wartime ship repair capabilities. With the rise of great power competitors capable of producing high-end threats in warfare, the Navy must now be prepared to quickly salvage and repair damage to a modern fleet. House Report 116-120, accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to assess the Navy's efforts to identify and mitigate challenges in repairing battle-damaged ships during a great power conflict. GAO's report (1) discusses the challenges the Navy has identified in using its regular maintenance capability for battle damage repair, and (2) evaluates the extent to which the Navy has begun developing the battle damage repair capability it requires to prevail in a great power conflict."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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DHS Office of Inspector General: Actions Needed to Address Long-Standing Management Weaknesses, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "Since fiscal year 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) has not adhered to a number of professional standards for federal OIGs and key practices for effective management. Frequent leadership turnover and associated shifts in leadership priorities have contributed to DHS OIG's long-standing management and operational weaknesses and impeded efforts to address them."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Digital Vaccine Credentials
From the Document: "Digital vaccine credentials certify that a person has been vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. Such credentials can be a tool to mitigate COVID-19 transmission as countries seek to safely reopen social and economic activities, including travel. However, challenges related to data protection, interoperability, and equity may limit their use and potential public health benefits."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Homeland Security: DHS Needs to Fully Implement Key Practices in Acquiring Biometric Identity Management System, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "DHS currently uses an outdated system, implemented over 27 years ago, for providing biometric identity management services (i.e., fingerprint matching and facial recognition technology services), known as the Automated Biometric Identification System, or IDENT. In 2016, DHS initiated a multi-billion dollar program known as HART [Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology], which is intended to replace the existing system. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to evaluate the HART program. Its specific objectives, among others, were to (1) determine the status of the program, (2) assess the extent to which the DHS CIO [Chief Information Officer] was accurately reporting risk and meeting applicable oversight requirements, and (3) assess the extent to which the program was identifying and managing its risks."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Federal Protective Service: Better Documented Cost Estimates Could Help Stakeholders Make Security Decisions, Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Over one million employees and a range of visitors seeking services at federal facilities depend on FPS [Federal Protective Service] to ensure the safety of both people and property at these locations. This report examines stakeholders' perspectives on FPS's performance of three key activities. GAO [Government Accountability Office] identified key activities from FPS data on work hours. GAO held discussion groups with stakeholders from 27 randomly selected facilities where FPS provided guard services and responded to incidents in fiscal year 2019 and analyzed stakeholder responses from 2017-2019 to GSA's [General Services Administration] and FPS's feedback instruments. These sources of stakeholder views are not representative but collectively provide insight into stakeholders' satisfaction with how FPS is performing key activities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Taxpayer Advocate Service: Opportunities Exist to Improve Reports to Congress, Report to the Republican Leader, Subcommittee on Oversight, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "TAS [Taxpayer Advocate Service], an independent office within IRS [Internal Revenue Service], helps taxpayers resolve problems with IRS and addresses broader, systemic issues that affect groups of taxpayers by recommending administrative and legislative changes to mitigate such problems. Congress mandated that TAS issue two reports every year--one known as the annual report which includes sections on, among other things, the 10 most serious problems encountered by taxpayers, and the other known as the objectives report that discusses organizational objectives. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review how TAS carries out its mission, focusing on resources and reporting. This report (1) describes TAS's resources and workload, and (2) assesses TAS's reporting to Congress and identifies opportunities for improvement."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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VA COVID-19 Procurements: Pandemic Underscores Urgent Need to Modernize Supply Chain, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In March 2020 and March 2021, Congress appropriated $19.6 billion and $17 billion in supplemental funds, respectively, for VA [Department of Veterans Affairs]'s COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] response effort. VA also authorized use of emergency flexibilities and automated aspects of its inventory system. In accordance with Congress's direction in the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act to monitor the exercise of authorities and use of funds provided to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the pandemic, relevant committees requested our sustained focus on VA. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess VA's acquisition management during its COVID-19 pandemic response. This report examines VA's efforts to obtain and track COVID-19-related products and services amid its ongoing struggle to improve its inventory and supply chain management."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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2020 Census: Innovations Helped with Implementation, but Bureau Can Do More to Realize Future Benefits, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "For the 2020 Census, the U.S. Census Bureau (Bureau) implemented a series of planned innovations to rein in cost increases that have characterized recent decennial censuses and enhance data quality. For example, the Bureau reengineered the way that it compiled its address list to reduce time spent physically going door-to-door. The Bureau also developed automated tools designed to manage follow-up with nonresponding households more efficiently. Understanding how these innovations performed can help to gauge the cost and quality of the 2020 Census while informing decisions about future censuses. This report, the second in a series of retrospective reviews of the 2020 Census, examines the extent to which the Bureau's innovations to the 2020 Census helped the Bureau achieve its cost and quality goals."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
