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Global Health Assistance: Awardees' Declinations of U.S. Planned Funding Due to Abortion-Related Restrictions, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "The United States is the world's largest donor of global health assistance. Congress provided about $8.7 billion for the Global Health Programs (GHP) account in fiscal year 2018. In 2017, the President reinstated and expanded a policy, which now requires foreign NGOs [non-governmental organizations] to agree that, as a condition of receiving global health assistance, they will not perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning or provide financial support during the award term to other foreign NGOs that conduct such activities. [...] GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the implementation of the PLGHA [Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance] policy. This report identifies (1) global health assistance awards that U.S. agencies determined to be subject to the U.S. government's PLGHA policy requiring foreign NGOs to agree that they would not perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning, and (2) planned funding for awards involving NGOs that declined to accept the terms and conditions of this policy. GAO analyzed data provided by U.S. agencies of awards subject to the PLGHA policy and awards in which NGOs declined to accept the terms and conditions of this policy."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Intergovernmental Issues: Key Trends and Issues Regarding State and Local Sector Finances, a Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "State and local governments work together with the federal government to deliver a broad range of public services. GAO's [Government Accountability Office] prior work has shown that the state and local government sector will likely face fiscal pressures during the next 50 years due to a gap between spending and revenues. The fiscal sustainability of the state and local government sector is essential to effectively implement intergovernmental programs. GAO was asked to review recent trends in state and local government expenditures and revenues, fiscal pressures for state and local governments with intergovernmental implications, and the implications of federal policy for these pressures. This report (1) examines trends in state and local government expenditures and revenues during the past two decades; and (2) synthesizes expert views regarding the effects of federal policy on state and local government fiscal conditions."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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National Transportation Safety Board: More Detail on the Selection Process Could Increase the Understanding of the Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The National Transportation Safety Board [NTSB] Reauthorization Act of 2018 included a provision for GAO to examine NTSB's methodology for evaluating and selecting recommendations for inclusion in the Most Wanted List. This report discusses (1) NTSB's methodology for developing its Most Wanted List and (2) how NTSB addressed statutory requirements and how its methodology aligned with components for systematic decision-making, among other objectives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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2019 Lobbying Disclosure: Observations on Lobbyists' Compliance with Disclosure Requirements, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The LDA [Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995], as amended, requires lobbyists to file quarterly disclosure reports and semiannual reports on certain political contributions. The law also includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to annually audit lobbyists' compliance with the LDA. This report, among other things, (1) determines the extent to which lobbyists can demonstrate compliance with disclosure requirements; (2) identifies challenges or potential improvements to compliance that lobbyists report; and (3) describes the efforts of USAO [U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia] in enforcing LDA compliance. This is GAO's 13th annual report under the provision."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Mixed-Use Fisheries: South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Councils Would Benefit from Documented Processes for Allocation Reviews, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Commercial and recreational marine fisheries--including those in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico--are critical to the nation's economy, contributing approximately $99.5 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product in 2016, according to the Department of Commerce. NMFS [National Marine Fisheries Service] and the councils may allocate fishing privileges for mixed-use fisheries in federal waters, but establishing and revising such allocations can be complex, in part because of concerns about equity. The Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018 includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review mixed-use fisheries allocations in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. For these regions, this report examines (1) the extent to which the councils established or revised mixed-use fisheries allocations, (2) key sources of information that may be available for reviewing allocations, and (3) the extent to which the councils have developed processes to help guide such reviews."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Aviation: FAA Needs to Better Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Fraud and Abuse Risks in Aircraft Registration, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "The U.S. aircraft registry, managed by FAA [Federal Aviation Administration], maintains information on approximately 300,000 civil aircraft. FAA issues aircraft registration to individuals and entities that meet eligibility requirements, such as U.S. citizenship or permanent legal residence. Registry fraud and abuse hinders the ability of law-enforcement and safety officials to use the registry to identify aircraft and their owners who might be involved in illicit or unsafe operations. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine registry fraud and abuse. This report assesses FAA's actions to (1) prevent, (2) detect, and (3) respond to fraud and abuse risks in aircraft registrations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Sexual Harassment in Stem Research: Agencies Have Taken Actions, but Need Complaint Procedures, Overall Plans, and Better Collaboration, Report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Sexual harassment is degrading and illegal. Studies show it has a negative effect on the ability of women to engage in research at the same level as men. Title IX prohibits sexual harassment and other forms of sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal funding, and federal agencies are required to enforce the law at universities they fund. In fiscal year 2018, the most recent year for which data were available during GAO's review, U.S. universities were awarded about $27 billion in federal grants for STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] research. GAO was asked to review federal efforts to help prevent sexual harassment at universities that receive such grants. This report examines, among other things, (1) how selected federal agencies receive, investigate, and resolve Title IX complaints; (2) the extent to which selected agencies have established an overall plan for their sexual harassment prevention efforts for university grantees, including for communicating and evaluating these efforts and (3) the extent to which selected agencies collaborate on efforts to prevent sexual harassment at universities they fund for STEM research. GAO reviewed agencies' relevant regulations and documentation and interviewed agency officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Defense Nuclear Enterprise: Systems Face Sustainment Challenges, and Actions Are Needed to Effectively Monitor Efforts to Improve the Enterprise, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In 2014, the Secretary of Defense directed two reviews of DOD's nuclear enterprise. These reviews made recommendations to address problems with leadership, organization, investment, morale, policy, and procedures, as well as other shortcomings that adversely affected the nuclear deterrence mission. In 2015, DOD conducted a review focused on NC3 [nuclear command, control, and communications] systems, which resulted in additional recommendations to improve NC3. [...] This report addresses the extent to which DOD has made progress in (1) the implementation and tracking of the recommendations from the 2014 and 2015 nuclear enterprise reviews and (2) addressing sustainment and maintenance-related challenges and planning for the continued sustainment and maintenance of existing defense nuclear enterprise systems."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Drug Misuse: Sustained National Efforts Are Necessary for Prevention, Response, and Recovery, Report to the Congress
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Drug misuse--the use of illicit drugs and the misuse of prescription drugs-- has been a persistent and longstanding public health issue in the United States. Ongoing drug control efforts seek to address drug misuse through education and prevention, addiction treatment, and law enforcement and drug interdiction, as well as programs that serve populations affected by drug misuse. These efforts involve federal, state, local, and tribal governments as well as community groups and the private sector. In recent years, the federal government has spent billions of dollars and has enlisted more than a dozen agencies to address drug misuse and its effects. This report provides information on (1) trends in drug misuse (2) costs and other effects of drug misuse on society and the economy, and (3) challenges the nation faces in addressing the drug crisis."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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FDA Drug Approval: Application Review Times Largely Reflect Agency Goals, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Before a drug can be marketed in the United States, FDA must determine that the drug is safe and effective for its intended use through a review of evidence that a drug sponsor--the entity seeking to market the drug--submits in an NDA [new drug applications]. The review is conducted by one of FDA's divisions (17, at the time of GAO's review) that each specialize in a specific group of drug products, such as hematology products. NDA reviews are complex, and may involve not only an initial review, but also reviews of resubmissions if the initial review does not result in approval. Under FDA's PDUFA [Prescription Drug User Fee Act] commitments, FDA's goal is to complete reviews of 90 percent of NDAs within specific time frames linked to key features of the NDAs. GAO was asked to examine NDA review times across FDA's divisions. In this report, GAO examines (among other things) differences between FDA divisions in the key features of the NDAs they review and initial review times, as well as the extent to which key NDA features contribute to these differences."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Maternal Mortality: Trends in Pregnancy-Related Deaths and Federal Efforts to Reduce Them, Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Every year in the United States, hundreds of women die of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. According to CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] data, racial/ethnic disparities exist with regard to these deaths. For example, non-Hispanic black women were more than three times as likely to die as non-Hispanic white women, and non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native women were more than two times as likely to die as non-Hispanic white women. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review issues related to maternal mortality in the United States. In this report, GAO describes, among other things, (1) trends in pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, including trends in causes and timing of these deaths, and (2) HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] funding efforts focused on reducing pregnancy-related deaths."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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FDA Drug Approval: Application Review Times Largely Reflect FDA Goals, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Before a drug can be marketed in the United States, FDA must determine that the drug is safe and effective for its intended use through a review of evidence that a drug sponsor--the entity seeking to market the drug--submits in an NDA [new drug applications]. The review is conducted by one of FDA's divisions (17, at the time of GAO's review) that each specialize in a specific group of drug products, such as hematology products. NDA reviews are complex, and may involve not only an initial review, but also reviews of resubmissions if the initial review does not result in approval. Under FDA's PDUFA [Prescription Drug User Fee Act] commitments, FDA's goal is to complete reviews of 90 percent of NDAs within specific time frames linked to key features of the NDAs. GAO was asked to examine NDA review times across FDA's divisions. In this report, GAO examines (among other things) differences between FDA divisions in the key features of the NDAs they review and initial review times, as well as the extent to which key NDA features contribute to these differences."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Defense Logistics Agreements: DOD Should Improve Oversight and Seek Payment from Foreign Partners for Thousands of Orders it Identifies as Overdue, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "According to DOD, from fiscal years 2014 through 2019, it used ACSAs [acquisition and cross-servicing agreements] to provide billions of dollars of logistic support, supplies, and services to more than 100 partner countries. For example, this support included fuel and ammunition to assist international exercises and coalition operations, among other efforts. Senate Report 115-262 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review ACSA management. This report examines the extent to which (1) agencies have provided information to Congress about ACSAs, and (2) DOD has tracked and received reimbursement for ACSA orders."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Weapon System Sustainment: DOD Needs a Strategy for Redesigning the F-35's Central Logistics System, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The F-35 is DOD's most ambitious and costly weapon system in history, with U.S. sustainment costs estimated at about $1.2 trillion over a 66-year life cycle. Central to the F-35 is ALIS [Autonomic Logistics Information System]--a complex system that supports operations, mission planning, supply-chain management, maintenance, and other processes. A fully functional ALIS is critical to the F-35's operational success. However, over the past 5 years GAO has reported on key risks associated with the system, such as challenges deploying the F-35 with ALIS, inaccurate data that reside in ALIS, and ineffective training for personnel who need to use ALIS. GAO was asked to review DOD's efforts to improve ALIS. This report assesses the extent to which (1) improvements have been made over the past 5 years and challenges remain for ALIS users, and (2) DOD is taking actions to enhance the long-term viability of the system. GAO reviewed F-35 and ALIS program documentation and data, interviewed DOD officials and contractor employees, and visited five U.S. F-35 sites."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Science & Tech Spotlight: 5G Wireless
From the Document: "5G [5th generation] wireless is expected to enhance data speeds and could enable transformative applications across transportation, manufacturing, medicine, and other sectors. While 5G could create significant economic opportunities, 5G also raises concerns about cybersecurity risks and associated national security implications, as well as several other challenges."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Nation's Fiscal Health: Action is Needed to Address the Federal Government's Fiscal Future
From the Document: "A broad plan is needed to put the federal government on a sustainable long-term fiscal path and ensure that the United States remains in a strong economic position to meet its security and social needs, as well as to preserve flexibility to address unforeseen events. This report describes the fiscal condition of the U.S. government as of the end of fiscal year 2019 and its future unsustainable fiscal path absent policy changes. It draws on the 'Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Report of the United States Government (2019 Financial Report)' and GAO's [Government Accountability Office] work, including its audit of the government's consolidated financial statements."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Business Systems Modernization: DOD Has Made Progress in Addressing Recommendations to Improve IT Management, but More Action is Needed, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "DOD spends billions of dollars each year on systems to support its key business areas, such as personnel and logistics. For fiscal year 2020, DOD reported that its business system investments are expected to cost about $8.9 billion. GAO has made many recommendations to DOD aimed at strengthening defense business systems management. Further, U.S. Code Title 10, Section 2222 requires DOD to perform activities aimed at ensuring that these investments are managed efficiently and effectively."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Economic Sanctions: Treasury and State Have Received Increased Resources for Sanctions Implementation but Face Hiring Challenges, Report to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The United States has implemented dozens of sanctions programs to counteract activities that threaten U.S. national interests. Sanctions may place restrictions on entire countries, sectors of countries' economies, or specific corporations or individuals. Examples of restrictions include limiting access to the U.S. financial system, freezing assets under U.S. jurisdiction, and restricting trade. The United States has implemented an increasing number of sanctions in recent years, including sanctions on countries that conduct a significant amount of international trade, such as Russia, Venezuela, and Iran. GAO was asked to examine the resources U.S. agencies have devoted to sanctions implementation. This report examines (1) agencies' roles in sanctions implementation, (2) resources available to agency units that focus primarily on sanctions implementation, (3) the extent to which agency units that focus primarily on sanctions implementation have assessed their resource needs, and (4) agencies' reporting to Congress on sanctions implementation expenses and activities. GAO gathered data from 13 agencies and their sub-units to identify their roles and the personnel they used for sanctions implementation. GAO also reviewed agency reporting, planning, and budget documents and interviewed agency officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Abandoned Hardrock Mines: Information on Number of Mines, Expenditures, and Factors That Limit Efforts to Address Hazards, Report to the Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The General Mining Act of 1872 allowed individuals to obtain exclusive rights to valuable hardrock mineral deposits on land belonging to the United States. Miners explored, mined, and processed valuable minerals, but many did not reclaim the land after their operations ended. Unsecured mine tunnels, toxic waste piles, and other hazards--known as mine features--are found at abandoned hardrock mines across federal and nonfederal lands. The Forest Service, BLM [Bureau of Land Management], National Park Service, EPA [Environmental Protection Agency], and OSMRE [Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement]--as well as state agencies--administer programs that identify and address hazardous features at abandoned hardrock mines. Addressing features could include, for example, sealing mine tunnels or treating contaminated water. GAO was asked to provide information about abandoned hardrock mines. This report describes (1) what is known about the number of abandoned hardrock mines in the United States; (2) agency spending to address abandoned hardrock mines from fiscal years 2008 through 2017 and estimated future costs; and (3) factors that limit federal and state agencies' and stakeholders' efforts to address abandoned mines. GAO obtained and summarized information from agency databases about the number of abandoned mines, features, and hazards as of 2019; summarized agency spending data from fiscal years 2008 through 2017, the most currently available; and interviewed federal and state agency officials and stakeholders, selected to provide diverse perspectives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Modernizing the Nuclear Security Enterprise: Uranium Processing Facility is on Schedule and Budget, and NNSA Identified Additional Uranium Program Costs, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "A supply of enriched uranium is crucial to support the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile and the U.S. Navy, but the infrastructure of several U.S. uranium-processing facilities is outdated. In 2014, NNSA [National Nuclear Security Administration] began plans to meet the nation's uranium needs by redirecting processing capabilities to the UPF and to other existing buildings NNSA plans to upgrade at Y-12 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, as amended, includes a provision for GAO to periodically review the UPF. Also, a Senate report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act bill for fiscal year 2012 provides for GAO to review the independent cost estimates for the UPF. This report, which is GAO's sixth on the UPF, examines (1) the status of the UPF project and plans for starting UPF operations; (2) the extent to which NNSA has followed requirements to obtain independent cost estimates for the UPF, and how NNSA has used information from those estimates; and (3) the extent to which NNSA has made progress in developing uranium program management information since GAO's September 2017 report. GAO reviewed project and program documents on planning, schedule, cost, and implementation, and interviewed program officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Data Center Optimization: Agencies Report Progress, but Oversight and Cybersecurity Risks Need to Be Addressed, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "In December 2014, Congress enacted federal IT [information technology] acquisition reform legislation that included provisions related to ongoing federal data center consolidation efforts. OMB's [Office of Management and Budget] Federal Chief Information Officer launched DCOI [Data Center Optimization Initiative] to build on prior data center consolidation efforts; improve federal data centers' performance; and establish goals for inventory closures, cost savings and avoidances, and optimization performance. [...] To improve DCOI reporting and performance, GAO is making four recommendations to OMB, and four to three selected agencies. The three agencies agreed with the recommendations while OMB did not state whether it agreed or disagreed. GAO continues to maintain that the four recommendations to OMB are warranted."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Oil and Gas Permitting: Actions Needed to Improve BLM's Review Process and Data System, Report to Congressional Requesters
From What GAO [Government Accountability Office] Found: "From fiscal years 2014 through 2019, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received 23,706 applications for permit to drill (APDs) from oil and gas operators. Various factors--including economics, infrastructure, and lease terms-- influenced operators' decisions to apply for and use APDs."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Antibiotic Resistance: Additional Federal Actions Needed to Better Determine Magnitude and Reduce Impact, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Bacterial infections have become more difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat due to antibiotic resistance, which occurs when bacteria develop the ability to defeat the available drugs designed to kill them. Concerns about rising rates of resistance to available treatment options prompted the federal government to create the 5-year National Action Plan in 2015. The plan called for federal agencies to strengthen surveillance, advance the development of diagnostic tests and new antibiotics, and slow the emergence of resistant bacteria, among other things. GAO was asked to review federal efforts to address antibiotic resistance. This report examines federal efforts and challenges related to (1) surveillance of antibiotic resistance, (2) the development and use of diagnostic testing to identify antibiotic resistance, (3) the development of treatments for resistant infections, and (4) appropriate antibiotic use. GAO reviewed literature and agency documents; interviewed agency officials and health care industry, drug industry, and other stakeholders; and held a meeting of international and U.S. experts to obtain their views."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Immigration Detention: Care of Pregnant Women in DHS Facilities, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "In December 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) updated its policy on pregnant women, removing language that stated that pregnant women would generally not be detained except in extraordinary circumstances or as mandated by law. Within DHS, CBP [Customs and Border Protection] temporarily holds individuals in its facilities and processes them for further action, such as release or transfer to ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement]. ICE manages the nation's immigration detention system. ICE utilizes various facility types to detain individuals, such as those owned and operated by ICE and contract facilities. GAO was asked to review issues related to the care of pregnant women in DHS facilities. This report examines (1) what available data indicate about pregnant women detained or held in DHS facilities, (2) DHS policies and standards that address the care of pregnant women, and (3) what is known about the care provided to pregnant women in DHS facilities. GAO analyzed available DHS data and documents from calendar years 2015 through 2019, including detention data, inspection reports and data, and complaints; reviewed policies related to the care of pregnant women; and interviewed agency officials and three national non-governmental organizations. GAO also interviewed a non-generalizable sample of 14 pregnant women detained or released by DHS and five non-governmental organizations in four field locations that had the greatest number of detentions of pregnant women, among other things."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Information Security: FCC Made Significant Progress, but Needs to Address Remaining Control Deficiencies and Improve Its Program, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "FCC [Federal Communications Commission] relies extensively on information systems to accomplish its mission of regulating interstate and international communications in the United States. FCC uses one such system, ECFS [Electronic Comment Filing System], to receive public comments about proposed changes in FCC regulations. In May 2017, a surge in comments caused a service disruption of ECFS during a public comment period. GAO was requested to review ECFS and the reported disruption. In September 2019, GAO issued a limited official use only report on the actions FCC took to respond to the May 2017 event, and the extent to which FCC had effectively implemented security controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of selected systems. This current report is a public version of the September 2019 report with sensitive information removed. In addition, for this public report, GAO determined the extent to which FCC has taken corrective actions to address the previously identified security program and technical control deficiencies and related recommendations for improvement."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Coronaviruses
From the Document: "While the outbreak of COVID-19 [Coronavirus Disease 2019] in China has brought the term coronavirus into daily usage, coronaviruses can vary in severity. They can cause respiratory issues, such as pneumonia, and are believed to be one cause of the common cold. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people will be infected by a coronavirus at some point in their lifetimes. As of March 2020, seven coronaviruses have been identified that can cause illness in humans. Most infections result in mild to moderate symptoms, such as runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever, and a run-down feeling."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-03
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Equal Employment Opportunity: DHS Could Better Address Challenges to Ensuring EEO in Its Workforce, Statement of Yvonne D. Jones, Director Strategic Issues, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "EEOC's [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] Management Directive 715 requires that, to attract and retain top talent, federal agencies are to identify EEO [equal employment opportunity] barriers in their workforces and deficiencies in their EEO programs, execute plans to address them, and report annually to EEOC. GAO [Government Accountability Office] reported in 2009 on DHS's opportunities to address barriers to EEO in its workforce and in 2019 on DHS's challenges to ensuring EEO in its workforce. GAO was asked to testify on the steps DHS has taken to (1) identify and address barriers to EEO in its workforce, (2) identify and address EEO program deficiencies, (3) address areas of noncompliance in its EEO program identified by EEOC, and (4) oversee and support components' EEO programs."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Jones, Yvonne D.
2020-02-27
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International Mail: Stakeholders' Views on Possible Changes to Inbound Mail Regarding Customs Fees and Opioid Detection Efforts
From the Document: "The Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act of 2018 (STOP Act of 2018) included several measures to support CBP's [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] opioid-detection efforts. For example, it required USPS to transmit to CBP advance electronic data (AED) on the international mail shipments it receives. […] The STOP Act of 2018 also included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to examine: (1) the feasibility of assessing an additional customs fee on other types of inbound international mail and (2) how opioid detection might be improved by certain role changes--i.e., by requiring USPS to serve as the consignee and by designating a customs broker as an importer of record for international mail shipments. 6 This report provides selected stakeholders' views on (1) assessing additional customs fees on inbound international mail shipments and (2) how CBP's opioid-detection efforts could be affected by changing how certain roles apply to inbound international mail shipments. This report updates information that we provided to congressional staff on June 28, 2019, to meet the provisions included in the STOP Act of 2018 for GAO."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-02-27
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Financial Audit: FY 2019 and FY 2018 Consolidated Financial Statements of the U.S. Government
From the Document: "This report transmits the results of GAO's [Government Accountability Office] audit of the U.S. government's fiscal years 2019 and 2018 consolidated financial statements. […] In summary, we found the following: [1] Certain material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and other limitations resulted in conditions that prevented us from expressing an opinion on the accrual-based consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019, and 2018. [...] [2] Significant uncertainties (discussed in Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements), primarily related to the achievement of projected reductions in Medicare cost growth, prevented us from expressing an opinion on the sustainability financial statements, which consist of the 2019 and 2018 Statements of Long-Term Fiscal Projections; the 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015 Statements of Social Insurance; and the 2019 and 2018 Statements of Changes in Social Insurance Amounts. [...] [3] Material weaknesses resulted in ineffective internal control over financial reporting for fiscal year 2019. [4] Material weaknesses and other scope limitations, discussed above, limited tests of compliance with selected provisions of applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements for fiscal year 2019. Overall, the federal government has made significant strides in improving financial management since key federal financial management reforms were enacted in the 1990s."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-02-27
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Native American Issues: Examples of Certain Federal Requirements That Apply to Cultural Resources and Factors That Impact Tribal Consultation, Statement of Anna Maria Ortiz, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Testimony Before the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Federal agencies are required in certain circumstances to consult with tribes on infrastructure projects and other activities--such as permitting natural gas pipelines--that may affect tribal natural and cultural resources. [...] The Secretary of Homeland Security has waived federal cultural resource laws that generally require federal agencies to consult with federally recognized tribes to ensure expeditious construction of barriers along the southern U.S. border. This testimony discusses examples of (1) federal laws and regulations that apply to Native American cultural resources and (2) factors that impact the effectiveness of federal agencies' tribal consultation efforts. It is based on reports GAO issued from July 2018 through November 2019 related to federal laws that apply to Native American cultural resources, tribal consultation for infrastructure projects, and border security. It also includes additional information about the consultation requirements in these cultural resource laws and regulations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Ortiz, Anna Maria
2020-02-26
