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Scientific Integrity: HHS Agencies Need to Develop Procedures and Train Staff on Reporting and Addressing Political Interference, Statement of Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, Testimony Before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives
From the Document: "I am pleased to be here today to discuss our April 2022 report on scientific integrity procedures and training at selected Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) agencies. To maintain public trust and credibility, safeguarding our nation's public health agencies' scientific decision-making from political interference is critically important. [...] My comments today will summarize the key findings from this report.5 Specifically, I will discuss: 1. the procedures in place at the selected agencies to address allegations of political interference in scientific decision-making and the extent to which agencies received such allegations and 2. training provided by the selected agencies on scientific integrity policies and procedures, including those related to potential political interference."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Dodaro, Gene L.
2022-04-29
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F-35 Sustainment: DOD Faces Several Uncertainties and Has Not Met Key Objectives, Statement of Diana Maurer, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Readiness, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The F-35 aircraft with its advanced capabilities, represents a growing portion of DOD's tactical aviation fleet. DOD plans to procure nearly 2,500 F35s with an estimated $1.3 trillion in life-cycle costs associated with operating and sustaining the aircraft. This statement provides (1) the status of the F-35 program's ability to meet key sustainment metrics, (2) DOD's current engine sustainment strategy, and (3) uncertainties facing F-35 sustainment. This statement is based on GAO's [Government Accountability Office's] body of work issued from 2014 through 2022, draft report on F35 engine sustainment that was provided to DOD this month for review and comment, and ongoing review of F-35 maintenance. GAO analyzed key metrics for fiscal years 2019-2022, reviewed F-35 strategy and program documents, and interviewed officials. As a part of ongoing work, from December 2021 through March 2022, GAO staff visited two depot maintenance facilities and three installations that are the home stations for F-35 squadrons. [...] In its draft report, GAO is recommending, among other things, that DOD assess and update the F-35 engine sustainment strategy, including its goals and actions to achieve its goals. GAO's prior reports since 2014 have made several recommendations to enhance F-35 sustainment, some of which remain unimplemented as discussed in the testimony."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Maurer, Diana
2022-04-28
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Civil Monetary Penalties: Federal Agencies' Compliance with the 2021 Annual Inflation Adjustment Requirements
From the Document: "Civil monetary penalties provide federal agencies with the ability to punish willful and egregious violators, deter future violations, and enforce regulatory policies government-wide. However, if agencies do not periodically adjust these penalties for the effects of inflation, the penalties may lose their effectiveness and agencies may lose opportunities to collect significant federal receipts. Thus, Congress passed the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 to allow for agencies to adjust their covered civil monetary penalties for inflation, to promote compliance, and to improve the collection of penalties. The act, as amended, hereinafter referred to as the Inflation Adjustment Act (IAA), includes a provision added in 2015 for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to annually submit to Congress a report assessing the compliance of agencies with the required civil monetary penalty adjustments. This sixth annual review responds to the statutory provision for GAO to assess agencies' compliance with the civil monetary penalty adjustments for inflation as required by the IAA. Specifically, our objective was to determine how many agencies subject to the IAA published 2021 civil monetary penalty inflation adjustments in the 'Federal Register' as of December 31, 2021, and reported information about civil monetary penalties within each agency's jurisdiction in the 2021 agency financial report (AFR) submitted under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-136."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04-28
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F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Cost Growth and Schedule Delays Continue, Statement of Jon Ludwigson, Director, Contracting and National Security Acquisitions, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program remains DOD's most expensive weapon system program. It is estimated to cost over $1.7 trillion to buy, operate, and sustain. DOD plans to acquire 2,470 F-35s to replace several other aircraft used by the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. As of November 2021, the program has delivered over 700 aircraft of the 3,360 currently planned for the U.S. services, allied partners, and foreign military sales customers. This testimony discusses acquisition related risks in the F-35 baseline program and modernization effort. It is largely based on GAO's [Government Accountability Office's] April 2022 report (GAO-22-105128 [hyperlink]) on F-35 acquisition. [...] Since 2001, GAO has made 46 recommendations across 18 reports aimed at improving the acquisition of the F-35 aircraft. DOD has agreed with many of these recommendations and taken action to address some but not all of them. Among those recommendations that have not yet been implemented are several focused on addressing continuing cost growth and schedule delays in DOD's upgrades of F-35 hardware and software systems."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04-27
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K-12 Education: An Estimated 1.1 Million Teachers Nationwide Had at Least One Student Who Never Showed Up for Class in the 2020-21 School Year [Reissued with Revisions on Apr. 19, 2022]
From the Document: "As the COVID-19 [Coronavirus Disease 2019] pandemic continues to reverberate across the nation, for millions of students, educators, and families, the current school year is rife with challenges. The long-term impact of the disruptions of the last 2 years on student enrollment and attendance remains to be seen, particularly for students with whom schools have lost contact. As we previously reported, even though many schools provided students with computers and internet access to participate in virtual instruction, many students faced difficulties staying engaged in school or disappeared from school altogether. While the issue of students not showing up at all during the pandemic is of grave significance, little is known about the obstacles these students face or the types of schools they come from. 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. In this report, we provide information on (1) how widespread was the issue of K-12 public school students not showing up for class all year in school year 2020-21, (2) obstacles these students faced in showing up, and (3) the characteristics of the schools these students were registered to attend."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04-19
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Critical Infrastructure Protection: DHS Actions Urgently Needed to Better Protect the Nation's Critical Infrastructure, Statement of Tina Won Sherman, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The nation's critical infrastructure consists of physical and cyber assets and systems that are vital to the United States. Their incapacity or destruction could have a debilitating impact on security, national public health and safety, or national economic security. Critical infrastructure provides the essential functions--such as supplying water, generating energy, and producing food--that underpin American society. Protecting this infrastructure is a national security priority. GAO [Government Accountability Office] first designated information security as a government-wide high-risk area in 1997. This was expanded to include protecting (1) cyber critical infrastructure in 2003 and (2) the privacy of personally identifiable information in 2015."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Sherman, Tina Won
2022-04-06
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Military Suicide: Preliminary Observations on Actions Needed to Enhance Prevention and Response Affecting Certain Remote Installations, Statement of Brenda S. Farrell, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Personnel, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate
From the Higlights: "Suicide deaths and attempts within the military community are devastating events for families. They can also harm unit morale and readiness. Remote OCONUS [outside the contiguous U.S.] installations may pose challenges that increase suicide risk. This statement examines, among other things, (1) the incidence of suicide and related risk factors among servicemembers at remote OCONUS installations during 2016-2020. It also discusses the extent to which DOD and the military services have, in relation to remote OCONUS installations (2) established and ensured implementation of policies, programs, and activities that address suicide prevention; (3) established privacy protections for servicemembers and dependents seeking suicide prevention care and integrated suicide prevention into primary care; and (4) established guidance and training for key personnel for responding to suicide deaths and attempts."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Farrell, Brenda S.
2022-04-06
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Space Acquisitions: Changing Environment Presents Continuing Challenges and Opportunities for DOD, Statement of Jon Ludwigson, Director, Contracting and National Security Acquisitions, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "DOD space systems provide critical capabilities that support military and national security operations. Such systems are expensive to acquire and field, costing billions of dollars each year. The recently established U.S. Space Force will consolidate leadership, planning, and management for selected DOD space programs, as appropriate and authorized. This statement (1) provides a description of key space system development efforts and summarizes the results of GAO [Government Accountability Office]'s recent related reports, and (2) addresses challenges and opportunities facing acquisitions of new space systems."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Ludwigson, Jon
2022-04-06
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Fleet Management: Preliminary Observations on Electric Vehicles in the Postal and Federal Fleets, Statement of Jill Naamane, Acting Director, Physical Infrastructure, Testimony Before the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "USPS [United States Postal Service] operates almost 200,000 vehicles that provide mail delivery across the country. USPS, along with the rest of the federal government, relies largely on gas or diesel fuel vehicles in its fleet. Efforts to transition the USPS and other federal fleets to electric vehicles are underway. In December 2021, the Biden Administration issued an Executive Order calling for federal vehicle acquisitions to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035, including 100 percent zero-emission light-duty vehicle acquisitions by 2027. This statement provides GAO [Government Accountability Office]'s preliminary observations on (1) USPS's efforts to determine the number of gas and electric delivery vehicles to purchase, and (2) factors that may affect the transition of federal fleets to electric vehicles."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Naamane, Jill
2022-04-05
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2021 Lobbying Disclosure: Observations on Lobbyists' Compliance with Disclosure Requirements, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) 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 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 15th annual report under the provision. GAO reviewed a stratified random sample of 98 quarterly disclosure LD[lobbying disclosure]-2 reports filed for the third and fourth quarters of calendar year 2020 and the first and second quarters of calendar year 2021. GAO also reviewed two random samples totaling 160 LD-203 reports from year-end 2020 and midyear 2021. This methodology allowed GAO to generalize to the population of 55,084 disclosure reports with $5,000 or more in lobbying activity and 28,851 reports of federal political campaign contributions. GAO also interviewed USAO officials. GAO provided a draft of this report to the Department of Justice for review. The Department of Justice did not have comments."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Radiological Security Snapshot: Security of Radioactive Materials
From the Document: "'Numerous incidents indicate weaknesses in controls over radioactive materials that could be used in a dirty bomb.' Recent security threats have raised concerns that radioactive materials could be stolen and used in a domestic attack. For example, in April 2019, a technician was arrested after stealing three radioactive devices from his workplace in Arizona. According to a court filing, the technician intended to release the radioactive materials at a shopping mall, but local police and the FBI arrested him before he could do so. From 2010 through 2019, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reported over 2,000 nuclear materials events, which included instances of lost or stolen radioactive materials, radiation overexposures, leaks of radioactive materials, and other events. Furthermore, officials from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which provides enhanced security to facilities with high-risk radioactive materials, told GAO [Government Accountability Office] that there is increasing interest among adversaries in using radioactive materials for making a dirty bomb. Vulnerabilities arise because NRC's security requirements do not take into account the most devastating potential effects, including billions of dollars in cleanup costs, and deaths and injuries from chaotic evacuations. In addition, weaknesses in licensing make it relatively easy for bad actors to obtain small quantities of high-risk radioactive materials, which could be dangerous in the wrong hands. Given the risks associated with these materials, which are in widespread use, it may be time to consider greater reliance on alternatives, when feasible. Previously, GAO has recommended that Congress consider this matter."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Consular Affairs: State May Be Unable to Cover Projected Costs If Revenues Do Not Quickly Rebound to Pre-Pandemic Levels, Report to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "From fiscal years 2013 through 2019, consular fees fully funded consular operations, according to State documentation. However, the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic caused State's revenues from passport and visa fees to drop. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review consular fees. This report examines, among other things, how State managed the decline in consular fee revenues, projections regarding State's ability to meet the targeted threshold in the future, and the extent to which State's processes for estimating key data meet the key elements of economic analysis. [...] GAO recommends that State (1) assess what actions would allow it to cover future consular costs; (2) measure the statistical variability of unit costs; and (3) document its cost, demand, and revenue estimates."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction: DHS Could Improve Its Acquisition of Key Technology and Coordination with Partners, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons have the potential to kill thousands of people. To enhance efforts to manage threats in these four areas, CWMD [Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office] was established in statute in December 2018, reorganizing functions of predecessor offices in DHS. About a year later, CWMD ranked last in a review of best places to work in government. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess CWMD's ability to carry out its mission and serve federal, state, and local partners. This report (1) evaluates the extent to which CWMD continues to perform the functions of predecessor offices, (2) evaluates the extent to which CWMD has coordinated with state and local partners, and (3) describes CWMD's efforts to improve morale."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Federal-Aid Highways: Information on State Use and Oversight of Engineering Consultants, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The federal-aid highway program is the primary source of federal funding for projects that build and preserve the nation's roads and bridges. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act authorized an average of about $54.6 billion annually for this program. FHWA [Federal Highway Administration] apportions this program's funding to state DOTs [departments of transportation] and provides oversight and technical assistance to them. State DOTs are generally responsible for implementing these federal-aid highway construction projects and are authorized by statute to contract with private engineering firms (engineering consultants) to help them do so. The Explanatory Statement accompanying the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review state DOTs' use of engineering consultants for federally funded projects. This report describes (1) state DOTs' use of engineering consultants on federal-aid highway construction projects and the factors that affect their decisions to do so, and (2) how FHWA oversees state DOTs' use of engineering consultants on federal-aid highway construction projects, among other things."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Native American Veterans: Improvements to VA Management Could Help Increase Mortgage Loan Program Participation, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "In 1992, Congress required VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] to establish a direct loan program to help Native American veterans finance homes on certain types of land that can be difficult to use as collateral for conventional mortgage loans. This could include, for example, land held in trust for Native Americans by the federal government. Members of Congress, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders have raised questions about the effectiveness of VA's administration of NADL [Native American Direct Loan] and outreach efforts. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the NADL program. This report examines the extent of lending to eligible veterans and program management and operations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Surface Transportation: TSA Implementation of Security Training Requirement, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Surface transportation operations such as freight and passenger rail can be difficult to secure. Their open architectures are designed to move people and goods quickly and passengers are generally not subject to vetting. To address this risk, the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Commission Act) required that TSA develop regulations requiring security training for certain surface transportation employees. The 9/11 Commission Act also includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review implementation of these regulations after issuance of TSA's final rule. This report describes (1) the key regulatory requirements for the security training programs; (2) TSA's process for and results from reviewing the training programs; (3) industry associations' and selected owner/operators' perspectives on the training programs; and (4) the status of training program implementation and TSA's monitoring plans. To conduct this review, GAO analyzed TSA program guidance and other documents, and interviewed TSA officials. GAO also interviewed representatives from three surface transportation industry associations and a nongeneralizable sample of six owner/operators selected to capture variation in transportation mode, operation size, and training program status. This sample allowed GAO to learn about important aspects of the implementation of TSA's final rule, but it was not designed to provide findings representative of all the owner/operators that are required to implement this training program."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Southwest Border: CBP Should Improve Data Collection, Reporting, and Evaluation for the Missing Migrant Program, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Border Patrol, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), responds to reports of migrants attempting to enter the U.S. between ports of entry who may be missing or in distress. A committee report accompanying the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) fiscal year 2020 appropriation directed CBP to report data on migrant deaths, describe plans to help reduce the number of migrant deaths, and share its coordination efforts with external entities. The Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the fiscal year 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review CBP's report and its efforts to mitigate migrant deaths. This report addresses (1) how Border Patrol has implemented the Missing Migrant Program to help reduce the frequency of migrant deaths; (2) the extent to which Border Patrol collects and reports complete and accurate data on migrant deaths; and (3) how Border Patrol evaluates the Missing Migrant Program. GAO analyzed Border Patrol policies and documentation, interviewed officials at Border Patrol headquarters and four field locations, and from five external entities, such as medical examiners."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Second Chance Reentry Grants: DOJ Should Report Limitations When Publishing Performance Data, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "More than 600,000 individuals were released from U.S. prisons in 2019 after serving their sentences. DOJ [Department of Justice] awards grants to organizations that assist these individuals in obtaining employment, housing, and mental health treatment, among other services. The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2018 includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review DOJ's reentry grants. This report (1) describes Second Chance Reauthorization Act grants awarded by DOJ from fiscal years 2019 to 2020, (2) examines steps that DOJ is taking to evaluate the effectiveness of these grants, and (3) describes the reentry grant performance data that DOJ reported in products shared with external parties and assesses whether DOJ disclosed any limitations of the data."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Discretionary Transportation Grants: DOT Should Clarify Application Requirements and Oversight Activities, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In 2007, GAO [Government Accountability Office] placed funding for surface transportation programs on the High Risk list. The INFRA [Infrastructure for Rebuilding America] program--a DOT [Department of Transportation] discretionary grant program--was established by statute to fund nationally significant freight and highway projects. Since 2016, DOT has awarded more than $4 billion to 94 transportation projects across the country. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included a provision for GAO to review DOT's process for evaluating and selecting INFRA projects for award. This report examines, among other things, the extent to which DOT has: (1) taken steps to clarify to applicants how it will evaluate INFRA grant applications and (2) provided oversight for the INFRA grant application review process and ensured that application evaluations were accurate and complete."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Uncrewed Maritime Systems: Navy Should Improve Its Approach to Maximize Early Investments, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In March 2021, the Navy published a framework that called for developing and fielding uncrewed surface and undersea vehicles to complement its existing fleet as a key to future Navy capabilities. The Navy intends to prototype these systems to gain knowledge and address technical issues before acquiring systems in significant numbers. A House Report included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the Navy's efforts to develop and produce uncrewed surface and undersea vehicles. GAO's report assesses the Navy's planned investments for these uncrewed maritime systems and its management and prototyping approaches. GAO reviewed documentation for four ongoing medium and large uncrewed maritime system prototype efforts and the associated information technology efforts that enable these systems."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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COVID-19: Current and Future Federal Preparedness Requires Fixes to Improve Health Data and Address Improper Payments, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "By the end of March 2022, the U.S. had about 80 million reported cases of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and over 980,000 reported deaths, according to CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. The country also experiences lingering economic repercussions related to the pandemic, including rising inflation and ongoing supply chain disruptions. As of February 28, 2022 (the most recent date for which data were available), the federal government had obligated $4.2 trillion and expended $3.6 trillion for pandemic relief. These amounts reflect 91 and 79 percent, respectively, of the total amount of COVID-19 relief funds provided by the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act and five other relief laws. The CARES 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--GAO's 10th comprehensive report--examines the federal government's continued efforts to respond to, and recover from, the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, GAO's March 17, 2022 testimony included 10 new legislative suggestions to enhance the transparency and accountability of federal spending, which we reiterate here."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Oil and Gas: Federal Actions Needed to Address Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Development, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Methane is emitted into the atmosphere during oil and gas production--either through intentional releases or leaks. These emissions also result in the loss of marketable natural gas. BLM [Bureau of Land Management] oversees oil and gas operations on federal lands, and EPA regulates emissions from these operations. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review methane emissions from oil and gas development on federal lands. This report (1) describes the steps federal agencies have taken to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas, and implementation challenges; (2) examines actions selected industry entities are taking to reduce methane emissions; and (3) examines how selected states regulate methane emissions and to what extent those efforts could inform federal actions."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Wastewater Surveillance
From the Document: "Wastewater surveillance can be an efficient way to detect community-level disease outbreaks and other health threats. It has the potential to identify a COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] outbreak 1 to 2 weeks sooner than clinical testing and allow for a more rapid public health response. However, the lack of national coordination and standardized methods pose challenges to wider adoption. [...] Wastewater surveillance, also known as wastewater-based epidemiology, is the monitoring of pathogens (e.g., viruses), as well as pharmaceuticals and toxic or other chemicals by testing sewage (see fig. 1). Public health officials can use this approach to monitor for outbreaks, identify threats (e.g., antibiotic-resistant bacteria), and, in response, support the mobilization of resources. Pathogens and chemicals can enter sewer systems through human waste. Wastewater surveillance programs collect sewage samples from these systems and treatment plants and send them to laboratories for testing. Officials can use test data, for example, to assess whether there is a viral outbreak or increasing drug use and then decide what actions to take to protect public health. These actions might include increased clinical testing in an area, or alerting local clinics and hospitals to prepare for an increase in patients."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Cost Growth and Schedule Delays Continue, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program remains DOD's most expensive weapon system program. It is estimated to cost over $1.7 trillion to buy, operate, and sustain. DOD is 4 years into a development effort to modernize the F-35 aircraft's capabilities. An important element to operating and maintaining the F-35 is a complex logistics system called ALIS [Autonomic Logistics Information System]. In 2020, DOD began an effort to improve ALIS after years of concerns regarding its performance. Congress included provisions in two statutes for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the F-35 program. This report (1) identifies the F-35's progress towards full-rate production, (2) addresses the program's progress and improvements towards developing, testing, and delivering modernization capabilities, and (3) describes DOD's plan for improving its logistics system."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Traffic Safety: Implementing Leading Practices Could Improve Management of Mandated Rulemakings and Reports, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "According to NHTSA [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration] estimates, 38,824 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 on U.S. roads and highways, with even more projected to have died in 2021. NHTSA is responsible for overseeing the safety of motor vehicles on U.S. roads. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine NHTSA's processes for developing statutorily required, or 'mandated,' rulemakings and reports. In this report, GAO examined: (1) the number of rulemakings and reports mandated by MAP-21 [Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act] and the FAST [Fixing America's Surface Transportation] Act that NHTSA completed, and factors that affected its completion of selected mandates; and (2) the extent to which NHTSA followed leading project schedule management practices when developing mandated rulemakings and reports, among other objectives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Evidence-Based Policy Making: USDA's Decision to Relocate Research Agencies to Kansas City Was Not Fully Consistent with an Evidence-Based Approach, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "USDA [U.S Department of Agriculture] is made up of several agencies, including the research agencies, ERS [Economic Research Service] and NIFA. ERS reviews trends and emerging issues in food, agriculture, the environment, and rural America, while NIFA [National Institute of Food and Agriculture] administers federal funding through formula and competitive grants, among other things. In October 2019, USDA relocated most staff positions at ERS and NIFA from their headquarters in Washington, D.C. to Kansas City, Missouri. This decision was based on USDA's economic analysis. USDA stated the move would save taxpayers more than $300 million over 15 years compared to remaining in the Washington, D.C. region. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess the analysis USDA used to support its decision to relocate ERS and NIFA to the Kansas City region. This report reviewed how USDA made its relocation decision, the underlying analyses, and the use of evidence in its decision-making."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Scientific Integrity: HHS Agencies Need to Develop Procedures and Train Staff on Reporting and Addressing Political Interference, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "Since 2007, Congress and multiple administrations have taken actions to help ensure that federal science agencies have scientific integrity policies and procedures in place that, among other things, protect against the suppression or alteration of scientific findings for political purposes. GAO [Government Accountability Office] defined scientific integrity as the use of scientific evidence and data to make policy decisions that are based on established scientific methods and processes, are not inappropriately influenced by political considerations, and are shared with the public when appropriate. GAO was asked to review scientific integrity policies and procedures, and how allegations of political interference in scientific decision-making are addressed at CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], FDA, NIH [National Institutes of Health], and ASPR [Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response]. This report examines the procedures in place to address such allegations and the extent to which agencies received them. It also examines training provided by selected agencies on scientific integrity policies and procedures, including those related to political interference. GAO analyzed the agencies' scientific integrity policies, procedures, and trainings; interviewed agency officials, and employees, which includes managers and non-managers; and deployed a confidential hotline."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Suicide Prevention: DOD Should Enhance Oversight, Staffing, Guidance, and Training Affecting Certain Remote Installations, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In 2020, DOD recorded 384 active component suicide deaths, representing a 33.5 percent increase in the suicide rate since 2016. Some of these servicemembers were stationed at remote OCONUS [outside the contiguous United States] installations, defined by GAO [Government Accountability Office] as meeting DOD criteria involving factors such as harsh living conditions and limited resources. In response to a provision in the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, this report examines, among other objectives, the extent to which DOD and the military services have, in relation to remote OCONUS installations (1) collected required suicide incident data, and what is known about the incidence of suicide and related risk factors among servicemembers during 2016-2020; (2) established and ensured implementation of policies, programs, and activities that address suicide prevention; and (3) established guidance and training for key personnel for responding to suicide deaths and attempts."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Freedom of Information Act: Selected Agencies Adapted to COVID-19 Challenges but Actions Needed to Reduce Backlogs, Statement of James R. Mctigue, Jr., Director, Strategic Issues, Testimony Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate
From the Highlights: "FOIA [Freedom of Information Act] seeks to improve the public's access to government information and promote openness and accountability in government. However, the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic presented challenges for FOIA administration by significantly affecting how federal employees performed their work as agencies adopted a maximum telework posture and limited on-site work. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to testify on FOIA government-wide performance and the associated impact of the pandemic. Specifically, this statement summarizes the results from GAO's previously issued reports on (1) government-wide FOIA performance for fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 and long-term trends from fiscal years 2012 through 2020; (2) selected agencies' initial pandemic-related challenges and their use of leading practices to maintain FOIA operations; (3) selected agencies' continuing challenges with FOIA request backlogs; and (4) selected agencies' use of proactive information disclosures--making records publicly available without waiting for specific requests."
United States. Government Accountability Office
McTigue, James R., Jr.
2022-03-29
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Management Report: Improvements Needed in the Bureau of the Fiscal Service's Information System Controls Related to the Schedule of Federal Debt [March 17, 2022]
From a letter to Commissioner Timothy E. Gribben from Director Cheryl E. Clark Regarding Improvements Needed in the Bureau of the Fiscal Service's Information System Controls Related to the Schedule of Federal Debt: "[W]e determined that information system control deficiencies identified in prior audits that remained unresolved as of September 30, 2021, collectively represent a significant deficiency in Fiscal Service's internal control over financial reporting. Although the deficiencies are not a material weakness, they warrant the attention of those charged with governance of Fiscal Service. While the significant deficiency in internal control did not affect our opinion on Fiscal Service's fiscal year 2021 Schedule of Federal Debt, misstatements may occur in other financial information that Fiscal Service reported that it may not prevent, or detect and correct, on a timely basis because of this significant deficiency. While this significant deficiency in internal control over financial reporting continued to exist as of September 30, 2021, Fiscal Service made some progress in addressing information system general control weaknesses during fiscal year 2021. However, most of the target dates Fiscal Service established for fully addressing the remaining previously identified control deficiencies related to security management, access controls, and configuration management extend beyond fiscal year 2021. Consequently, nearly all of the deficiencies that contributed to the significant deficiency we reported as of fiscal year 2020 remained unresolved."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Clark, Cheryl E.
2022-03-17
