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Homeland Security Acquisitions: Outcomes Have Improved but Actions Needed to Enhance Oversight of Schedule Goals, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Each year, the DHS invests billions of dollars in a diverse portfolio of major acquisition programs to help execute its many critical missions. DHS plans to spend more than $10 billion on these programs in fiscal year 2020 alone. DHS's acquisition activities are on GAO's High Risk List, in part, because of management and funding issues. The Explanatory Statement accompanying the DHS Appropriations Act, 2015 included a provision for GAO to review DHS's major acquisitions on an ongoing basis. This report, GAO's fifth review, assesses the extent to which: (1) DHS's major acquisition programs are on track to meet their schedule and cost goals, and (2) current program baselines trace to key acquisition documents. GAO assessed 27 acquisition programs, including DHS's largest programs that were in the process of obtaining new capabilities as of April 2018, and programs GAO or DHS identified as at risk of poor outcomes. GAO assessed cost and schedule progress against baselines; compared APB cost, schedule and performance parameters to underlying documents used in establishing baselines; and interviewed DHS officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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Security Assistance: Actions Needed to Assess U.S. Activities and Ensure Timely Inspections of Equipment Transferred to Lebanon, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Since 2013, State and DOD have obligated nearly $1.5 billion in assistance to support Lebanese security forces. U.S. support for Lebanon is complicated due to the prominent role in the country of Hizballah, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization, which retains considerable influence as a major political party and a militia. The U.S. support includes equipment and training to build the capacity of Lebanese security forces. The equipment provided is subject to enduse monitoring requirements, which seek to ensure items are properly accounted for in Lebanon's inventory. GAO was asked to review U.S. security assistance provided to Lebanon since 2013. For fiscal years 2013 through 2018, this report (1) examines to what extent State and DOD assessed progress toward achieving strategic objectives related to security; (2) describes safeguards to limit the risk of U.S. assistance benefitting terrorist organizations; and (3) evaluates State and DOD end-use monitoring checks of equipment provided to Lebanese security forces. GAO analyzed State and DOD reports, documents, and data; and interviewed officials in Washington, D.C. and Beirut, Lebanon."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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Tax Administration: Taxpayer Input Could Strengthen IRS's Online Services, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "IRS [Internal Revenue Service] recognizes that taxpayers want more choices in how they interact with IRS, including through online services. GAO was asked to review IRS's online services--those which allow IRS and individual taxpayers to exchange personalized information electronically. This report (1) examines what is known about how IRS's current online services are meeting taxpayers' needs, and provides information about selected foreign and state revenue agencies' online services; (2) evaluates the extent to which IRS's strategy for identifying and prioritizing the development of new online services is consistent with relevant requirements and leading practices; and (3) examines how IRS is addressing key challenges in providing online services. GAO assessed IRS's online services against relevant requirements, agency goals, and leading practices; interviewed IRS officials; and identified additional services and practices from six foreign and state revenue agencies selected for offering multiple online services for exchanging personalized information with taxpayers."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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Securities and Exchange Commission: Personnel Management Shows Improvement, but Action Needed on Performance Management System, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act contains a provision for GAO to report triennially on SEC's personnel management. GAO's first two reports (GAO-13-621 and GAO-17-65) identified a number of challenges and included nine recommendations. This report examines (1) employees' views on SEC's personnel management, (2) SEC's performance management system, (3) SEC's steps to improve its workforce planning processes, and (4) SEC's efforts to improve communication and collaboration. GAO surveyed a representative sample of nonexecutive SEC employees in key occupations and all senior officers in nine key divisions and offices (with response rates of 64 and 63 percent, respectively). The results of the nonexecutive employee survey are generalizable to SEC's mission-critical employees. GAO also followed up on prior recommendations, reviewed SEC documents and personnel management practices, analyzed SEC workforce data, and interviewed SEC officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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Securities and Exchange Commission: Systematically Assessing Staff Procedures and Enhancing Control Design Would Strengthen Internal Oversight, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Section 961 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act directs SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission] to assess and report annually on internal supervisory controls and procedures applicable to staff performing examinations, investigations, and securities filing reviews. The act also contains a provision for GAO to report on SEC's internal supervisory control structure and staff procedures. GAO's last report was in 2016 (GAO-17-16). This report examines SEC's internal supervisory control framework and assessment of staff procedures, the design of selected controls, and the operation of selected controls. GAO analyzed SEC's internal supervisory control framework and related policies and guidance and evaluated the design and execution of a non-generalizable sample of controls selected because they addressed high-risk processes."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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Wildland Fire: Federal Agencies' Efforts to Reduce Wildland Fuels and Lower Risk to Communities and Ecosystems, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Wildfires have been increasing in size and severity, exacerbated by abnormally dense vegetation, drought, and other climate stressors. Development in and around wildlands also continues to increase, placing more people at risk from wildfires. To reduce vegetation that can fuel such fires, federal land management agencies implement fuel reduction projects on public lands. GAO was asked to examine the federal government's preparedness, response, and recovery efforts following the wildfires and other natural disasters of 2017. This report describes (1) methods federal agencies use to reduce fuels to help protect communities and ecosystems, (2) information the agencies considered in allocating fuel reduction funds in fiscal year 2018, and (3) factors affecting agency efforts to implement fuel reduction projects. GAO examined laws, regulations, and agency policies and budget documents; interviewed federal agency officials at headquarters, as well as in eight regional offices and 10 field units selected based on their locations' high wildland fire hazard potential; and interviewed officials from nonfederal entities, including representatives from the state forestry agencies for the seven states where selected field units were located (three field units were in California and two were in New Mexico)."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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State and Local Governments' Fiscal Outlook: 2019 Update, Report to the Congress
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Fiscal sustainability presents a national challenge shared by all levels of government. Since 2007, GAO has published simulations of long-term fiscal trends in the state and local government sector, which have consistently shown that the sector faces long-term fiscal pressures. While a great majority of states have requirements related to balancing their budgets, deficits can arise for reasons including planned annual revenues are not generated at the expected rate, demand for services exceeds planned expenditures, or both, resulting in a near-term operating deficit. This report updates GAO's state and local fiscal model to simulate the fiscal outlook for the state and local government sector. This includes identifying the components of state and local expenditures likely to contribute to the sector's fiscal pressures as well as the effects of revenue changes on the sector's outlook."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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Satellite Communications: DOD Should Develop a Plan for Implementing Its Recommendations on a Future Wideband Architecture, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "DOD officials estimate spending an average of $4 billion each year to acquire and sustain wideband satellite communications that provide fast and reliable voice, video, and data transmissions critical to military operations. DOD is considering how to meet its future wideband needs across many different operating environments and scenarios. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 required DOD to conduct a Wideband Communications Services AOA [analysis of alternatives] to identify ways to replace current systems as the satellites reach the end of their service lives. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 contained a provision for GAO to assess DOD's analysis. This report addresses (1) whether the Wideband AOA was comprehensive, (2) how DOD solicited input from stakeholders, and (3) the conclusions DOD reached through the Wideband AOA."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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NASA Lunar Programs: Opportunities Exist to Strengthen Analyses and Plans for Moon Landing, Report to Congressional Committees
From GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "In March 2019, the White House directed NASA to accelerate its plans to return humans to the moon by 4 years, to 2024. To accomplish a lunar landing, NASA is developing programs including a small platform in lunar orbit, known as Gateway, and a lunar lander. NASA plans to use the Space Launch System and Orion crew capsule--two programs with a history of cost growth and schedule delays--to launch and transport crew to Gateway. The House Committee on Appropriations included a provision in its 2018 report for GAO to review NASA's proposed lunar-focused programs, including the Gateway program. GAO's report assesses (1) how NASA updated its lunar plans to support the accelerated 2024 landing timeline; (2) the extent to which NASA has made initial decisions about requirements, cost, and schedule for its lunar mission and programs; and (3) the extent to which NASA analyzed alternatives for its lunar plans, including the Gateway program. GAO analyzed NASA lunar mission and program documents, assessed NASA studies that informed NASA's lunar plans, and interviewed NASA officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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Customs and Border Protection: Risk Management for Tariff Refunds Should Be Improved, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The United States enacted the drawback program in 1789 to create jobs and encourage manufacturing and exports, according to CBP [Customs and Border Protection]. CBP has primary responsibility for overseeing the drawback program. It disburses about $1 billion in drawback refunds per year. According to CBP, TFTEA [Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015] modernized the drawback program, generally broadening the scope of potential claims and allowing electronic filing starting February 24, 2018. As of February 24, 2019, claimants could only file claims under the drawback statute as amended by TFTEA. TFTEA also included a provision for GAO to assess drawback modernization. This report examines the extent to which (1) modernization affects drawback refund eligibility and CBP's management of its workload, (2) CBP has taken steps to address risks of improper payments in the program, and (3) CBP has analyzed the impact of the changes to the program on industry and government. GAO reviewed statutory, regulatory, and agency documents, and interviewed agency officials and industry representatives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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Unmanned Aircraft Systems: FAA Should Improve Drone-Related Cost Information and Consider Options to Recover Costs, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "UAS [unmanned aircraft systems] have the potential to provide significant social and economic benefits in the United States. FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] is tasked with safely integrating UAS into the national airspace. As the UAS sector grows, so do demands on FAA's staffing and other resources to develop, oversee, and enforce rules and systems needed to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 provides for GAO to review issues related to establishing fee mechanisms for FAA to recover its costs related to UAS. This report discusses, among other things, 1) FAA efforts to track the costs of current and planned activities related to UAS and 2) key considerations and options for designing user fee mechanisms that could recover FAA's costs. GAO reviewed FAA documents and financial data for fiscal years 2017 through 2019 and industry reports on drone integration funding. GAO interviewed a non-generalizable sample of 22 UAS industry stakeholders, selected based on participation in FAA advisory groups or prior GAO knowledge to achieve a range of perspectives. GAO reviewed its guidance on designing effective fee mechanisms and OMB instructions to agencies about implementing user fees."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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Nuclear Cleanup: Actions Needed to Improve Cleanup Efforts at DOE's Three Former Gaseous Diffusion Plants, Report to the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Cleaning up DOE's [Department of Energy] former uranium enrichment sites will cost billions of dollars and span decades. These sites, near Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Paducah, Kentucky; and Portsmouth, Ohio, are contaminated with radioactive and hazardous materials. EM [Environmental Management] is responsible for their cleanup. This report examines (1) the extent to which EM has managed cleanup of the GDPs [gaseous diffusion plants] compared with relevant program management leading practices and the status of the cleanup effort; (2) what EM has spent on cleanup at the GDPs, and the extent to which EM's cost estimates for completing GDP cleanup are reliable; and (3) the extent to which the D&D [Decontamination and Decommissioning] Fund is sufficient to cover EM's estimated cleanup costs of the GDPs and challenges, if any, that could affect the sufficiency of the fund. GAO reviewed relevant legislation and DOE reports to Congress on GDP cleanup; compared program management to relevant leading practices; assessed EM expenditure and cost estimation documents; and interviewed EM and state regulatory officials at the three GDPs."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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U.S. Postal Service: Offering Nonpostal Services Through Its Delivery Network Would Likely Present Benefits and Limitations, Report to Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "USPS [U.S. Postal Service] manages a vast 'last mile' delivery network of mail carriers and delivery vehicles that move mail from a delivery unit (such as a post office) to its destination. This network is critical to help USPS accomplish its mission of providing postal services throughout the country. However, USPS faces major financial challenges because costs are growing faster than revenues. Given the ubiquity of this network, some have suggested that USPS provide new nonpostal services (i.e., services not directly related to mail delivery) to generate revenue and enhance value to customers and communities. USPS is currently prohibited from providing many nonpostal services. GAO was asked to review costs of and opportunities for USPS's last mile network. This report examines: (1) the costs associated with the last mile network and changes since 2008, and (2) the potential benefits and limitations of new nonpostal services, among other topics. GAO analyzed USPS data to estimate key last mile and operating costs for fiscal years 2008 through 2018; reviewed relevant documents and reports from USPS and others; and interviewed USPS officials, postal union representatives, foreign postal operators that have experience with nonpostal services, industry stakeholders, and officials from various federal agencies to obtain their views on the relevant nonpostal services' benefits and limitations. GAO is making no recommendation in this report. USPS noted legal and other constraints to offering new nonpostal services that leverage USPS's last mile network."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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Assessing Data Reliability, Applied Research and Methods
From the Preface: "Data from outside sources are often central to audits. While these data are simply one type of evidence that auditors rely on, appropriately assessing their reliability may require more technical effort than other types of evidence. The purpose of this guide is to describe the principles behind and steps involved in assessing the reliability of data used for audits. This guide is consistent with the Yellow Book -- the 2018 'Government Auditing Standards' -- which defines generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS), and supersedes GAO's [Government Accountability Office] 2009 guidance, 'Assessing the Reliability of Computer-Processed Data.' This guidance covers computer-processed data, referred to in this document simply as 'data', which result from computer processing or entering data into a computer system. [...] This guide provides a flexible, risk-based framework for data reliability assessments that can be geared to the specific circumstances of each engagement."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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Special Operations Forces: Additional Actions Are Needed to Effectively Manage Air Reserve Component, Report to the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Over the past decade the Air Force has increasingly relied on the ARC [Air Reserve Component] to meet operational requirements. The ARC is composed of two entities--the Air National Guard (ANG) and the Air Force Reserve (AFR)--which together comprise a substantial part of the total Air Force capability. AFSOC [Air Force Special Operation Command] relies on either volunteerism or involuntary mobilization to activate ARC units. House Report 115-676, accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, contains a provision for GAO to assess ANG and AFR involuntary mobilization plans to support special operations. GAO evaluated the extent to which (1) AFSOC's mobilization process provides the ARC with timely and reliable forecasts of planned utilization of units and personnel; and (2) the ARC identifies and communicates information to AFSOC on the units and individuals available for mobilization or on voluntary deployments."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-12
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Airports: Information on Prices for Aviation Services and FAA's Oversight of Grant Requirements, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives
From the Document: "Since 2007, the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] has provided more than $37 billion in grants to airports to fund capital development and is responsible for ensuring compliance with requirements airports assume when they accept these grants. One such requirement is that the airports provide users equal access to airport services such as fueling and parking. Recently, an industry group and pilots raised concerns about the transparency and reasonableness of prices charged for these and other services at airports. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine FBOs' [Fixed base operators] pricing and FAA's oversight of related airport grant assurances. This report examines: (1) the transparency of FBO prices, (2) the factors that influence prices, and (3) the extent to which FAA ensures compliance with federal airport grant assurances related to FBO activities. GAO analyzed FAA data related to complaints from 2013 through 2018 and reviewed relevant literature, key laws and regulations, and program documentation. GAO developed a statistical model to analyze variation in fuel prices across airports in the contiguous United States. GAO interviewed FAA compliance staff at headquarters and all regional offices, as well as a non-probability selection of stakeholders."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11-26
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Army Corps of Engineers: Evaluations of Flood Risk Management Projects Could Benefit from Increased Transparency, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "The Corps [Army Corps of Engineers], among other things, constructs flood risk management projects to reduce flood damage in threatened communities nationwide in collaboration with nonfederal sponsors. The Corps prepares feasibility studies to inform decision makers whether a proposed project warrants federal investment. In the studies, the Corps formulates and evaluates alternative plans for achieving the project's objectives and assesses whether the benefits of constructing it outweigh its costs. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the methodology the Corps used in feasibility studies. This report examines, for 2015 through 2017, (1) the Corps' process for identifying and evaluating the benefits, costs, and effects of project alternatives; (2) the analyses the Corps used to recommend projects; and (3) the extent to which the Corps' economic analyses of benefits and costs are consistent with best practices. GAO reviewed Corps guidance; examined planning documents and economic analyses in flood risk studies that the Corps had most recently completed from 2015 through 2017 from eight districts; and compared the Corps' economic analyses with best practices in GAO's Assessment Methodology."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11-26
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Defense Procurement: Ongoing DOD Fraud Risk Assessment Efforts Should Include Contractor Ownership, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Document: "DOD generally accounts for about two-thirds of federal contracting activity. Some companies doing business with DOD may have an opaque ownership structure that conceals other entities or individuals who own, control, or financially benefit from the company. Opaque ownership could be used to facilitate fraud and other unlawful activity. The House Armed Services Committee report on the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2018 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to examine the risks posed by contractors with opaque ownership and DOD's processes for identifying ownership. This report identifies types of fraud and other risks that opaque contractor ownership poses to DOD in the procurement process and assesses whether DOD has taken steps to address those risks. GAO reviewed applicable laws and regulations and interviewed DOD officials, including procurement staff and criminal investigators. GAO researched cases from 2012-2018 where contractors may have concealed or failed to disclose ownership information. GAO compared DOD's efforts to leading practices in GAO's Fraud Risk Framework. This is a public version of a sensitive report that GAO issued in September 2019. Information that DOD deemed sensitive involving ongoing investigations and certain internal controls and vulnerabilities has been omitted."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11-25
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Naval Shipyards: Key Actions Remain to Improve Infrastructure to Better Support Navy Operations, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Document: "The poor condition of infrastructure at the Navy's four public shipyards-- Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia; Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Maine; Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington; and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Hawaii--affects the readiness of the aircraft carrier and submarine fleets they are charged with maintaining. In response to congressional direction to create a plan to address the shipyards' infrastructure deficiencies, the Navy developed the 'Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan', which the Navy estimates will require $21 billion and 20 years to implement. Senate Report 115-262 accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the 'Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan'. GAO evaluated the extent to which the plan (1) addresses deficiencies in the infrastructure needed to support the Navy's projected needs, (2) includes reliable cost estimates to address those deficiencies, and (3) identifies clear roles and responsibilities for implementation. GAO reviewed the Navy's shipyard infrastructure plan and cost estimates; conducted site visits to shipyards selected to provide a variety of operational perspectives; and interviewed Navy and shipyard officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11-25
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Iraq: Characteristics of the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq and How It Compares to Other DOD Security Cooperation Organizations
From the Document: "Since 2011, the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq (OSC-I) has operated in one of the most complex operating environments in the world, with ongoing military operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS); threats from other terrorist and insurgent groups; religious, ethnic, and territorial tensions; and threats from the government of Iran. Based at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, OSC-I supports the U.S. Mission in Iraq and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) by conducting security assistance activities, defense institution building, and regional engagements. [...] We conducted this performance audit from June 2018 to November 2019 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11-21
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Rental Housing Assistance: HUD Should Strengthen Physical Inspection of Properties and Oversight of Lead Paint Hazards, Statement for the Record by Daniel Garcia-Diaz, Director, Financial Markets and Community Investment, Statement for the Record to the Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance, Committee on Financial Services, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "As of the end of 2018, roughly 4.4 million low-income households were served by HUD's [Department of Housing and Urban Development] three largest rental assistance programs. HUD has responsibilities for ensuring that housing units provided under these programs are decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair, as well as for identifying and addressing lead paint hazards in these units. [...] In March 2019, GAO [Government Accountability Office] made 14 recommendations to HUD to improve the physical inspections process and oversight of inspectors. In June 2018, GAO made six recommendations to HUD to improve compliance monitoring processes, inspection standards, and performance assessment and reporting on lead reduction efforts in federally assisted properties. HUD generally agreed with these recommendations. As of November 2019, HUD officials had identified planned steps to implement most of these recommendations but had not fully addressed them."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Garcia-Diaz, Daniel
2019-11-20
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Environmental Justice: Federal Agencies Could Benefit from a Strategic Approach to Assess Progress, Statement of J. Alfredo Gómez, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives
From the Document: "Environmental justice seeks to address the disproportionately high distribution of health and environmental risks among low-income and minority communities by seeking their fair treatment and meaningful involvement in environmental policy. [...] My statement today will focus on (1) actions the working group agencies have taken to address environmental justice issues related to their missions, (2) the agencies' progress in identifying and addressing environmental justice issues related to their missions, and (3) interagency working group efforts to help agencies coordinate federal environmental justice efforts under the executive order."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Gómez, J. Alfredo
2019-11-20
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Tribal Programs: Resource Constraints and Management Weaknesses Can Limit Federal Program Delivery to Tribes, Statement of Anna Maria Ortiz, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Testimony Before the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States, House of Representatives
From the Document: "As Congress affirmed in the Indian Trust Asset Reform Act, the United States has undertaken a unique trust responsibility to protect and support Indian tribes and Indians. Thus, federal agencies have many programs that provide services to tribes. However, in 2018, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found that, due to a variety of reasons--including historical discriminatory policies, insufficient resources, and inefficient federal program delivery--Native Americans continue to rank near the bottom of all Americans in terms of health, education, and employment. In February 2017 GAO [Government Accountability Office] designated federal management of programs that serve tribes in education, health care and energy as high risk. This designation is neither reflective of the performance of programs administered by tribes nor directed at tribal activities. This testimony, which is based on reports GAO issued from June 2015 through March 2019 primarily related to education, health care, and energy development, provides examples of (1) capacity and funding constraints and budget uncertainty and (2) management weaknesses that limit the effective delivery of federal programs for tribes and their members."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Ortiz, Anna Maria
2019-11-19
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Afghanistan Security Forces Fund: DOD Has Processes for Identifying Training Needs and Maintaining Visibility Over Contracts, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO Highlights: "The United States has made a commitment to building Afghanistan's security and governance structure in order to counter terrorist threats and create sustainable security and stability in Afghanistan. Since 2005 Congress has appropriated more than $78.8 billion for the ASFF [Afghanistan Security Forces Fund] to build, equip, train, and sustain the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. Over that period, nearly $4.3 billion has been expended to support the training and operations of the Afghan National Army. Training requirements are primarily fulfilled through contracts. In recent years, concerns have been raised in Congress about the high costs of some of these training contracts. The Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to examine the ASFF training contracts. This report describes DOD's processes to (1) identify Afghan National Army training needs and associated funding requirements; (2) develop and execute ASFF training contracts; and (3) provide visibility over ASFF training contracts. GAO reviewed DOD guidance for identifying and executing training needs, and interviewed DOD officials. GAO also reviewed documentation associated with task orders issued against an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for training completed in fiscal years 2017 through 2019 for the Afghan National Army."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11-18
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Information Security: VA and Other Federal Agencies Need to Address Significant Challenges, Statement of Gregory C. Wilshusen, Director, Information Security Issues, Before the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "In providing health care and other benefits to veterans and their dependents, VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] relies extensively on IT [information technology] systems and networks to receive, process, and maintain sensitive data, including veterans' medical records and other personally identifiable information. Accordingly, effective security controls based on federal guidance and requirements are essential to ensure that VA's systems and information are adequately protected from loss, unauthorized disclosure, inadvertent or deliberate misuse, or improper modification, and are available when needed. For this testimony, GAO [Government Accountability Office] summarized the status of information security across the federal government and particularly at VA. It also discusses the security challenges that VA faces as it modernizes and secures its information systems. To develop this statement, GAO reviewed its prior reports and relevant Office of Management and Budget, IG [inspectors general], and agency reports."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Wilshusen, Gregory C.
2019-11-14
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Nursing Homes: Better Oversight Needed to Protect Residents from Abuse, Statement for the Record by John E. Dicken, Director, Health Care, Statement for the Record to the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Nationwide, about 1.4 million elderly or disabled individuals receive care in more than 15,500 nursing homes. CMS [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services], an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), defines standards nursing homes must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Nursing home residents often have physical or cognitive limitations that can leave them particularly vulnerable to abuse. Abuse of nursing home residents can occur in many forms--including physical, mental, verbal, and sexual-- and can be committed by staff, residents, or others in the nursing home. Any incident of abuse is a serious occurrence and can result in potentially devastating consequences for residents, including lasting mental anguish, serious injury, or death. This statement summarizes GAO's [Government Accountability Office] June 2019 report, GAO-19-433. Specifically, it describes: (1) the trends and types of abuse in recent years, and (2) CMS's oversight intended to ensure residents are free from abuse. It also includes a brief summary of findings and recommendations from this June 2019 report and prior GAO reports that examined the health and welfare of the elderly in multiple settings, and the status, as of November 2019, of HHS's efforts to implement the recommendations GAO made."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Dicken, John E.
2019-11-14
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F-35 Aircraft Sustainment: DOD Faces Challenges in Sustaining a Growing Fleet, Statement of Diana Maurer, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management, Testimony Before the Subcommittees on Readiness and Tactical Air and Land Forces, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "DOD's F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft provides key aviation capabilities to support the U.S. National Defense Strategy. The F-35 is also DOD's most costly weapon system, with U.S. sustainment costs estimated at more than $1 trillion over its life cycle. As of October 2019, there were more than 435 U.S. and international F-35 aircraft in operation, with more than 3,300 aircraft expected to be fielded throughout the life of the program. While there is little doubt that the F-35 brings unique capabilities to the U.S. military, DOD faces significant challenges in sustaining a growing fleet. This statement discusses F-35 sustainment challenges. It also summarizes GAO's open recommendations related to these challenges."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Maurer, Diana
2019-11-13
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Agreed-Upon Procedures: FY 2019 Excise Tax Distributions to the Airport and Airway and Highway Trust Funds
From the Document: "We performed the procedures described in the enclosures to this report on fiscal year 2019 net excise tax distributions to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) and the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), with which you agreed. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is responsible for certifying quarterly net excise tax collections to be distributed to the AATF and the HTF. The Department of the Treasury's Office of Tax Analysis (OTA) is responsible for developing reasonable estimates of net excise tax collections to be distributed to the AATF and the HTF. These IRS certifications and OTA estimates are the bases of the net excise tax distributions to the AATF and the HTF. The sufficiency of these procedures is solely the responsibility of the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Transportation. We performed these procedures solely to assist your office in ascertaining whether the net excise tax revenue distributed to the AATF and the HTF for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, is supported by underlying records. We make no representation regarding the sufficiency of the procedures described in the report either for the purpose for which this report has been requested or for any other purpose."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11-07
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Nuclear Weapons Sustainment: Improvements Made to Budget Estimates in Fiscal Year 2019 Joint Report, but Opportunities Remain to Enhance Completeness
From the Document: "The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Energy (DOE), through its National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), are undertaking an extensive, multifaceted effort to sustain and modernize U.S. nuclear weapons capabilities. These capabilities include the nuclear weapons stockpile; the research and production infrastructure; delivery systems; and the nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) system. DOD and DOE estimates show that nuclear sustainment and modernization efforts are expected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11-07
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Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: Information on Actions by Commerce and CBP to Address Reported Weaknesses in Duty Collection Processes, Briefing for Senate and House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittees
From the Document: "The United States assesses antidumping (AD) duties on products imported at unfairly low prices and countervailing (CV) duties on products subsidized by foreign governments to address injury to domestic industries. The U.S. system for determining AD/CV duties involves the setting of an initial estimated duty rate upon the entry of goods into U.S. commerce, followed by the retrospective assessment of a final duty rate. The Department of Commerce (Commerce) sets an initial estimated AD/CV duty rate, based on a calculation of the estimated margin of dumping or the estimated amount of subsidy, and later determines a final duty rate based on the actual amount of dumping or subsidization that occurred. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for collecting the estimated duties owed at the time of entry, which are based on the initial rate. [...] In 2016, we reported that CBP continued to face challenges collecting payment on supplemental AD/CV duty bills, attributable in part to the U.S. government's retrospective assessment of final duties owed and the complex and lengthy process for determining final AD/CV duty rates. According to Commerce, the United States is the only major user of AD/CV duty trade remedies that implements a retrospective system of duty assessment."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-11-07
