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Critical Infrastructure Protection: Treasury Needs to Improve Tracking of Financial Sector Cybersecurity Risk Mitigation Efforts, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "For decades, the federal government has taken steps to protect the nation's critical infrastructures. The financial services sector's reliance on information technology makes it a leading target for cyber-based attacks. Recent high-profile breaches at commercial entities have heightened concerns that data are not being adequately protected. Under the Comptroller General's authority, GAO [Government Accountability Office] initiated this review to (1) describe the key cyber-related risks facing the financial sector; (2) describe steps the financial services industry is taking to share information on and address risks to its sector; and (3) assess steps federal agencies are taking to enhance the security and resilience of the sector. GAO analyzed relevant reports and information to determine risks and mitigation efforts and compared agency efforts against federal policies and guidance. GAO also interviewed officials at 16 private sector entities, two self-regulatory organizations, and eight federal agencies, including the Department of the Treasury."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Telecommunications: FCC Should Take Action to Better Manage Persistent Fraud Risks in the Schools and Libraries Program, Report to the Chairman, Committee on the Budget, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "In 2017, the FCC's [Federal Communications Commission] Office of Inspector General (OIG) reported that FCC's ability to deter and detect alleged E-rate program fraud has been severely limited since the program's inception due to a lack of certain controls. Also, as recently as February 2020, a number of E-rate program participants pled guilty to defrauding the program by billing for equipment and services that were not provided, and obtaining more than $2.6 million in program funds to which they were not entitled. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review fraud risk management in the E-rate program. This report addresses: (1) the E-rate program's key fraud risks; (2) the extent to which FCC and USAC [Universal Service Administrative Company] are managing fraud risks in accordance with leading practices; and (3) the extent to which FCC and USAC face challenges in effectively employing data analytics to support fraud risk management activities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Public Health Preparedness: Information on the Use of Medical Reserve Corps Volunteers During Emergencies, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The Medical Reserve Corps consists of health care volunteers--medical and public health professionals--who donate their time to help strengthen a response to public health emergencies and build community resilience. These volunteers prepare for and respond to public health emergencies, which may include natural disasters--such as hurricanes and wildfires--as well as disease outbreaks, whether intentional or natural. The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review states' use of health care volunteers during public health emergencies. This report describes (1) the number and type of Medical Reserve Corps volunteers; (2) the types of public health emergencies volunteers have participated in; and (3) how HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] has assisted in developing volunteer capabilities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Data Security: Recent K-12 Data Breaches Show That Students Are Vulnerable to Harm, Report to the Republican Leader, Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "When a student's personal information is disclosed, it can lead to physical, emotional, and financial harm. Organizations are vulnerable to data security risks, including over 17,000 public school districts and approximately 98,000 public schools. As schools and districts increasingly rely on complex information technology systems for teaching, learning, and operating, they are collecting more student data electronically that can put a student's information, including PII [personally identifiable information], at risk of disclosure. The closure of schools and the sudden transition to distance learning across the country due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic also heightened attention on K-12 [kindergarten through twelfth grade] cybersecurity. GAO was asked to review the security of K-12 students' data. This report examines (1) what is known about recently reported K-12 cybersecurity incidents that compromised student data, and (2) the characteristics of school districts that experienced these incidents."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Unaccompanied Children: Actions Needed to Improve Grant Application Reviews and Oversight of Care Facilities, Report to the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives
From the Document: "The Office of Refugee Resettlement's (ORR) grant announcements soliciting care providers for unaccompanied children--those without lawful immigration status and without a parent or guardian in the U.S. available to provide care and physical custody for them--lack clarity about what state licensing information is required. Further, ORR does not systematically confirm the information submitted by applicants or document a review of their past performance on ORR grants, when applicable, according to GAO's [Government Accountability Office] analysis of ORR documents and interviews with ORR officials. The grant announcements do not specify how applicants without a state license should show license eligibility--a criterion for receiving an ORR grant--or specify what past licensing allegations and concerns they must report. In addition, the extent to which ORR staff verify applicants' licensing information is unclear. In fiscal years 2018 and 2019, ORR awarded grants to approximately 14 facilities that were unable to serve children for 12 or more months because they remained unlicensed. In addition, ORR did not provide any documentation that staff conducted a review of past performance for the nearly 70 percent of applicants that previously held ORR grants. Without addressing these issues, ORR risks awarding grants to organizations that cannot obtain a state license or that have a history of poor performance."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Laboratory Safety: FDA Should Strengthen Efforts to Provide Effective Oversight, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "In 2014, FDA discovered improperly stored boxes of smallpox virus, posing a risk to individuals who might have been exposed. This raised concerns about the oversight of FDA's laboratories that conduct research on hazardous biological agents. In 2016, GAO made five recommendations to improve FDA's laboratory safety, four of which the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had not fully implemented as of July 2020. GAO was asked to examine FDA's efforts to strengthen laboratory safety. This report examines FDA's efforts since GAO's 2016 report to improve safety in its laboratories that work with hazardous biological agents."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Supplemental Material for GAO-20-686: Transit Asset Management: Survey of TAM Program Participants
From the Background: "This electronic supplement serves as a companion to GAO [Government Accountability Office]-20-686 Transit Asset Management: FTA [Federal Transit Administration] Should Clarify Performance Data and Develop a Plan to Guide Future Program Improvements. It presents the results of web-based surveys we conducted of both urban transit agencies and group Transit Asset Management plan sponsors regarding their perspectives on the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) National Transit Asset Management system (TAM program). We primarily used fiscal year 2017 reporting data from FTA's National Transit Database to identify and select respondents for both surveys (see the surveys linked below for more on the methods we used). A copy of the web surveys are [included] with questions and results on the resulting page. These survey results are presented in aggregate form as well as by subpopulation where applicable. We did not include respondent narrative results that were provided to open-ended questions for either survey, as some of these narratives could reveal the respondent's identity. We administered the surveys from October 2019 to January 2020."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Workplace Sexual Harassment: Experts Suggest Expanding Data Collection to Improve Understanding of Prevalence and Costs, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "While many workers in the United States experience workplace sexual harassment--resulting in substantial costs to them and their employers--the extent of sexual harassment and the magnitude of its effects are not fully understood. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine the extent to which reliable information is available on workplace sexual harassment's prevalence and costs. This report examines (1) what is known about the prevalence and costs of U.S. workplace sexual harassment, including the federal workforce, (2) the extent to which EEOC [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] collects sexual harassment data, and (3) data collection approaches experts recommend to improve available information. To address these objectives, GAO analyzed EEOC data and survey data from other federal agencies, interviewed officials and reviewed documentation from multiple federal agencies, and interviewed experts on sexual harassment. GAO also convened a 2-day roundtable of experts, with assistance from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and conducted a literature review."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Whistleblower Protection: Actions Needed to Strengthen Selected Intelligence Community Offices of Inspector General Programs, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Whistleblowers play an important role in safeguarding the federal government against waste, fraud, and abuse. The OIGs [Offices of Inspectors General] across the government oversee investigations of whistleblower complaints, which can include protecting whistleblowers from reprisal. Whistleblowers in the IC face unique challenges due to the sensitive and classified nature of their work. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review whistleblower protection programs managed by selected IC [Intelligence Community]-element OIGs. This report examines (1) the number and time frames of investigations into complaints that selected IC-element OIGs received in fiscal years 2017 and 2018, and the extent to which selected IC-element OIGs have established timeliness objectives for these investigations; (2) the extent to which selected IC-element OIGs have implemented quality standards and processes for their investigation programs; (3) the extent to which selected IC-element OIGs have established training requirements for investigators; and (4) the extent to which selected IC-element OIGs have met notification and reporting requirements for investigative activities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Department of Homeland Security: Assessment of Air and Marine Operating Locations Should Include Comparable Costs Across All DHS Marine Operations, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "DHS's operational components, primarily AMO [Air and Marine Operations and Border Patrol within CBP [U.S Customs and Border Protection] and Coast Guard, use aircraft and vessels to secure U.S. borders, support criminal investigations, and ensure maritime security and safety. Since DHS began operations in 2003, it has examined opportunities to integrate and coordinate CBP and Coast Guard air and marine operations, including identifying opportunities for potential efficiencies such as consolidation of operating locations. The FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] Reauthorization Act of 2018 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review DHS's air and marine operations. This report examines, among other things, (1) CBP and Coast Guard air and marine mission activities across operating locations and (2) DHS assessments of components' operating locations for air and marine mission activities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Agile Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Agile Adoption and Implementation
From the Introduction: "Our approach to developing this guide was to ascertain best practices for Agile software development from leading practitioners and to develop standard criteria to determine the extent to which agency software development programs meet these practices. These best practices center on Agile adoption, execution, and control. We developed each best practice in consultation with a committee of IT [information technology] and program management specialists and organization executives across government, private industry, and academia."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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VA Police: Actions Needed to Improve Data Completeness and Accuracy on Use of Force Incidents at Medical Centers, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "About 5,000 VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] police officers are responsible for securing and protecting 138 VA medical centers across the country. These officers are authorized to investigate crimes, make arrests, and carry firearms. The Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 included a provision that GAO [Government Accountability Office] assess aspects of the VA police services. This report addresses (1) what the VA's policies are on the use of force by police officers at medical centers, and what training officers receive on the use of force; (2) how VA records and investigates use of force incidents at medical centers; and (3) the extent to which VA sufficiently collects and analyzes use of force data at medical centers."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Airport Funding: Information on Grandfathered Revenue Diversion and Potential Implications of Repeal, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In 1982, a federal law was enacted that imposed constraints on the use of airport revenue (e.g., concessions, parking fees, and airlines' landing fees), prohibiting 'diversion' for non-airport purposes in order to ensure use on airport investment and improvement. However, the law exempted 'grandfathered' airport sponsors-- those with state or local laws providing for such diversion--from this prohibition. Viewpoints vary on whether these airport sponsors should be allowed to continue to lawfully divert revenue. The FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] Reauthorization Act of 2018 provides for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to examine grandfathered airport revenue diversion. This report examines: (1) how much revenue has been diverted annually by grandfathered airport sponsors and how these revenues have been used, and (2) selected stakeholders' perspectives on potential implications of repealing the law allowing revenue diversion."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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COVID-19 Contracting: Observations on Contractor Paid Leave Reimbursement Guidance and Use, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "In March 2020, Congress passed the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act, which provides over $2 trillion in emergency assistance and healthcare response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. The CARES Act also includes a provision for GAO to review federal contracting pursuant to authorities provided in the Act. This report addresses the implementation of section 3610 of the CARES Act, which authorizes federal agencies to reimburse contractors for paid leave related to the COVID-19 pandemic through September 30, 2020. This report describes (1) the extent to which section 3610 implementation guidance provided by selected federal agencies and OMB [Office of Management and Budget] differs and (2) the extent to which selected federal agencies reported use of section 3610 authority through July 20, 2020. GAO reviewed relevant guidance issued by OMB and the seven federal agencies with contract obligations greater than $10 billion in fiscal year 2019; interviewed cognizant officials from OMB and each agency; and reviewed comments provided by and spoke with representatives from four industry associations. GAO also analyzed public procurement data reported by selected agencies to FPDS-NG through July 20, 2020 on the use of section 3610 authority. GAO will continue to assess how agencies are implementing section 3610 authority as part of a series of planned reports regarding the federal response to COVID-19."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Bank Supervision: FDIC Could Better Address Regulatory Capture Risks, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "FDIC [Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation] supervises about 3,300 financial institutions to evaluate their safety and soundness. Some analyses by academic researchers have identified regulatory capture in supervision as one potential factor contributing to the 2007-2009 financial crisis. Regulatory capture is defined as a regulator acting in the interest of the regulated industry rather than in the public interest. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review regulatory capture in financial regulation. This report examines FDIC's (1) processes for encouraging transparency and accountability in the bank examination process, (2) processes to minimize potential conflicts of interest among examination staff, and (3) agency-wide efforts to address the risks of regulatory capture and compromised independence. GAO reviewed FDIC's policies and enterprise risk management framework, analyzed bank examination workpapers, and interviewed supervisory staff."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Aviation Sanitation: FDA Could Better Communicate with Airlines to Encourage Voluntary Construction Inspections of Aircraft Galleys and Lavatories, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Voluntary construction inspections are the primary mechanism by which FDA oversees compliance with its required sanitation standards for the construction of aircraft galleys and lavatories. A report accompanying the House 2019 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review FDA's process for ensuring proper sanitation in aircraft galleys and lavatories. This report (1) examines the extent to which aircraft are inspected to ensure compliance with FDA's sanitation standards, and (2) discusses challenges FDA faces in providing aircraft inspections and how FDA is addressing such challenges."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Information Technology: Key Attributes of Essential Federal Mission-Critical Acquisitions, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "The acquisition of IT [information technology] systems has presented challenges to federal agencies. Accordingly, in 2015 GAO [Government Accountability Office] identified the management of IT acquisitions and operations as a high-risk area, a designation it retains today. GAO was asked to report on federal IT acquisitions. GAO's specific objective was to identify essential mission-critical IT acquisitions across the federal government and determine their key attributes."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Facial Recognition: CBP and TSA Are Taking Steps to Implement Programs, but CBP Should Address Privacy and System Performance Issues, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "Within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] is charged with the dual mission of facilitating legitimate travel and securing U.S. borders, and TSA [Transportation Security Administration] is responsible for protecting the nation's transportation system. For both CBP and TSA, part of their inspection and screening responsibilities includes reviewing travel identification documents and verifying traveler identities. Beginning in 1996, a series of federal laws were enacted to develop and implement an entry-exit data system, which is to integrate biographic and, since 2004, biometric records for foreign nationals. This report addresses (1) the status of CBP's deployment of FRT [facial recognition technology], (2) the extent to which CBP has incorporated privacy protection principles, (3) the extent to which CBP has assessed the accuracy and performance of its FRT, and (4) the status of TSA's testing and deployment of FRT and how TSA has incorporated privacy protection principles. GAO conducted site visits to observe CBP's and TSA's use of FRT, which were selected to include all three travel environments--air, land, and sea; reviewed program documents; and interviewed DHS officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Defense Science and Technology: Opportunities to Better Integrate Industry Independent Research and Development into DOD Planning, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Key Takeaways: "DOD does not know how contractors' independent R&D [research and development] projects fit into the department's technology goals. As a result, DOD risks making decisions about its multi-billion dollar science and tech investments that could duplicate work or miss opportunities to fill in gaps that the contributions of private industry do not cover."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Federal Tactical Teams: Characteristics, Training, Deployments, and Inventory, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Many federal agencies employ law enforcement officers to carry out the agency's law enforcement mission and maintain the security of federal property, employees, and the public. Some of these agencies have specialized law enforcement teams-- referred to as federal tactical teams in this report--whose members are selected, trained, equipped, and assigned to prevent and resolve critical incidents involving a public safety threat that their agency's traditional law enforcement may not otherwise have the capability to resolve. This report provides information on the (1) federal tactical teams and their characteristics; (2) training team members receive; (3) deployments of such teams from fiscal years 2015 through 2019; and (4) firearms, tactical equipment, and tactical vehicles in team inventories, as of January 2020."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Federal Advisory Committees: Actions Needed to Enhance Decision-Making Transparency and Cost Data Accuracy, Report to the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "FACA [Federal Advisory Committee Act] requires federal agencies to ensure that federal advisory committees make decisions that are independent and transparent. In fiscal year 2019, nearly 960 committees under FACA played a key role in informing public policy and government regulations. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the transparency and independence of FACA committees and data collected in GSA's [General Services Administration] FACA database. This report examines (1) selected agencies' and committees' adherence to transparency requirements; (2) their practices to help ensure that agency officials do not exert inappropriate influence on committee decision-making; and (3) the extent to which GSA's FACA database contained accurate, complete, and useful cost information for these committees."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Disaster Assistance: Additional Actions Needed to Strengthen FEMA's Individuals and Households Program, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "During the 2017 and 2018 disaster seasons, several sequential, largescale disasters created an unprecedented demand for federal disaster assistance. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review issues related to the federal response and recovery to the 2017 disaster season and, specifically, the effectiveness of the IHP [Individuals and Households Program]. This report addresses (1) IHP outcomes and challenges faced by survivors from 2016 through 2018; (2) challenges FEMA faced implementing the IHP during the same period; and (3) FEMA efforts to assess and improve the IHP, among other things."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Financial Management: DOD Needs to Implement Comprehensive Plans to Improve Its Systems Environment, Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "DOD financial management has been on GAO's [Government Accountability Office] High Risk List since 1995 because of long-standing deficiencies found in, among other areas, its supporting information systems. DOD uses these systems to report its spending and assets. GAO was requested to review DOD's financial management systems. The objectives of this review are to determine (1) to what extent the data produced by DOD financial management systems are reported to be reliable for presenting financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (2) to what extent DOD and the military departments have strategies and plans to address key information technology controls for their financial systems, and (3) how much money DOD reports spending on developing and maintaining its financial management systems."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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VA Acquisition Management: Actions Needed to Improve Management of Medical-Surgical Prime Vendor Program and Inform Future Decisions, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] is developing the next iteration of its prime vendor program, MSPV [Medical-Surgical Prime Vendor] 2.0, to meet the healthcare needs of about 9 million veterans. GAO's [Government Accountability Office] prior work found that VA medical centers' use of the MSPV formulary fell below targets in VA's prior iteration of the program and that VA lacked an overarching medical supply program strategy. In 2019, GAO elevated VA Acquisition Management to its High Risk List, in part due to its lack of an effective strategy for procuring medical supplies. GAO was asked to review VA's MSPV program. This report assesses, among other things, VA medical centers' use of MSPV-NG [Medical-Surgical Prime Vendor-Next Generation] and whether MSPV 2.0 will mitigate current program issues, as well as whether VA has measures for DLA [Defense Logistics Agency] MSPV pilot success and scalability."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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VA Health Care: Additional Steps Could Help Improve Community Care Budget Estimates, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "In fiscal year 2019, VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] obligations for veterans' community care accounted for over 17 percent of all obligations for VA health care. In implementing the VA MISSION Act of 2018, VA continues to focus on community care as a way to improve veterans' access to health care. When informing Congress of the resources needed for community care, VA must ensure its budget estimates, which are based mostly on actuarial projections, are reliable. The process to develop these estimates is inherently complex, as it requires making assumptions based on imperfect information. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review VA's efforts to develop projections for community care. This report (1) describes VA's actual community care obligations for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 and estimated obligations for fiscal years 2020 through 2022 and (2) examines VA's processes related to its use of actuarial modeling for developing budget estimates for community care, among other objectives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Transit Asset Management: FTA Should Clarify Performance Data and Develop a Plan to Guide Future Program Improvements, Report to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "In 2019, the Department of Transportation (DOT) reported a $98 billion national backlog in deferred reinvestment needs for transit assets in 2014, affecting the quality of transit services. Transit asset management can help agencies make investment decisions that improve asset performance and reduce life cycle costs. In 2016, FTA [Federal Transit Administration] issued a final rule for its TAM [Transit Asset Management] program that required transit agencies to develop TAM plans and report on their assets. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review FTA's implementation of the TAM program. This report examines the extent to which: (1) transit agencies reported improvements as a result of the TAM program; (2) FTA established performance measures to assess asset condition and reported information on those measures; and (3) TAM requirements prepare transit agencies to manage assets over their life cycles."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Coast Guard: Improved Analysis of Vessel Response Plan Use Could Help Mitigate Marine Pollution Risk, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Pursuant to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the Coast Guard issued regulations requiring tankers and other large vessels to develop VRPs [vessel response plans] that identify the resources that would respond to an oil spill, including a spill resulting from a fire or explosion. The Coast Guard reviews VRPs against certain regulatory requirements, such as time frames for response. In remote locations with limited response resources, those seeking VRP approvals may request to use APC [alternative planning criteria] for responses instead. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the VRP program. This report examines the Coast Guard's processes for assessing (1) VRPs against regulations and (2) requests for use of APC."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Chemical Security: DHS Could Use Available Data to Better Plan Outreach to Facilities Excluded from Anti-Terrorism Standards, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Facilities that produce, use, or store hazardous chemicals could be targeted or used by terrorists to inflict mass casualties and damage. DHS established the CFATS [Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards] program to assess the risk posed by facilities with threshold quantities of hazardous chemicals of interest and inspect them to ensure compliance with DHS standards. However, certain types of facilities subject to other regulatory programs are excluded from the CFATS program by statute. Excluded facilities include facilities regulated under the MTSA [Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002] program, public water systems, and wastewater treatment works. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review issues related to excluded facilities. This report addresses, among other things, the extent to which (1) selected federal programs that regulate excluded facilities contain requirements or guidance that align with CFATS standards, and (2) DHS conducts outreach to excluded facilities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Disaster Assistance: FEMA Should Take Additional Actions to Strengthen Fraud Risk Management for Public Assistance Emergency Work Grants, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "FEMA has obligated over $10 billion in PA [Public Assistance] grants for emergency work to applicants in the three states and two territories recovering from hurricanes and wildfires in 2017. FEMA faces challenges balancing the need to quickly deliver disaster funds while minimizing the risk of fraud-- challenges increased by the size and scope of the 2017 disasters and the complexity of the PA grant program. Fraud schemes have included false documentation for debris removal. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review a range of disaster response and recovery issues following the 2017 disaster season. This report addresses the extent to which (1) FEMA's efforts to assess fraud risks to PA emergency work grants align with leading practices, and (2) FEMA helps ensure PA applicants are able to meet their responsibilities for managing fraud risks. GAO assessed FEMA's procedures against leading practices in the Fraud Risk Framework."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Agile Software Development
From the Document: "Agile software development has the potential to save the federal government billions of dollars and significant time, allowing agencies to deliver software more efficiently and effectively for American taxpayers. However, the transition to Agile requires an investment in new tools and processes, which can be costly and time consuming."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
