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To promote aviation, FAA provides grants and land to airports. Grants for airport development were authorized under the Federal Airport Aid Program from 1946 through 1970 and the Airport Development Aid Program from 1971 through 1981. During 1982 through 1997, more than $20.5 billion in grants was awarded to commercial... | Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO provided information on: (1) the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) monitoring of general aviation airports' compliance with federal land-use requirements; and (2) FAA's use of enforcement tools to resolve cases of noncompliance. GAO noted that: (1) FAA does not adequatel... |
The Department of the Treasury is authorized by the Congress to borrow money on the credit of the United States to fund operations of the federal government. The Bureau of the Public Debt is the organizational entity within Treasury that is responsible for prescribing the debt instruments and limiting and restricting t... | Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the general and application controls that support key automated financial systems maintained and operated by the Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD). GAO noted that: (1) overall, GAO found that BPD implemented effective computer controls; however, GAO identified certain v... |
The Chemical and Biological Defense Program was established in 1994 and develops defense capabilities to protect the warfighter from current and emerging chemical and biological threats. Specifically, its mission is “to enable the warfighter to deter, prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from CBR... | The United States faces current and emerging chemical and biological threats, and defenses against these threats enable DOD to protect the force, preclude strategic gains by adversaries, and reduce risk to U.S. interests. GAO was asked to review DOD efforts to manage its chemical and biological defense infrastructure c... |
The FHLBank System, established in 1932 by the Federal Home Loan Bank Act, is a group of government-sponsored enterprises comprising 12 regional, federally chartered banks. Each FHLBank is cooperatively owned by its members––such as commercial and community banks, thrifts, credit unions, and insurance companies. The FH... | In 2014, the FHLBank System had over 7,300 member institutions and approximately $570 billion of loans (advances) outstanding. The system consists of 12 regionally based banks that are cooperatively owned by member institutions. Its mission is to serve as a reliable source of liquidity for members to support housing fi... |
Administrative records are a growing source of information about individuals and households. Administrative records include records from government agencies, such as tax data and Medicare records, as well as commercial sources from major national data vendors. National administrative records refer to data compiled and ... | The Bureau's Population Estimates Challenge Program gives local governments the opportunity to challenge the Bureau's annual estimates of their population counts during the years between decennial censuses. Challenges rely on local administrative records, such as building and demolition permits. In addition to their ro... |
Surveillance of foodborne diseases allows public health officials to recognize trends, detect outbreaks, pinpoint the causes of these outbreaks, and develop effective prevention and control measures. Such surveillance presents a complex challenge. Many foods today are imported, prepared and/or eaten outside the home, a... | Foodborne diseases in the United States cause an estimated 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Surveillance is the most important tool for detecting and monitoring both existing and emerging foodborne diseases. In ... |
The Prometheus 1 project is part of NASA’s Prometheus Nuclear Systems and Technology program to develop nuclear power technologies capable of providing power and propulsion for a new generation of missions. The Prometheus 1 spacecraft is being designed to use nuclear power and electric propulsion technologies to explor... | In 2003, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) initiated the Prometheus 1 project to explore the outer reaches of the Solar System. The Prometheus 1 spacecraft is being designed to harness nuclear energy that will increase available electrical power from about 1,000 watts to over 100,000 watts and en... |
For decades, the federal government has relied on firefighting aircraft to assist in wildland fire suppression activities. These aircraft perform various firefighting activities, including gathering intelligence by detecting fires and conducting assessments of ongoing fires; delivering supplies such as water, food, and... | The Forest Service and Interior contract for aircraft to perform various firefighting functions, including airtankers that drop retardant. The Forest Service contracts for large airtankers and certain other aircraft, while Interior contracts for smaller airtankers and water scoopers. However, a decrease in the number o... |
The Missile Defense Agency has been charged with developing and deploying ballistic missile defenses against threats posed by adversaries from all geographic regions, at all ranges, and in all phases of flight. At least 25 countries have acquired ballistic missiles, including many countries that are also seeking or hav... | In 2002, the Department of Defense (DOD) established the Missile Defense Agency to develop and deploy globally integrated ballistic missile defenses to protect the U.S. homeland, deployed forces, friends, and allies. To deliver an operational capability as quickly as possible, the agency was not subject to traditional ... |
In 2004, the Coast Guard and the Minerals Management Service—a component of Interior that was subsequently reorganized into the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE), and, most recently, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement... | The April 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon, a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU), showed that the consequences of an incident on an offshore energy facility can be significant. A key way to ensure that offshore energy facilities are meeting applicable security, safety, and production standards is through condu... |
In the life sciences, biosafety is a combination of the containment principles, technologies, practices, and procedures that are implemented to prevent the unintentional exposure to pathogens and toxins or their accidental release. In most countries, infectious agents are classified by risk group. Agent risk group clas... | U.S. laboratories working with dangerous biological pathogens (commonly referred to as high-containment laboratories) have proliferated in recent years. As a result, the public is concerned about the oversight of these laboratories. The deliberate or accidental release of biological pathogens can have disastrous conseq... |
VA’s mission is to promote the health, welfare, and dignity of all veterans in recognition of their service to the nation by ensuring they receive medical care, benefits, social support, and lasting memorials. It is the second largest federal department and, in addition to its central office located in Washington, D.C.... | VA relies extensively on IT to deliver services to millions of our nation's veterans. VA reported spending approximately $3.9 billion in 2015 and received appropriations of approximately $4.1 billion in 2016 to improve and maintain its IT resources. Even as the department has engaged in various attempts to improve its ... |
The enormous challenge involved in making information systems Year 2000 compliant is managerial as well as technical. Agencies’ success or failure will largely be determined by the quality of their program management and executive leadership. The outcome of these efforts will also depend on the extent to which agencies... | GAO reviewed the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) efforts to have its information systems function correctly when processing dates beyond December 31, 1999, focusing on: (1) IRS' progress in converting its systems according to the guidelines in GAO's year 2000 assessment guide; (2) the risks IRS faces to completing the... |
The federal government plans to invest more than $89 billion on IT in fiscal year 2017. However, as we have previously reported, investments in federal IT too often result in failed projects that incur cost overruns and schedule slippages while contributing little to the mission-related outcome. For example: The Depart... | The federal government plans to invest more than $89 billion on IT in fiscal year 2017. Historically, these investments have frequently failed, incurred cost overruns and schedule slippages, or contributed little to mission-related outcomes. Accordingly, in December 2014, IT reform legislation was enacted into law, aim... |
In November 2002, Congress passed and the President signed the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (IPIA), which was later amended by IPERA and the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012 (IPERIA). The amended legislation requires executive branch agencies to (1) review all programs and... | Fiscal year 2015 marked the fifth year of the implementation of IPERA, which requires IGs to annually assess and report on whether executive branch agencies complied with six IPERA criteria related to the estimation of improper payments. Improper payments have been estimated to total over $1.2 trillion government-wide ... |
Under its environmental restoration program, DOD is responsible for identifying and cleaning up contamination that is a threat to human health or the environment and resulted from its past activities on active and closing installations and on formerly used defense sites. The types of contamination include petroleum pro... | Chemical testing kits from World War II containing diluted mustard gas and other chemicals have been discovered on Guam. The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for identifying and cleaning up contaminated military sites throughout the United States and its territories. In the mid-1990s, DOD scaled back its iden... |
Government officials are concerned about attacks from individuals and groups with malicious intent, such as criminals, terrorists, and adversarial foreign nations. For example, in February 2009, the Director of National Intelligence testified that foreign nations and criminals have targeted government and private secto... | Pervasive and sustained computerbased (cyber) attacks against federal and private-sector infrastructures pose a potentially devastating impact to systems and operations and the critical infrastructures that they support. To address these threats, President Bush issued a 2003 national strategy and related policy directi... |
DOD is increasingly relying on contractor services to accomplish its missions. In fiscal year 2006, DOD awarded more than $294 billion in contracts. Despite this huge investment in buying goods and services, our work and the work of the DOD Inspector General (IG) has found that DOD’s spending sometimes is inefficient a... | To meet urgent needs, the Department of Defense (DOD) can issue undefinitized contract actions (UCA), which authorize contractors to begin work before reaching a final agreement on contract terms. The contractor has little incentive to control costs during this period, creating a potential for wasted taxpayer dollars. ... |
DOJ awards federal financial assistance to state and local governments, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, tribal jurisdictions, and educational institutions to help prevent crime, assist victims of crime, and promote innovative law enforcement efforts. Federal financial assistance can take the form of discretiona... | Since fiscal year 2005, approximately $33 billion has been appropriated to DOJ for the administration of more than 200 federal financial assistance solicitations, such as grants, that support criminal justice activities at the state and local levels. Pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, this report addresses t... |
In September 1997, the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority (Authority) awarded a contract to acquire a new FMS. The overall objective of the FMS project is to improve the District’s financial systems through faster, more efficient, and accurate processing providing increase... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed whether the District of Columbia had implemented disciplined software acquisition processes for its new financial management system (FMS). GAO noted that: (1) while the District has many strengths in its acquisition processes for FMS, it also has many weaknesses; (2) wh... |
The countries of Latin America have a long history of political change, including dictatorships, autocratic rule, military juntas, and various forms of democracy. According to Freedom House, a U.S. research organization that tracks political developments around the world, these countries have, since the 1980s, graduall... | Supporting democracy abroad is a major U.S. foreign policy objective. To better understand how this assistance has been implemented in Latin America, GAO was asked to review programs in six countries--Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Peru--that have been of particular importance to U.S. interes... |
By “home care,” we mean not only health care services delivered in the home, but also assistance with basic and instrumental activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, transferring from bed to chair, shopping, cooking, and laundry. These services are provided by a variety of organizations... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined federal and state provisions for protecting vulnerable elderly and disabled persons from home care wokers with histories of crime and patient abuse, focusing on: (1) federal or state requirements for licensure, registration, or certification of home care workers and org... |
In 1862, Congress enacted the Morrill Act to help states establish and maintain land-grant colleges. The act carefully specified the grant’s objectives, placed conditions on the use of revenue derived from the sale of the granted lands, and required annual reports. This established the pattern of categorical grants—pro... | The Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 is one of the most recent in a series of efforts to reform the federal grants management system. The act seeks to improve the effectiveness and performance of Federal financial assistance programs; simplify application and reporting requirements; impro... |
Declining letter mail volumes and increasing electronic substitution, which have accelerated with the recent recession, have reduced postal revenues for both the foreign posts and USPS. Additionally, foreign posts told us they, like USPS, faced high infrastructure and workforce costs. Some foreign posts began to modern... | The foreign postal operators (foreign posts) in industrialized countries in GAO's review have been experiencing declining letter mail volumes and have modernized their delivery and retail networks to address this challenge. As requested, GAO reviewed the innovations and initiatives that foreign posts are using and the ... |
The United States, along with its coalition partners and various international organizations and donors, has embarked on a significant effort to rebuild Iraq. The United States is spending billions of dollars to reconstruct Iraq while combating an insurgency that has targeted military and contractor personnel and the I... | The government has hired private contractors to provide billions of dollars worth of goods and services to support U.S. efforts in Iraq. Faced with the uncertainty as to the full extent of rebuilding Iraq, the government authorized contractors to begin work before key terms and conditions were defined. This approach al... |
The 21st Century program is authorized to provide a wide range of activities for K-12 students and their families to: 1. provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including providing tutorial services to help students—particularly students who attend low-performing schools—meet state and local academic standards i... | Education's 21st Century program—funded about $1 billion annually since 2002—supports a broad array of activities outside the school day to improve student outcomes in high-poverty or low-performing K-12 schools. A statement accompanying the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 included a prov... |
The Aviation and Transportation Security Act established TSA as the federal agency with primary responsibility for securing the nation’s civil aviation system, which includes the screening of all passenger and property transported by commercial passenger aircraft. TSA currently has direct responsibility for, or oversee... | To enhance aviation security, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began initial testing in October 2003 of its Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT) program. Behavior Detection Officers (BDO) carry out SPOT's mission to identify persons who pose a risk to aviation security by focusing on... |
EEOICPA, as amended, generally provides compensation to employees of the Department of Energy (Energy) and its contractors employed in the production of U.S. nuclear weapons who developed illnesses related to their exposure to radiation and many other toxins at Energy facilities. During and shortly after World War II, ... | EEOICPA was enacted in 2000 to compensate employees and contractors of the Department of Energy whose illnesses are linked to their work in the nuclear weapons industry. Part E of the Act, enacted in 2004, compensates these contractor and subcontractor workers, or their eligible survivors, for medical expenses, impairm... |
Prior to recent congressional deliberations on the Navy’s fiscal year 1995 budget, the Navy planned to spend over $2.5 billion to add limited ground attack capability and other improvements to 210 F-14 Tomcat fighter aircraft (53 F-14Ds, 81 F-14Bs, and 76 F-14As). According to the Navy, the ground attack capabilities w... | GAO reviewed the Navy's decision to spend about $2.5 billion between fiscal years 1994 and 2003 for a limited ground attack upgrade and other modifications to about 200 F-14 Tomcat fighters. GAO found that: (1) although the Navy has justified F-14 attack upgrades as necessary to replace the loss of A-6E aircraft, most ... |
The F/A-22 is the Air Force’s next-generation air superiority fighter aircraft and incorporates a low observable (stealth) and highly maneuverable airframe, advanced integrated avionics, and a new engine capable of sustained supersonic flight without the use of afterburners. It was originally designed to counter threat... | The Air Force is preparing a modernization plan that expands the capabilities of the F/A-22, which was first designed to serve as an air-to-air fighter aircraft with very limited ability to strike targets on the ground. The Air Force now intends to transform it by adding robust air-to-ground capabilities to attack enem... |
Nanotechnology encompasses a wide range of innovations based on the understanding and control of matter at the scale of nanometers—the equivalent of one-billionth of a meter. To illustrate, a sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick and a human hair is about 80,000 nanometers wide. At the nanoscale level, mater... | In March 2008, GAO issued a report entitled Nanotechnology: Better Guidance Is Needed to Ensure Accurate Reporting of Federal Research Focused on Environmental, Health, and Safety Risks (GAO-08-402). In this report, GAO reviewed the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), a multiagency effort administered by the Offi... |
Although its effect on communities can be devastating, wildland fire is a natural and necessary process that provides many benefits to ecosystems, such as maintaining habitat diversity, recycling soil nutrients, limiting the spread of insects and disease, and promoting new growth by causing the seeds of fire-dependent ... | The nation's wildland fire problems have worsened over the past decade. Recent years have seen dramatic increases in the number of acres burned and the dollars spent on preparing for and responding to wildland fires. As GAO has previously reported, a number of factors have contributed to worsening fire seasons and incr... |
Many federal agencies have yet to adopt succession planning and management initiatives. In 1997, the National Academy of Public Administration reported that of the 27 agencies responding to its survey, 2 agencies had a succession planning program or process in place; 2 agencies were planning to have one in the coming y... | Leading public organizations here and abroad recognize that a more strategic approach to human capital management is essential for change initiatives that are intended to transform their cultures. To that end, organizations are looking for ways to identify and develop the leaders, managers, and workforce necessary to f... |
Asbestos is the name given to a number of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals mined for their useful properties, such as thermal insulation, chemical and thermal stability, and high tensile strength. Asbestos has been used intentionally in the manufacture of products ranging from insulation and roofing materi... | Agencies address their missions not only through regulations but also by issuing communication products--such as guidance, fact sheets, and brochures--that can provide crucial information to regulated parties and the public. Since 2000, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Prot... |
Military missions differ from nonmilitary missions on a variety of factors, as shown in table 1. Military missions involve coordinated military actions, such as campaigns, engagements, or strikes, by one or more of the services’ combat forces. Operations Desert Storm in 1991 and Iraqi Freedom in 2003 are examples of ov... | The way in which the federal government views the defense of the United States has dramatically changed since September 11, 2001. Consequently, the Department of Defense (DOD) is adjusting its Cold War strategic focus (of defending against massed combat forces) to better encompass defense against the asymmetric threats... |
OPS administers the national regulatory program to ensure the safe operation of nearly 2.2 million miles of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines in the United States. The agency develops, issues, and enforces pipeline safety regulations. These regulations contain minimum safety standards that the pipeline compani... | In a May 2000 report on the performance of the Department of Transportation's Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), GAO found that the number of pipeline accidents rose four percent annually from 1989 to 1998--from 190 in 1989 to 280 in 1998. GAO also found that OPS did not implement 22 statutory requirements and 39 recomme... |
The law directs VA to compensate veterans for their service-connected physical or mental conditions according to a schedule of disability ratings, which represents the average impairment in earning capacity that results from these conditions. The first schedule was developed in 1919 and has undergone many changes since... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information that would enable the subcommittee to assess the need for a comprehensive study of the economic validity of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) disability rating schedule, focusing on: (1) the basis for the disability ratings assigned to conditions in t... |
NRC’s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation provides overall direction for the oversight process and the Office of Enforcement is responsible for ensuring that appropriate enforcement actions are taken when performance issues are identified. NRC’s regional offices are responsible for implementing the ROP, along with the... | The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is responsible for overseeing the nation's 104 commercial nuclear power reactors to ensure they are operated safely. Since 2000, NRC has used a formal Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) to oversee safety. NRC is also responsible for licensing the construction and operation of new re... |
The federal government supports two major loan programs for postsecondary students under Title IV of HEA: the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program (FDLP). In 2000, FFELP and FDLP provided approximately $23 billion and $10 billion, respectively, in loans and loan guar... | The relationship between the Department of Education and state-designated guaranty agencies that run the largest federal student loan program is changing in order to achieve program and cost efficiencies and improve delivery of student financial aid. These state or private not-for-profit agencies guarantee payment if s... |
In pursuing its mission of aiding small businesses, SBA provides small businesses with access to credit, primarily by guaranteeing loans through its 7(a) and other loan programs, and provides entrepreneurial assistance through partnerships with private entities that offer small business counseling and technical assista... | The Small Business Administration (SBA) has recognized that it needs to realign its current organizational structure and processes to improve its ability to fulfill its primary mission--supporting the nation's small businesses. In July 2002, SBA announced that it was initiating a transformation effort to increase the p... |
As a result of controversy and litigation surrounding the 1990 Decennial Census, the U.S. Census Bureau recognized the need for a full-scale review of its decennial census program. The Congress, OMB, and GAO also agreed that this review was needed and that it must occur early in the decade to implement viable actions f... | GAO reviewed the funding of 2000 Census planning and development efforts and the impact it had on census operations. Total funding for the 2000 Census, referred to as the life cycle cost, covers a 13-year period from fiscal year 1991 through fiscal year 2003 and is expected to total $6.5 billion adjusted to 2000 year d... |
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (NDAA for FY 1998), as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (NDAA for FY 1999) required OMB to issue both a classified and an unclassified report on funding to combat terrorism. Under the NDAA reporting requirements, OMB’s ann... | The President's annual budget reports on federal funding dedicated to combating terrorism activities. Identification of such funding is inherently difficult because a significant portion of combating terrorism funding is embedded within appropriation accounts that include funding for other activities as well. In 2002, ... |
The Internal Revenue Code (IRC) requires IRS to notify taxpayers of taxes they might owe and about actions it plans to take to collect the taxes. Since the Revenue Act of 1928, IRS has been required to send such notifications to a taxpayer’s last known address. A taxpayer’s last known address was not defined by the Rev... | In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) processes for handling undeliverable mail, focusing on the: (1) amount of and reasons for undeliverable mail; and (2) impact of undeliverable mail on taxpayers and IRS. GAO found that: (1) IRS estimates that it had about 6.5 milli... |
In the late 1980s, the judiciary recognized that it was facing space shortages, security shortfalls, and operational inefficiencies at courthouse facilities around the country. To address this problem, the Judicial Conference of the United States directed each of the 94 judicial districts, with assistance from AOC, to ... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts' (AOC) 5-year courthouse construction plan, focusing on whether the 5-year plan: (1) reflects the judiciary's most urgent courthouse construction needs; and (2) provides informati... |
Federal regulation is a basic tool of government. Agencies issue thousands of rules and regulations each year to implement statutes enacted by Congress. The public policy goals and benefits of regulations include, among other things, ensuring that workplaces, air travel, foods, and drugs are safe; that the nation’s air... | Federal regulation is a basic tool of government. Agencies issue thousands of rules and regulations each year to achieve goals such as ensuring that workplaces, air travel, and foods are safe; that the nation's air, water and land are not polluted; and that the appropriate amount of taxes are collected. The costs of th... |
NNSA conducts nuclear weapon and nonproliferation-related national security activities in research and development laboratories, production plants, and other facilities. Specifically, NNSA operates three weapons laboratories—Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), California; Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL... | Over the past several years, a serious effort has begun to comprehensively reevaluate how the United States maintains its nuclear deterrent and what the nation's approach should be for transforming its aging nuclear weapons complex. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a separately organized agency with... |
Most modern nuclear warheads contain a nuclear explosive package, which contains the primary and the secondary, and a set of nonnuclear components. The nuclear detonation of the primary produces energy that drives the secondary, which produces further nuclear energy of a militarily significant yield. The nonnuclear com... | In 1992, the United States began a unilateral moratorium on the testing of nuclear weapons. To compensate for the lack of testing, the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) developed the Stockpile Stewardship Program to assess and certify the safety and reliability of the nation's nucle... |
This section describes (1) IAEA’s structure and budget, (2) IAEA safeguards, (3) the nuclear fuel cycle, and (4) Iran’s nuclear program. IAEA is structured into six major programs, including Nuclear Verification, which carries out the agency’s safeguards activities. Other IAEA programs are generally intended to help pr... | In July 2015, multilateral talks with Iran culminated in an agreement called the JCPOA, through which Iran committed to limits on its nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions put in place by the United States and other nations. IAEA, an independent international organization that administers safeguards des... |
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most devastating viral animal diseases affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle and swine, and has occurred in most countries of the world at some point during the last century. Although the disease has no human-health implications, it can have enormous economic and soci... | The 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the United Kingdom decisively illustrated the devastation that this highly contagious animal disease can cause to a nation's economy. By the time the disease was eradicated, the United Kingdom had slaughtered more than 4 million animals and sustained losses of $5 bil... |
Yellowstone was created by an act of Congress in 1872 as a public park for the benefit and enjoyment of the people and for the preservation and retention of its resources in their natural condition. Yellowstone’s mandate, creating a dual mission to preserve natural resources while providing for the public’s enjoyment o... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed wildlife management issues at Yellowstone National Park, focusing on the: (1) National Park Service's (NPS) current policy for managing free-roaming bison and elk in Yellowstone; (2) controversy surrounding the impact of these herds on the park's rangeland and riparian... |
Established in 1972, WIC is designed to improve the health and nutritional well-being of participants by providing nutritious supplemental foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health care services. The program is available in each state, the District of Columbia, 33 Indian tribal organizations, Puerto Rico, the... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed cost containment initiatives states are using to control the cost of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), focusing on the practices that the states use to: (1) contain costs by controlling the foods approved for use in the W... |
ERISA, among other requirements, establishes the responsibilities of employee benefit plan decision makers (fiduciaries) and the requirements for disclosing and reporting plan fees. ERISA is designed to protect the rights and interests of participants and beneficiaries of employee benefit plans and to outline the respo... | The Department of Labor (Labor) collects information on fees charged to 401(k) plans primarily through its Form 5500. Labor issued final regulations in November 2007, making changes to, among other things, Schedule C of the Form 5500. Labor put emphasis on reporting the indirect compensation paid to service providers a... |
The 104th Congress is moving to make major changes in AFDC, the nation’s largest cash assistance program for needy families with children. Under consideration are limiting the number of years that cash assistance may be received, capping benefit increases for mothers on welfare who have additional children, denying cas... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on employment-focused welfare-to-work programs, focusing on: (1) the extent to which county and local Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) programs focus on employment; and (2) factors that hinder administrators' efforts to move Aid to Families... |
The Smithsonian Institution is a unique and complex organization. Congress created the Smithsonian in 1846 as an independent trust establishment of the United States. Congress did not establish the Smithsonian within any branch of the federal government, and it is not a federal agency unless Congress designates it as s... | The Smithsonian Institution's governing body, the Board of Regents (Board), has developed a set of actions to address governance and accountability breakdowns that came to light in 2007. These actions were aimed at problems in three main areas: (1) executive compensation, benefits, ethics, and operational policies and ... |
Both government and private entities increasingly depend on computerized information systems to carry out operations and to process, maintain, and report essential information. Public and private organizations rely on computer systems to transmit sensitive and proprietary information, develop and maintain intellectual ... | The United States is an acknowledged global leader in the creation of intellectual property. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IP theft is a growing threat which is heightened by the rise of the use of digital technologies. IP is any innovation, commercial or artistic, or any unique name, symbol, logo, ... |
Congress has given the president the authority to issue executive orders designating and terminating areas as combat zones. Since 1950, U.S. presidents have designated combat zones in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf area, the Kosovo area, and Afghanistan. U.S. presidents terminated combat zone designations for Korea i... | Servicemembers who are assigned, deployed, or travel on temporary duty to certain foreign areas are eligible for special pays and benefits including (1) imminent danger pay (IDP) when the Department of Defense (DOD) determines that members are subject to the threat of physical harm or imminent danger and (2) combat zon... |
Historically, the Congress has limited VA’s authority to provide medical care to veterans, expanding it in a careful and deliberate manner. Although VA’s authority has increased significantly over the years, important limitations have not been recognized by VA in establishing and operating new access points. At the acc... | GAO discussed the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) plan to improve veterans' access to primary health care. GAO noted that: (1) by creating new access points, VA may be able to cost-effectively improve users' access to health care and reduce the inequities in veterans' access caused by geographic inaccessibility; (... |
DHS’s interest in better integrating its legacy agencies has been long- standing, and on several occasions since 2004 the department has identified an approach or vision for establishing a more unified field structure to enhance mission coordination among its component agencies but has not implemented such a structure.... | DHS is the third-largest department in the federal government, with an annual budget of about $60 billion, 200,000 staff, and a broad range of missions. In 2002, DHS was created from 22 legacy agencies. The geographic overlap of these agencies' legacy field office structures was extensive, underscoring the importance o... |
SSA’s mission is to deliver Social Security services that meet the changing needs of the public. The Social Security Act and amendments established the programs that SSA administers, which include the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program: Commonly referred to simply as “Social Security,” this program is... | This hearing is on the Social Security Administrations (SSA) efforts to modernize its information technology (IT) systems and environment. As you know, SSA is responsible for delivering services that touch the lives of virtually every American, and the agency relies heavily on IT to do so. Its computerized information... |
ERISA was enacted to protect participants in employer-based pension and welfare benefit plans. After several highly visible pension plan failures and abuses in the 1960s and early 1970s, the Congress enacted ERISA in 1974. Although it was established primarily as a pension law, ERISA also regulates welfare benefits—inc... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed how people enrolled in employer-based managed care plans are compensated when they are improperly denied health care benefits or when they experience negligent medical care and the role that the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) plays, focusing on: (1) whe... |
Historically, DOD’s programs for acquiring major weapon systems have taken longer, cost more, and often delivered fewer quantities and other capabilities than planned. GAO has documented these problems for decades. In 1970, GAO reported that considerable cost growth had been and was continuing to occur on many current ... | The Department of Defense (DOD) is planning to invest $1.3 trillion between 2005 and 2009 in researching, developing, and procuring major weapon systems. How DOD manages this investment has been a matter of congressional concern for years. Numerous programs have been marked by cost overruns, schedule delays, and reduce... |
In 1986, the United States entered into its original Compact of Free Association with the FSM. The compact comprised a framework for the United States to work toward achieving three main goals: (1) to secure self-government for the FSM, (2) to ensure certain national security rights for all parties, and (3) to assist t... | From 1987 through 2003, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) received more than $1.5 billion in economic assistance under the original Compact of Free Association with the United States. In 2003, the U.S. government approved an amended compact with the FSM that provides an additional $2.3 billion from 2004 through ... |
Uterine Fibroids and Treatment Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that develop from the muscular tissue of the uterus. Most women will develop uterine fibroids at some point in their lives, although most cause no symptoms. In some cases, however, uterine fibroids can cause symptoms, including heavy or prolonged ... | In December 2013, media reports raised concerns regarding the use of power morcellators in the surgical treatment of women with uterine fibroids. These concerns focused on the spread of an unsuspected uterine cancer after such use of the devices. GAO was asked to review power morcellator medical devices. This report ex... |
In March 2009, $26.7 billion of Recovery Act funding was apportioned to all 50 states and the District for activities allowed under the Federal-Aid Highway Surface Transportation Program, including restoration, repair, and construction of highways, and for other eligible surface transportation projects. The act require... | The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) included more than $48 billion for the Department of Transportation's (DOT) investment in transportation infrastructure, including highways, rail, and transit. This testimony--based on GAO report GAO-09-829 , issued on July 8, 2009 and updated with more ... |
DOD uses its secondary inventories, such as spare parts, clothing, and medical supplies, to support its operating forces worldwide. However, its logistics system to acquire, store, and deliver these materials has frequently been criticized as cumbersome, inefficient, and costly. DOD’s inventory management problems have... | GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) logistics strategic plan to identify opportunities for increasing the likelihood of implementing the plan's goals and objectives successfully. GAO found that: (1) DOD's plan gives direction to improvements that are needed to reduce the costs of its logistics system (i.e., ... |
Long-term fiscal simulations by GAO, CBO, and others all show that despite some modest improvement in near-term deficits, we face large and growing structural deficits driven primarily by rising health care costs and known demographic trends. In fact, the long-term fiscal challenge is largely a health care challenge. A... | This testimony relates to the broader question: How should we deal with our nation's long-term fiscal challenge in order to help ensure that our future is better than our past? This testimony will start with our longer-term fiscal challenge. Then it will turn to the process question you present at this hearing: the rei... |
The CFATS program is intended to secure the nation’s chemical infrastructure by identifying and protecting high-risk chemical facilities. Section 550 of the DHS appropriations act for fiscal year 2007 requires DHS to issue regulations establishing risk-based performance standards for security of facilities that the Sec... | The events of September 11, 2001, triggered a national re-examination of the security of facilities that use or store hazardous chemicals in quantities that, in the event of a terrorist attack, could put large numbers of Americans at risk of serious injury or death. As required by statute, DHS issued regulations that e... |
U.S. national military strategy requires air, land, sea, and special operations forces to be capable of working together as a joint force in military operations. At the direction of the Chairman, the CJCS Exercise Program began in the early 1960s to provide joint training opportunities. According to CJCS policy, the ex... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), Exercise Program, focusing on the: (1) number and type of CJCS exercises conducted and planned from 1995 to 2002; (2) basis for the Department of Defense's (DOD) estimates of exercise costs for the same time period; and (3) av... |
This section provides information on the history of the Manufacturing USA program, the provisions of the RAMI Act, and the awards process and membership of the institutes. The June 2011 PCAST report was followed in July 2012 by another report, prepared by the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Steering Committee; this ... | The RAMI Act includes a provision for GAO to assess the program every two years, with a final assessment in 2024. This is GAO's first report in response to the statutory provision. Among other objectives, GAO examined (1) the status of the network and use of the institutes, (2) the extent to which performance measures ... |
A weapon system for ballistic missile defense, even a rudimentary one, requires the coordinated operation of a diverse collection of components. For example, the initial capability emplaced in 2004 employs early-warning satellites for launch detection, ground-based radars in California and Alaska, and sea-based Aegis r... | The Department of Defense (DOD) has spent nearly $90 billion since 1985 to develop a Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). In the next 6 years, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the developer, plans to invest about $58 billion more. MDA's overall goal is to produce a system that is capable of defeating enemy missile... |
Under MD-715, federal agencies are to identify and eliminate barriers that impede free and open competition in their workplaces. EEOC defines a barrier as an agency policy, principle, or practice that limits or tends to limit employment opportunities for members of a particular gender, race, ethnic background, or disab... | Under MD-715, federal agencies are to identify and eliminate barriers that impede free and open competition in their workplaces. EEOC defines a barrier as an agency policy, principle, or practice that limits or tends to limit employment opportunities for members of a particular gender, race, ethnic background, or disab... |
BLM, within the Department of the Interior, and the Forest Service, within the Department of Agriculture, are the two primary federal agencies involved with timber sales. In terms of acreage, the Forest Service manages over 192 million acres of national forest system land. In contrast, BLM manages about 261 million acr... | For several decades, debate over how to balance timber sales with resource protection and recreational use on federally managed lands has been at the heart of controversy surrounding federal land management. The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is one of the federal agencies that manages som... |
Historically, patient health information has been scattered across paper records kept by many different caregivers in many different locations, making it difficult for a clinician to access all of a patient’s health information at the time of care. Lacking access to these critical data, a clinician may be challenged in... | DOD and VA operate two of the nation's largest health care systems, serving approximately 16 million veterans and active duty service members and their beneficiaries, at a cost of more than $100 billion a year. For almost two decades, the departments have been engaged in various efforts to advance DOD and VA electronic... |
In 1995, we compared the 4 common years (1996-99) in DOD’s 1995 and 1996 FYDPs and reported that DOD projected substantial shifts in funding priorities. Specifically, about $27 billion in planned weapon system modernization programs had been eliminated, reduced, or deferred to 2000 or later. Also, the military personne... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO compared the Department of Defense's (DOD) fiscal year (FY) 1997 Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) with the FYDP for FY 1996, focusing on the: (1) impact of the reduction in the inflation rate on DOD's 1997 FDYP; (2) major program adjustments from the 1996 FDYP to the 1997 FDY... |
When veterans obtain care from non-VA providers, the non-VA providers submit claims to VA for payment. See table 1 for a description of the types of non-VA medical care claims processed by VA. Preauthorizing non-VA medical care involves a multistep process conducted by the VA facility that regularly serves a veteran. T... | Due to serious and longstanding problems with the timely scheduling of veterans' appointments in VA facilities, VA recently announced that it will allow additional veterans to be treated through its Non-VA Medical Care Program. This testimony is based on two GAO reports and addresses the extent to which (1) VA collects... |
Congress funds NNSA’s modernization efforts through various activities and programs within the Weapons Activities appropriation that generally address four areas: (1) stockpile, (2) infrastructure, (3) ST&E capabilities, The four areas, which are described in and (4) other weapons activities.greater detail below, are i... | Nuclear weapons continue to be an essential part of the nation's defense strategy. The end of the cold war resulted in a shift from producing new nuclear weapons to maintaining the stockpile through refurbishment. Also, billions of dollars in scheduled maintenance for nuclear weapons infrastructure has been deferred. T... |
During 1998, the Navy consolidated the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and the Naval Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Hawaii. Because of concerns raised about certain aspects of the consolidation, the Navy implemented a test project, commonly called the Pearl Harbor pilot, to determine if integrating the management, op... | In 1998, the Navy consolidated the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and the Naval Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Hawaii. Because of concerns about some aspects of the consolidation, the Navy began a test project, commonly called the Pearl Harbor pilot, to determine if integrating the management, operations, and fundin... |
Among other things, WIOA requires that DOL and Education collaborate to implement a common performance accountability system for the six core programs identified in the law (see table 1). For the core programs, WIOA establishes six performance indicators on which states must report, with some exceptions (see table 2). ... | Enacted in 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act brought numerous changes to existing federal employment and training programs, including requiring DOL and Education to implement a common performance accountability system across the six WIOA-designated core programs. WIOA includes a provision for GAO to is... |
Challenges in global political affairs have placed increasing demands on the way the United States uses space capabilities to achieve national security objectives. DOD’s space network is expected to play an increasingly important role in military operations. Yet in each major conflict over the past decade, senior milit... | The Department of Defense's (DOD) operational dependence on space has placed new and increasing demands on current space systems to meet commanders' needs. DOD's Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) concept is designed to more rapidly satisfy commanders' needs for information and intelligence during ongoing operations.... |
Established by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, DNI serves as head of the IC, acts as the principal advisor to the President and National Security Council on intelligence matters, and oversees and directs the implementation of the National Intelligence Program. The IC comprises 17 different... | The IC uses core contract personnel to augment its workforce. These contractors typically work alongside government personnel and perform staff-like work. Some core contract personnel require enhanced oversight because they perform services that could inappropriately influence the government's decision making. This rep... |
With the growth in the nation’s highway and aviation systems in the previous decades, intercity passenger rail service lost its competitive edge. Highways have enabled cars to be competitive with conventional passenger trains (those operating up to 90 miles per hour), while airplanes can carry passengers over longer di... | Congress faces critical decisions about the future of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and intercity passenger rail. In GAO's view, the goal of a national system, much like Amtrak's current system, and the goal of operational self-sufficiency appear to be incompatible. In fact, Amtrak was created be... |
As part of its mission and in accordance with the Homeland Security Act, DHS has responsibility for coordinating efforts to share homeland security information across all levels of government, including federal, state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector. Specifically with respect to fusion centers, DH... | In general, a fusion center is a collaborative effort to detect, prevent, investigate, and respond to criminal and terrorist activity. Recognizing that fusion centers are a mechanism for information sharing, the federal government--including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), an... |
Many minority banks are located in urban areas and seek to serve distressed communities and populations that have traditionally been undeserved by financial institutions. For example, after the Civil War banks were established to provide financial services to African-Americans. More recently, Asian-American and Hispani... | Minority banks can play an important role in serving the financial needs of historically underserved communities and growing populations of minorities. For this reason, the Financial Institutions, Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) established goals that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FD... |
Transparency tools are a way to make information on health care cost and quality transparent to consumers and others, and are a key part of HHS’s strategy to improve the quality and affordability of health care. There are multiple ways to assess the cost of health care. For example, cost can be measured based on the am... | The cost and quality of health care services can vary significantly, with high cost not necessarily indicating high quality. As consumers pay for a growing proportion of their care, they have an increased need for cost and quality information before they receive care, so they can plan and make informed decisions. Trans... |
Although not specifically required to do so by statute, FRB considers the fair lending compliance of the entities under the holding companies involved in the merger and any substantive public comments about such compliance. FRB must act on a merger request within 90 days of receiving a complete application or the trans... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed large bank holding company mergers and regulatory enforcement of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, focusing on the: (1) fair lending issues raid by consumer and community groups during the application process for six large bank holding company m... |
We reported that even though DCPS changed parts of its enrollment process in school year 1996-97 to address prior criticisms, the process remained flawed. Some of the changes, such as the use of an enrollment card to verify attendance, increased complexity and work effort but did little to improve the count’s credibili... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed its recent report on the enrollment count process that District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) used in school year 1996-97. GAO noted that: (1) in spite of some changes in DCPS' enrollment count process in response to criticisms, the 1996-97 count process remained f... |
As a result of a 1995 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Act decision, the San Antonio and Sacramento Air Logistics Centers, including their maintenance depots, are to close by the year 2001. To mitigate the impact of the closings on the local communities and employees, the administration announced its intention to ma... | Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Air Force's solicitation and selection of a source for C-5 aircraft depot maintenance, focusing on whether the: (1) procedures used to conduct the C-5 competition provided substantially equal opportunity for the public and private offerors to compete for the workl... |
A U.S. passport is not only a travel document but also an official verification of the bearer’s origin, identity, and nationality. Each day, Americans submit them as identification to board international flights, obtain drivers’ licenses, cross the border from the United States into Canada and Mexico, apply for loans, ... | A U.S. passport is one of the most sought after travel documents in the world, allowing its holder entrance into the United States and many other countries. People attempting to obtain a U.S. passport illegally often seek to use the guise of a U.S. citizen to conceal their involvement with more serious crimes, such as ... |
DOD issued a directive signed by the Deputy Secretary of Defense that provides DOD’s antiterrorism policy and assigns responsibilities to DOD organizations for implementing antiterrorism initiatives. This directive places responsibility for developing antiterrorism policy and guidance with the Office of the Assistant S... | After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, domestic military installations increased their antiterrorism measures to their highest levels. These measures were reduced in the weeks following the attacks, but because of the persistent nature of the threat, the antiterrorism posture at domestic installations remains... |
DOD’s strategy for planning, executing, and funding its weapon system acquisition programs relies on three principal decision-making systems. First, the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) is a requirements system used to assess gaps in warfighting capabilities and recommend solutions to resol... | Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have faced rapidly changing threats to mission failure or loss of life, highlighting the Department of Defense's (DOD) need to develop and field new capabilities more quickly than its usual acquisition procedures allow. Since 2006, Congress has provided nearly $16 billion to counter impro... |
During the past several years, service chiefs and commanders in chief (CINC) have expressed concerns about the effect on current and future readiness of (1) the level of current military operations, (2) contingency operations, (3) the shifting of funds to support these operations, and (4) personnel turbulence. Related ... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the effect of declining defense budgets on military readiness, focusing on whether: (1) the definition and indicators of readiness adequately reflect the many complex components that contribute to overall military readiness; and (2) there are readiness indicators that c... |
Today, and in the foreseeable future, military operations require U.S. personnel, in particular Army and Marine Corps ground forces, to communicate and interact with multinational partners and local populations. DOD, and the Army and Marine Corps, have emphasized the need to build and sustain language and culture knowl... | The Department of Defense (DOD) has emphasized the importance of developing language skills and knowledge of foreign cultures to meet current and future needs and is investing millions of dollars to provide language and culture predeployment training to its general purpose forces. DOD has also noted that such training ... |
IRS identifies unpaid tax liabilities through its program activities. The most common include IRS (1) identifying a taxpayer who files a tax return without fully paying the tax claimed to be owed, (2) adjusting tax liabilities when filed returns are being processed by IRS by checking for obvious errors such as those in... | According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), $23 billion in unpaid individual income tax debt existed in 2001, its most recent estimate. The notice phase is the first of IRS's three-phase process to collect unpaid debt. IRS annually sends notices to millions of individual taxpayers about billions of dollars of unpa... |
In addition to CBP, various agencies have responsibilities for facilitating trade at land ports of entry and conducting inspections of commercial vehicles. GSA oversees design, construction, and maintenance for all ports of entry in consultation with CBP. In consultation with GSA, CBP develops an investment plan to man... | Trade with Mexico is important to the United States' economy. Most of this trade crosses the border by truck, and studies have shown that long waits at border crossings can negatively affect the U.S. economy. CBP is responsible for securing U.S. borders at ports of entry to prevent illegal entry of persons and contraba... |
SEC consists of a five-member Commission that oversees the agency’s operations and provides final approval over staff interpretation of federal securities laws, proposals for new or amended rules to govern securities markets, and enforcement activities. The Commission, which is headed by the SEC Chair, oversees 5 divis... | 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 report in 2013 (GAO-13-621) identified a number of challenges, such as SEC's lack of a mechanism to monitor supervisors' use of its performance management system, a... |
The mission of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs (Consular Affairs) is to protect the lives and interests of U.S. citizens overseas and to strengthen U.S. border security through the vigilant adjudication of U.S. passports and visas. Consular officers abroad have sole legal authority to adjudicate visa applications, a... | Foreign nationals may apply for entry into the United States under dozens of different visa categories, depending on circumstances. States Bureaus of Consular Affairs and Diplomatic Security share responsibility for the prevention of visa fraud, which is a serious problem that threatens the integrity of the process. S... |
Foster care laws and regulations have historically emphasized the importance of both reunifying families and achieving permanency for children in a timely manner. Permanency outcomes from foster care include family reunification, adoption, and legal guardianship. The Congress recently enacted legislation that places a ... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on: (1) the extent and characteristics of parental substance abuse among foster care cases; (2) the difficulties foster agencies face in making timely permanency decisions for foster children with substance abusing parents; and (3) initiatives that address r... |
Various types of providers may perform chronic pain management procedures, and each provider type is subject to certain education, training, certification, and licensure requirements. The range of chronic pain management providers and their practice requirements include the following: Pain physicians. These physicians ... | Chronic pain costs the nation about $600 billion each year, a quarter of which is borne by Medicare. One MAC, Noridian Healthcare Solutions (Noridian), began denying CRNA claims for certain chronic pain services in 2011, citing patient safety concerns. CMS issued a rule, effective January 2013, clarifying that CRNAs ca... |
In DB plans, formulas set by the employer determine employee benefits. DB plan formulas vary widely, but benefits are frequently based on participant pay and years of service, and typically paid upon retirement as a lifetime annuity, or periodic payments until death. Because DB plans promise to make payments in the fut... | This testimony discusses our recent report on the rules that govern the funding of defined benefit (DB) plans and the implications of those rules for the problems facing the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) and the DB pension system generally. In recent years, the PBGC has encountered serious financial diffi... |
As part of its mandate to guide the nation’s civil space program, NASA is to preserve U.S. preeminence in critical aspects of space science, technology, and applications. The goal of life and microgravity sciences is to study gravity-dependent physical phenomena and those phenomena obscured by the effects of gravity in... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) efforts to develop a robust life and microgravity sciences research community for the space station, focusing on: (1) what NASA is doing to assess the required size of the research community needed for the space... |
Subsets and Splits
Short Government Reports Sample
Retrieves short reports or summaries from the training dataset, which helps identify potentially incomplete or truncated entries that might need data quality improvement.
Short Government Reports Filtering
Retrieves short reports from the training dataset, providing basic filtering but offering limited analytical value beyond simple length constraints.