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The Veterans’ Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 authorized VA to provide certain medical services not previously available to veterans with non-service connected conditions. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 authorized VA to use third-party health insurance payments to supplement its medical care appropriations.... | In the face of growing demand for veterans' health care, GAO and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) have raised concerns about the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) ability to maximize its third-party collections to supplement its medical care appropriation. GAO has testified that... |
Investments in IT can enrich people’s lives and improve organizational performance. During the last two decades the Internet has matured from being a means for academics and scientists to communicate with each other to a national resource where citizens can interact with their government in many ways, such as by receiv... | In an effort to improve IT across the federal government, in March 2014 GSA established a team, known as 18F that provides IT services to agencies. In addition, in August 2014 the Administration established USDS, which aims to improve the federal IT services provided to citizens. OMB also required agencies to establish... |
Our work has shown that DHS and its component agencies—particularly the Coast Guard and CBP—have made substantial progress in implementing various programs that, collectively, have improved maritime security. In general, our maritime security-related work has addressed four areas: (1) national and port-level security p... | Ports, waterways, and vessels handle billions of dollars in cargo annually and an attack on this maritime transportation system could impact the global economy. November 2012 marks the 10-year anniversary of MTSA, which required a wide range of security improvements. DHS is the lead federal department responsible for i... |
Following a yearlong study, the Commercial Activities Panel in April 2002 reported its findings on competitive sourcing in the federal government. The report lays out 10 sourcing principles and several recommendations, which provide a roadmap for improving sourcing decisions across the federal government. Overall, the ... | In May 2003, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a new Circular A-76--which sets forth the government's competitive sourcing process. Determining whether to obtain services in-house or through commercial contracts is an important economic and strategic decision for agencies, and the use of A-76 is expected... |
This section describes crude oil export restrictions, the SPR, and recent trends in U.S. crude oil production and the petroleum refining industry. The export of domestically produced crude oil has generally been restricted since the 1970s. In particular, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA) led the Dep... | Almost 4 decades ago, in response to the Arab oil embargo and recession it triggered, Congress passed legislation restricting crude oil exports and establishing the SPR to release oil to the market during supply disruptions and protect the U.S. economy from damage. After decades of generally falling U.S. crude oil prod... |
In September 1993, the National Performance Review called for an overhaul of DOD’s temporary duty (TDY) travel system. In response, DOD created the DOD Task Force to Reengineer Travel to examine the travel process. In January 1995, the task force issued the Report of the Department of Defense Task Force to Reengineer T... | In 1995, the Department of Defense (DOD) began an effort to implement a standard departmentwide travel system, the Defense Travel System (DTS). This testimony is based on previously issued GAO reports and testimonies that highlighted challenges confronted by DOD in the implementation of DTS. More specifically, today's ... |
According to a 1995 World Health Organization (WHO) report, the three major threats to the survival of children under age 5 in developing countries are diarrheal dehydration, acute respiratory infections (e.g., pneumonia), and vaccine-preventable diseases. WHO’s 1995 report stated that 13.3 million children under age 5... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the U.S. Agency for International Development's (AID) child survival activities and accomplishments, focusing on how child survival funds are being used to support AID objectives. GAO found that: (1) since 1985, AID has classified obligations totalling over $2.3 billion... |
This section describes (1) Y-12’s role in NNSA’s Nuclear Security Enterprise; (2) NNSA policy for setting program requirements; (3) best practices for program cost and schedule estimating; and (4) best practices for technology readiness. NNSA is responsible for managing national nuclear security missions: ensuring a sa... | Uranium is crucial to our nation's ability to maintain its nuclear weapons stockpile. NNSA processes uranium to meet this need. In 2004, NNSA began plans to build a new UPF that would consolidate capabilities currently housed in deteriorating buildings; by 2012, the project had a preliminary cost of $4.2 billion to $6.... |
Public elementary and secondary education is primarily a state and local government responsibility, although the federal government provides supplementary funds to public schools for a variety of purposes, including grants for disadvantaged students, special education students, and teacher improvement. The federal gove... | State and local governments spend billions of dollars annually on the construction, renovation, and maintenance of public school facilities, yet concerns persist about the condition of some school facilities, particularly in school districts serving students residing on Indian lands. The Department of Education's (Educ... |
Vocational education prepares students for an increasingly demanding labor market through an organized sequence of courses that are directly related to preparing students for employment in jobs that do not require a bachelor’s degree. For example, one school district offers high school students the opportunity to acqui... | Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO compared student participation and program features in high school vocational education programs between the 1991 and 1994 school years, focusing on the: (1) availability of support services; (2) the extent to which program students attended college or found employment followi... |
For over 50 years, antibiotics have been widely prescribed to treat bacterial infections in humans. Many antibiotics commonly used in humans have also been used in animals for therapeutic and other purposes, including growth promotion. Resistance to penicillin, which was the first broadly used antibiotic, started to em... | Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health concern; antibiotics used in animals raised for human consumption contributes to this problem. Three federal agencies address this issue--the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ... |
Delivering more than 210 billion pieces of mail each year, USPS has a mission vital to the nation’s communications and commerce. To meet its statutory universal service obligation, which requires it to “serve as nearly as practicable the entire population of the United States,” USPS must “provide prompt, reliable, and ... | The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) pay for performance (PFP) program for managers includes quantitative performance indicators. PFP ratings are the basis for salary increases and lump sum awards for nearly 750 Postal Career Executive Service (PCES) executives and about 71,700 other participants, mostly Executive and Admini... |
FHA’s single-family mortgage programs have played a prominent role in mortgage financing in the wake of the 2007-2009 financial crisis, the housing downturn, and the contraction of the conventional mortgage market. In 2012, FHA insured about $227 billion in single-family mortgages, and the overall insurance portfolio w... | HUD operates programs that provide mortgage insurance to homebuyers and subsidize the rents of low-income households. In recent years, HUD's FHA has experienced dramatic growth in its insurance portfolio. Expenditures for HUD's rental voucher program also have risen substantially. Through the MTW demonstration program,... |
Today, federal employees are issued a wide variety of ID cards that are used to access federal buildings and facilities, sometimes solely on the basis of visual inspection by security personnel. These cards generally cannot be used to control access to an agency’s computer systems. Furthermore, many can be easily forge... | Many forms of identification (ID) that federal employees and contractors use to access government-controlled buildings and information systems can be easily forged, stolen, or altered to allow unauthorized access. In an effort to increase the quality and security of federal ID and credentialing practices, the President... |
Overall, our High-Risk Series has served to identify and help resolve serious government weaknesses in areas that involve substantial resources and provide critical services to the public. Since we began reporting on high-risk areas, the government has taken high-risk problems seriously and has made long-needed progres... | Each year, about 76 million people contract a foodborne illness in the United States; about 325,000 require hospitalization; and about 5,000 die. While the recent E. coli outbreaks highlighted the risks posed by accidental contamination, the attacks of September 11, 2001, heightened awareness that the food supply could... |
Approaches to electronic health information exchange have expanded in recent years with the increased adoption of EHRs and growth of HIE organizations. For example, some providers can electronically exchange clinical information via interoperable EHR systems. In cases in which providers wish to exchange electronic heal... | The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) promotes the use of health information technology and identifies the importance of health information exchange. It provides incentive payments to promote the widespread adoption and meaningful use of EHR technology. To be a meaningful user,... |
Roughly half of all workers participate in an employer-sponsored retirement, or pension, plan. Private sector pension plans are classified either as defined benefit or as defined contribution plans. Defined benefit plans promise to provide, generally, a fixed level of monthly retirement income that is based on salary, ... | American workers are increasingly relying on 401(k) plans, which allow pre-tax contributions to individual accounts, for their retirement income. As workers accrue earnings on their investments, they also pay a number of fees that may significantly decrease their retirement savings. Because of concerns about the effect... |
In the past, DOD, USAID, and State were the federal agencies primarily responsible for national security. Over the past decade, however, events such as 9/11 and the ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have underscored the need for a broader and more integrated national security effort. One of the first structura... | Agencies must engage in a whole-of-government approach to protect the nation and its interests from diverse threats such as terrorism and infectious diseases. However, GAO has reported that gaps in national security staff knowledge and skills pose a barrier to the interagency collaboration needed to address these threa... |
VA manages access to services in relation to available resources through a priority system established by law. The order of priorities is generally based on service-connected disability, income, or other special status, such as having been a prisoner of war. Additionally, Congress has stipulated that certain combat vet... | In fiscal year 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provided health care to about 5.2 million veterans. Recent legislation has increased many Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans' priority for accessing VA's health care, and concerns have been raised about the extent to which VA i... |
According to USDA, SECD are characterized by an acute, rapidly spreading viral diarrhea of pigs. No other species, including humans, are known to be affected, and these diseases are not a direct public health threat. Pigs develop varying degrees of diarrhea and loss of appetite depending upon the age of the pig infecte... | Pork is consumed more than any other meat worldwide, and there are numerous other products made with ingredients from pigs, including medical products, such as insulin to treat diabetes. The United States is the world's third-largest producer of pork products. USDA estimated that U.S. pork exports in 2014 were valued a... |
In performing our evaluation of the accuracy and completeness of DOD’s reported inventory of financial management systems, we reviewed DOD guidance related to classifying its systems as financial, mixed financial, and nonfinancial; determined whether systems categorized as nonfinancial contained information needed to p... | Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) financial management systems, focusing on the accuracy and completeness of DOD's inventory of financial management systems. GAO found that: (1) DOD does not have a comprehensive inventory of the systems it relies on to record, accumul... |
VA pays monthly disability compensation benefits to veterans with service-connected disabilities (injuries or diseases incurred or aggravated while on active military duty) according to the severity of the disability. VA also pays compensation to some spouses, children, and parents of deceased veterans and service memb... | The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee asked GAO to discuss its recent work related to the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) disability claims and appeals processing. GAO has reported and testified on this subject on numerous occasions. GAO's work has addressed VA's efforts to improve the timeliness and accuracy of ... |
Federal agencies, including DOD, are responsible for ensuring that they use appropriated funds only for purposes, and within the amounts, authorized by the Congress. DOD Directive 7200.1, May 4, 1995, states the policy that DOD organizations are to establish positive control of, and maintain adequate systems of account... | Pursuant to congressional requests, GAO reviewed, in conjunction with the Department of Defense's (DOD) Inspector General (IG), DOD efforts to reduce problem disbursements and its implementation of a statutory requirement to match each disbursement exceeding $5 million to the appropriate obligation before the disbursem... |
CPP was the primary initiative under TARP for stabilizing the financial markets and banking system. Treasury created the program in October 2008 to stabilize the financial system by providing capital on a voluntary basis to qualifying regulated financial institutions through the purchase of senior preferred shares and ... | Congress created the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to restore liquidity and stability in the financial system. The Department of the Treasury (Treasury), among other actions, established the Capital Purchase Program (CPP) as its primary initiative to accomplish these goals by making capital investments in eligib... |
The Convention is one of a number of cooperative efforts by the international community to improve nuclear safety worldwide and is meant to complement these other efforts. For example, as we previou sly reported, the United States and 20 other countries and internationa organizations contributed $1.9 billion to improve... | Currently, 437 civilian nuclear power reactors are operating in 29 countries, and 56 more are under construction. After the Chernobyl accident, representatives of over 50 nations, including the United States, participated in the development of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, a treaty that seeks to promote the safety ... |
The U.S. private pension system is voluntary; employers decide whether to establish a retirement plan and determine the design, terms, and features of the plan or plans they choose to sponsor. The federal government encourages employers to sponsor and maintain private pension plans for their employees and provides tax ... | The financial collapse of large firms and the effects on workers and retirees has raised questions about retirement funds being invested in employer securities and the laws governing such investments. Pensions are important source of income of many retirees, and the federal government has encouraged employers to sponso... |
We are all aware that certain key large-scale terrorist incidents at home and abroad since 1993 have dramatically raised the public profile of U.S. vulnerability to terrorist attack. The bombings of the World Trade Center in 1993 and of the federal building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1995, along with terrorists’ us... | GAO discussed its work and observations on federal efforts to combat terrorism, focusing on the: (1) foreign-origin and domestic terrorism threat in the United States; and (2) origins and principles of the U.S. policy and strategy to combat terrorism. GAO noted that: (1) conventional explosives and firearms continue to... |
Publicly traded companies are generally required by state law to hold annual meetings to conduct business that requires shareholder approval. U.S. public companies hold their annual meetings to consider key management and shareholder proposals that may have an effect on a company’s operations and value, such as executi... | As institutional investment has grown over the last 30 years, institutional investors increasingly have relied on proxy advisory firms. The proxy advisory industry in the United States consists of five firms—two of which are the largest and most dominant proxy advisory firms. Some members of Congress, industry associat... |
Japan’s highly segmented banking industry is made up of separate groups of institutions engaged in short-term or long-term finance; trust activities; foreign exchange, and trade financing; small business finance; and regional and agricultural finance. The segmentation of the banking industry reflects the extensive rest... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Japanese bank regulatory structure and its key participants, focusing on how: (1) the Japanese bank regulation and supervision is organized; (2) Japan's banking oversight structure functions, particularly with respect to bank licensing, regulation, and supervision; ... |
The Postal Service is the nation’s largest civilian employer with approximately 861,000 employees as of the end of fiscal year 1996, most of whom process and deliver mail and provide postal products and services to customers, such as selling stamps and shipping parcels. According to the Service’s database, the total nu... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Postal Service's (USPS) efforts to improve employee working conditions and the overall performance of the Service, focusing on: (1) the status and results of the Postal Service's efforts in improving various labor-management relations problems identified in GAO's 19... |
We defined the financial services industry to include the following sectors: depository credit institutions, which include commercial banks, thrifts (savings and loan associations and savings banks), and credit unions; holdings and trusts, which include investment trusts, investment companies, and holding companies; no... | A July 2004 congressional hearing raised concerns about the lack of diversity in the financial services industry, particularly in key management positions. Some witnesses noted that these firms (e.g., banks and securities firms) had not made sufficient progress in recruiting minorities and women at the management level... |
The United States is currently undergoing a transition from analog to digital broadcast television. With traditional analog technology, pictures and sounds are converted into “waveform” electrical signals for transmission through the radiofrequency spectrum, while digital technology converts these pictures and sounds i... | The digital television (DTV) transition offers the promise of enhanced television. At the end of the transition, radiofrequency spectrum currently used for analog broadcast television will be used for other wireless services and for critical public safety services. To spur the digital transition while preventing any lo... |
Numerous agencies at the federal, state, and local levels with varying missions monitor or supervise individuals. Criminal justice agency missions that require monitoring include pretrial and post-trial services, probation and parole services, and immigration enforcement. For pretrial services, judicial agencies monito... | OTS is an electronic monitoring technology consisting of hardware, such as an ankle bracelet, used for collecting Global Positioning System (GPS) signals to determine an individual's location, and software for analyzing data collected from the hardware device. While demand for GPS-based electronic monitoring devices ha... |
USPS faces a dire financial situation and does not have sufficient revenues to cover its expenses, putting its mission of providing prompt, reliable, and efficient universal services to the public at risk. USPS continues to incur operating deficits that are unsustainable, has not made required payments of $11.1 billion... | USPS is in a serious financial crisis as its declining mail volume has not generated sufficient revenue to cover its expenses and financial obligations. First-Class Mail--which is highly profitable and generates the majority of the revenues used to cover overhead costs--declined 33 percent since it peaked in fiscal yea... |
In 2000, a report of the Surgeon General noted that tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. Left untreated, the pain and infections caused by tooth decay may lead to problems in eating, speaking, and learning. Tooth decay is almost completely preventable, and the pain, dysfunction, or on extremely rar... | In recent years, concerns have been raised about the adequacy of dental care for low-income children. Attention to this subject became more acute due to the widely publicized case of Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old boy who died as a result of an untreated infected tooth that led to a fatal brain infection. Deamonte had ... |
Title II of the Export Enhancement Act of 1992 authorized the creation of an interagency body called the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) to carry out various duties, including coordinating the export promotion and export financing activities of the U.S. government, ensuring better delivery of services to ... | In January 2010, the President announced the goal of doubling U.S. exports over 5 years. The President's plan in the National Export Initiative included prioritizing exports by small businesses and called for improved coordination among agencies involved in federal export promotion activities. Recently, Congress has al... |
Since 1989, when the first drug court program was established, the number of drug court programs has increased substantially. In addition, DCPO’s oversight responsibilities and funding to support the planning, implementation, and enhancement of these programs have increased. As shown in figure 1, the number of operatin... | In exchange for the possibility of dismissed charges or reduced sentences, defendants with substance abuse problems agree to be assigned to drug court programs. In drug courts, judges generally preside over the proceedings; monitor the progress of defendants; and prescribe sanctions and rewards in collaboration with pr... |
ACF, a major program office within HHS, is responsible for programs that promote the economic and social well-being of low-income and disadvantaged children, families, and their communities. Headed by the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, ACF’s seven program offices and various staff offices offer policy d... | Encouraging a clearer and closer link between budgeting, planning, and performance is essential to improving federal management and instilling a greater focus on results. Through work at various levels within the organization, this report on the Administration for Children and Families (ACF)--and its two companion stud... |
Our work has identified the need for improvements in the federal government’s approach to cybersecurity of its systems and those supporting the nation’s critical infrastructures and in protecting the privacy of PII. While previous administrations and agencies have acted to improve the protections over the information a... | Cyber-based intrusions and attacks on federal systems and systems supporting our nation's critical infrastructure, such as communications and financial services, are evolving and becoming more sophisticated. GAO first designated information security as a government-wide high-risk area in 1997. This was expanded to incl... |
The use of information technology (IT) to electronically collect, store, retrieve, and transfer clinical, administrative, and financial health information has great potential to help improve the quality and efficiency of health care and is important to improving the performance of the U.S. health care system. Historica... | Under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are required to accelerate the exchange of health information between the departments and to develop systems or capabilities that allow for interoperability (generally, the abil... |
According to Navy guidance, the Navy is required to project power from the sea and maintain assured access in the littoral regions, which for naval vessels refers specifically to the transition between open ocean to more constrictive shallower waters close to shore—the littorals. “Anti-access” threats from mines, subma... | To conduct operations in littorals--shallow coastal waters--the Navy plans to build a new class of surface warship: the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). LCS is being designed to accomplish its missions through systems operating at a distance from the ship, such as helicopters and unmanned vehicles, and that will be containe... |
Cutters, patrol boats, airplanes, and helicopters are all critical to meeting the Coast Guard’s deepwater missions that are beyond the range of shore- based small boats. These missions include actions such as enforcing fisheries laws, intercepting drug smugglers and illegal immigrants, and conducting search and rescue ... | The Coast Guard is in the final stages of planning the largest procurement project in its history-the modernization or replacement of more than 90 cutters and 200 aircraft used for missions more than 50 miles from shore. This project, called the Deepwater Capability Replacement Project, is expected to cost more than $1... |
DOD operates six geographic combatant commands, each with an assigned area of responsibility (see fig. 1). Each geographic combatant commander carries out a variety of missions and activities, including humanitarian assistance and combat operations, and assigns functions to subordinate commanders. Each command is suppo... | The Department of Defense (DOD) is currently conducting the largest transformation of military posture in the Pacific region since the end of World War II. Transforming posture in Korea, Japan, and Guam will affect tens of thousands of military personnel and their families and require the construction of hundreds of ne... |
Within DOD, the military services and defense agencies are responsible for installation management, with oversight by the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, who reports to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. The office of the As... | DOD is the largest energy consumer in the federal government, spending about $4.1 billion on facilities' energy at more than 500 permanent military installations throughout the world in fiscal year 2013. To help ensure oversight of DOD's fulfillment of energy performance goals, Congress requires that DOD track energy s... |
In 1971, the Atomic Energy Commission, NRC’s predecessor, promulgated the first regulations for fire protection at commercial nuclear power units in the United States. These regulations––referred to as General Design Criterion 3––provided basic design requirements and broad performance objectives for fire protection, b... | After a 1975 fire at the Browns Ferry nuclear plant in Alabama threatened the unit's ability to shut down safely, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued prescriptive fire safety rules for commercial nuclear units. However, nuclear units with different designs and different ages have had difficulty meeting these... |
Consumer adoption of mobile devices is growing rapidly, enabled by affordable prices, increasingly reliable connections, and faster transmission speeds. According to a recent analysis, mobile devices are the fastest growing consumer technology, with worldwide sales increasing from 300 million in 2010 to an estimated 65... | Millions of Americans currently use mobile devicese.g., cellphones, smartphones, and tablet computerson a daily basis to communicate, obtain Internet-based information, and share their own information, photographs, and videos. Given the extent of consumer reliance on mobile interactions, it is increasingly important ... |
Express Mail, the Service’s premium service, was first offered in 1970 and is designed to provide overnight delivery for documents and packages weighing up to 70 pounds, which are to be tracked from the points of acceptance to points of delivery. It is the Service’s only guaranteed delivery service, and customers may r... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the U.S. Postal Service's controls over Express Mail Corporate Accounts (EMCA), focusing on: (1) whether there is any basis for the allegation of EMCA abuse; and (2) if so, what steps the Service is taking to help avoid or minimize EMCA revenue losses. GAO found that: (... |
Before I discuss our review of agencies’ fiscal year 2005 PARs, I would like to summarize IPIA, related OMB initiatives, and statutory requirements for recovery audits. The act, passed in November 2002, requires agency heads to review their programs and activities annually and identify those that may be susceptible to ... | Improper payments are a longstanding, widespread, and significant problem in the federal government. The Congress enacted the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (IPIA) to address this issue. Fiscal year 2005 marked the second year that federal agencies governmentwide were required to report improper payment info... |
According to IRS, the agency’s overall mission is to collect the proper amount of tax revenue at the least cost; serve the public by continually improving the quality of its products and services; and perform in a manner warranting the highest degree of public confidence in IRS’ integrity, efficiency, and fairness. Its... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) efforts to implement the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), focusing on: (1) IRS's system of performance measures; and (2) the challenges IRS faces in developing and implementing performance measures to gauge its efforts ... |
During the tax filing season, IRS processes paper and electronically filed (e-filed) tax returns and validates key pieces of information, such as a taxpayer’s name and social security number. The overwhelming majority of returns are e-filed. Eligible taxpayers may use IRS’s Free File program to prepare and e-file their... | During the filing season, IRS processes tax returns, issues refunds, and provides telephone, correspondence, online, and face-to-face service. GAO has reported that in recent years IRS has absorbed significant budget cuts and struggled to provide quality service. In response, IRS has taken steps, including eliminating ... |
Students with limited English proficiency are a diverse and complex group. They speak many languages and have a tremendous range of educational needs and include refugees with little formal schooling and students who are literate in their native languages. Accurately assessing the academic knowledge of these students i... | The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLBA) focused attention on the academic achievement of more than 5 million students with limited English proficiency. Obtaining valid test results for these students is challenging, given their language barriers. This testimony describes (1) the extent to which these students are ... |
The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 created the CDBG program to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. Program funds can be used for housing, economic developm... | CDBG is the federal government's principal community development program. In fiscal year 2012, Congress provided CDBG with approximately $3 billion for activities such as housing, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization. While a provision reducing the amount grantees can use for administration was conside... |
OMB requires agencies to submit data on R&D programs as part of their annual budget submissions. Specifically, agencies are to provide data on investments for basic research, applied research, development, R&D facilities construction, and major equipment for R&D. OMB provides one definition of R&D that all federal agen... | Conducting R&D on technologies for detecting, preventing, and mitigating terrorist threats is vital to enhancing the security of the nation. Since its creation, DHS has spent billions of dollars researching and developing technologies used to support its missions including securing the border, detecting nuclear devices... |
DOI’s BLM, FWS, NPS, and Reclamation, and USDA’s FS manage more than 638 million acres of land in the United States, including lands in national forests, grasslands, parks, refuges, and reservoirs. These agencies manage the federal lands for multiple uses, including recreational activities such as camping and boating. ... | In recent years, Congress has expressed concerns about the federal land management agencies' ability to provide quality recreational opportunities and reduce visitor confusion over the variety of user fees. In December 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) to standardize recreation fe... |
The state and local government sector is likely to face persistent fiscal challenges within the next decade. In July 2007, we issued a report based on simulations for the state and local government sector that indicated that in the absence of policy changes, large and growing fiscal challenges will likely emerge within... | State and local retiree benefits are not subject, for the most part, to federal laws governing private sector retiree benefits. Nevertheless, there is a federal interest in ensuring that all Americans have a secure retirement, as reflected in the special tax treatment provided for both private and public pension funds.... |
Military personnel wounded since 2001—the exact number is not known— may qualify for financial benefits from several federal agencies. While SSA, VA, and DOD each provide disability benefits that are available to wounded warriors, these programs have different eligibility criteria and serve different purposes. SSA has ... | Disability benefits available through the Social Security Administration (SSA) can be an important source of financial support for some wounded warriors, and Congress has mandated that the Departments of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) help them learn about and apply for such benefits. GAO was asked to determin... |
One of the key provisions of the President’s Management Agenda, released in 2001, is the expansion of electronic government. To implement this provision, OMB sought to identify potential projects that could be implemented to address the issue of multiple federal agencies’ performing similar tasks that could be consolid... | One of the five priorities in the President's Management Agenda is the expansion of electronic government (e-government)--the use of Internet applications to enhance access to and delivery of government information and services. Project SAFECOM is one of the 25 initiatives sponsored by the Office of Management and Budg... |
As the primary federal agency that is responsible for protecting and securing GSA facilities and federal employees across the country, FPS has the authority to enforce federal laws and regulations aimed at protecting federally owned and leased properties and the persons on such property and, among other things, to cond... | In 2003, the Federal Protective Service (FPS) transferred from the General Services Administration (GSA) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). FPS provides physical security and law enforcement services to about 9,000 GSA facilities. To accomplish its mission of protecting GSA facilities, FPS currently has an a... |
The first joint report on contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan required under amendments from the NDAA for FY2011 was to be issued by February 1, 2011, with subsequent reports due in 2012 and 2013. In the reports, DOD, State, and USAID are to provide the following for each 12-month reporting period: total number and val... | DOD, State, and USAID have relied extensively on contracts and assistance instruments (grants and cooperative agreements) for a range of services in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the last 3 years, GAO has provided information on the agencies' contracts, assistance instruments, and associated personnel in the two countries, ... |
Our analysis of initial estimates of Recovery Act spending provided by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) suggested that about $49 billion would be outlayed to states and localities by the federal government in fiscal year 2009, which runs through September 30. However, our analysis of actual federal outlays reporte... | This testimony is based largely on GAO's July 8, 2009 report, in response to a mandate under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). This testimony provides selected updates, including the status of federal Recovery Act outlays. The report addresses: (1) selected states' and localities' uses ... |
The District of Columbia Public Schools’ draft Long-Range Facilities Master Plan, dated July 17, 1997, states that the majority of District public schools were built over 50 years ago, generally have not been well maintained, and consequently, substantial deferred maintenance exists. In addition, concerns about safety ... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the District of Columbia Public Schools' (DCPS) efforts to repair school roofs during the summer of 1997, focusing on the conflicting information on the availability of funds to pay for the roof work and the cost, including cost per square foot, of the work completed in... |
The African continent is the second largest continent in terms of land mass and population, comprising 54 culturally diverse countries, many with distinct histories and identities. The continent is about three times the size of the United States, roughly the size of Argentina, China, India, Kazakhstan, Mexico, and the ... | The African continent is important to U.S. economic, strategic, and foreign policy interests, and efforts have been made to improve commerce and connectivity to benefit the two regions. However, the continent has the highest aviation accident rate in the world, which has hindered progress. Recognizing the importance of... |
The Ranger Training Brigade, under the command of the U.S. Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and the U.S. Army Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Georgia, conducts training to develop student skills in infantry, airborne, air assault, platoon, mountaineering, and waterborne operations. The initial training phase, co... | Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Army's investigation of the February 1995 accident in which four Army Ranger Training Brigade students died while training in a Florida swamp, focusing on the: (1) status of all of the Army's corrective actions; (2) adequacy of Army oversight to ensure that the co... |
In October 1990, the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) was established by the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Comptroller General of the United States to consider and recommend accounting standards to address the financial and budgetary inf... | GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) implementation of the requirement for valuable information related to deferred maintenance on mission assets, focusing on Navy ships, including submarines. GAO noted that: (1) the development of DOD and Navy policy and implementing guidance for deferred maintenance is esse... |
Futures contracts first appeared in the United States in the mid-1800s and were based on grains. They provided producers (farmers) and commodity users with a means of reducing the risk of financial loss arising from adverse fluctuations in commodity prices, called hedging. They also provided a more efficient and transp... | GAO reviewed the legal and regulatory issues surrounding the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), focusing on: (1) the extent to which the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has reduced the legal risk surrounding the enforceability of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives under the CEA; and (2) issues related to the a... |
In 1988, NASD established a Public Disclosure Program to respond to written inquiries about brokers’ disciplinary histories. Two years later, in October 1990, Congress amended the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 15A(i), to require that NASD establish and maintain a toll-free telephone number for the public to ... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the effectiveness of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) hotline, focusing on: (1) investors' accessibility to the hotline; and (2) whether the information provided by the hotline meets NASD disclosure policies. GAO found that: (1) over 300,000 investo... |
IRFs generally do not receive appropriations directly. Instead, they are accounts that may receive reimbursements and advances from other federal accounts. In addition, they may accept fees collected from nonfederal sources for the sale of government products or services. The use of IRFs to fund consolidated or shared ... | Agencies can improve their efficiency through the use of shared services, which are often financed through intragovernmental revolving funds (IRF). GAO was asked to (1) identify key operating principles the Commerce Departmental and Census Bureau Working Capital Funds (WCF), which are one type of IRF, should follow to ... |
There are four major steps in the contract-level RADV audit process as reported by CMS: MA contract selection. CMS selects 30 MA organization contracts for contract-level RADV audits, which agency officials stated provides a sufficient representation of contracts (about 5 percent) without imposing unreasonable costs on... | In 2014, Medicare paid about $160 billion to MA organizations to provide health care services for approximately 16 million beneficiaries. CMS, which administers Medicare, estimates that about 9.5 percent of its payments to MA organizations were improper, according to the most recent data—primarily stemming from unsuppo... |
Welfare reform legislation, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), eliminated the federal entitlement to cash assistance under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program and replaced it with a program of block grants to states known as the Temporary Assista... | Federal welfare legislation passed in 1996 placed a greater emphasis on helping low-income families end dependence on government benefits by promoting job preparation and work. To reach this goal, the legislation gave states greater flexibility to design programs that use federal funds to subsidize child care for low-i... |
If IRS’s budget request is approved, IRS will have more than 3,400 staff years that can be assigned to new or existing activities in fiscal year 2003. These include the 1,179 additional staff years requested in the budget and the 2,287 staff years that IRS determined could be redirected elsewhere in the organization du... | This testimony discusses the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) fiscal year 2003 budget request for the 2002 tax filing season. GAO found that IRS's plans for hiring and redirecting staff may be optimistic because budgets are prepared so far in advance of the fiscal year involved. IRS assumed (1) labor and nonlabor savings... |
The North Atlantic Treaty was signed on April 4, 1949, by 12 European and North American countries to take measures against the emerging threat the Soviet Union posed to the democracies of Western Europe. Of indefinite duration, the treaty created a political framework for an international alliance obligating its membe... | After the collapse of the former Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact in 1991, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies and the United States sought new ways to cooperate with the political and military leadership of their former adversaries. In January 1994, NATO established the Partnership for Peace to increase d... |
Title XIX of the Social Security Act establishes Medicaid as a joint federal- state program to finance health care for certain low-income, aged, or disabled individuals. Medicaid is an entitlement program, under which the federal government is obligated to pay its share of expenditures for covered services provided to ... | One significant cost to Medicaid is prescription drugs, which accounted for over $23 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2008, or about 7 percent of total Medicaid outlays. Many of these drugs are susceptible to abuse and include pain relievers and stimulants that are on the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Schedule of ... |
Medical credit cards are private-label credit cards that may be used across a network of participating providers (such as dental offices or veterinary clinics) that have contractual relationships with the card company. Consumers typically learn about medical credit cards, or related products such as installment loans, ... | Medical credit cards and related products (such as installment loans) are offered by financial institutions through participating providers to pay for services not covered by health insurance, such as dental and cosmetic procedures, or for veterinary care. Medical credit cards received increased attention after enforce... |
Agencies can use a variety of contract types to acquire products and services. Cost-reimbursement contracts are suitable only when uncertainties in the scope of work or cost of services prevent the use of contract types in which prices are fixed, known as fixed-price contracts. A contractor may receive a fixed or base ... | In prior work, GAO found that contractors were paid billions of dollars in award fees regardless of acquisition outcomes. In December 2007, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued guidance aimed at improving the use of award fee contracts. GAO was asked to (1) identify agencies' actions to revise or develop aw... |
Investments in IT can enrich people’s lives and improve organizational performance. During the last two decades the Internet has matured from being a means for academics and scientists to communicate with each other to a national resource where citizens can interact with their government in many ways, such as by receiv... | In an effort to improve IT across the federal government, in March 2014 GSA established 18F, which provides IT services (e.g., develop websites) to agencies. In addition, in August 2014 the Administration established USDS, which aims to improve public-facing federal IT services. The President's Budget for fiscal year 2... |
Antimicrobial drugs are a broad class of drugs that combat many pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. Antibiotics are a subset of these drugs that work against bacteria. Antibiotics work by killing the bacteria directly or halting their growth. According to WHO, the evolution of strains of bacter... | According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health. CDC estimates antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause at least 2 million human illnesses in the United States each year, and there is strong evidence that some resistance in bacteria is caused by antibiotic use... |
IRIS was created in 1985 to help EPA develop consensus opinions within the agency about the health effects of chronic exposure to chemicals. Its importance has increased over time as EPA program offices and the states have increasingly relied on IRIS information in making environmental protection decisions. Currently, ... | The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) contains EPA's scientific position on the potential human health effects of exposure to more than 540 chemicals. Toxicity assessments in the IRIS database constitute the first two critical steps of the risk assessment process, which i... |
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 directed NASA to develop a Space Launch System as a follow-on to the Space Shuttle and as a key component in expanding human presence beyond low-earth orbit. The Act also directed NASA to continue development of a multi-purpose crew vehicle for... | NASA is undertaking a trio of closely-related programs to continue human space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit: the SLS vehicle; the Orion capsule, which will launch atop the SLS and carry astronauts; and the supporting ground systems. As a whole, the efforts represent NASA's largest exploration investment over the ... |
In May 2003, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) dissolved the military organizations of the former regime and began the process of reestablishing or creating new Iraqi security forces, including the police and a new Iraqi army. Over time, multinational force commanders assumed responsibility in their areas for r... | From fiscal years 2003 through 2006, U.S. government agencies have reported significant costs for U.S. stabilization and reconstruction efforts in Iraq. In addition, the United States currently has committed about 138,000 military personnel to the U.S.-led Multinational Force in Iraq (MNF-I). Over the past 3 years, wor... |
AGOA provides eligible SSA countries duty-free access to U.S. markets for more than 6,000 dutiable items in the U.S. import tariff schedules. SSA countries are defined in Section 107 of AGOA as the 49 sub-Saharan African countries potentially eligible for AGOA benefits listed in that provision. As a trade preference pr... | Enacted in 2000 and set to expire in September 2015, AGOA is a trade preference program that seeks to promote economic development in 49 sub-Saharan African countries by allowing eligible countries to export qualifying goods to the United States without import duties. The act requires the U.S. government to conduct an ... |
Over the last decade, nursing home ownership and operating structures have continued to evolve, including an increase in private investment ownership of nursing homes and the development of more complex structures. Nursing home ownership varies in terms of profit status, level of management involvement, number of homes... | Private investment (PI) firms' acquisition of several large nursing home chains led to concerns that the quality of care may have been adversely affected. These concerns may have been in part due to PI firms' business strategies and their lack of financial transparency compared to publicly traded companies. In Septembe... |
Child care outside the home can take place in different settings: centers, family child care homes, and relatives’ homes. Centers are usually large facilities that typically care for more than 13 children and are located in schools, churches, office buildings, and the like. In contrast, family child care is offered by ... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed family child care, focusing on: (1) public and private initiatives to enhance the quality of family child care; (2) the financing of family care initiatives; (3) the federal role in supporting quality initiatives; and (4) the implications of these initiatives for welfar... |
DOD uses three interrelated processes to deliver capabilities to the U.S. military: the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), which validates gaps in joint warfighting capabilities and requirements that resolve those gaps; the Defense Acquisition System, which develops and fields weapon systems... | The Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 (WSARA) directed the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) to ensure trade-offs among cost, schedule, and performance objectives are considered as part of its requirements review process. WSARA also directed GAO to assess the implementation of these requirements. ... |
The Results Act is the centerpiece of a statutory framework to improve federal agencies’ management activities. The Results Act was designed to focus federal agencies’ attention from the amounts of money they spend or the size of their workloads to the results of their programs. Agencies are expected to base goals on t... | GAO discussed the draft strategic plan developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), pursuant to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. GAO noted that: (1) VA has made substantial progress in its strategic planning, based in part on consultations with the Congress; (2) however, as with many other a... |
For over 50 years, the savings and loan industry promoted home ownership through home mortgage lending and was the nation’s primary lender in the housing finance market. During the 1980s, the industry ran into financial difficulties, and the number of insolvent savings and loan institutions, also known as thrifts, rose... | Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Resolution Trust Corporation's (RTC) efforts to implement management reforms required under the RTC Completion Act, focusing on: (1) how RTC and the Thrift Depositor Protection Oversight Board are implementing the reforms; and (2) RTC progress toward achieving ful... |
Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN), which includes the services Radio Sawa and Alhurra, is an independent nonprofit grantee overseen by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). The BBG is an independent, federal agency responsible for overseeing all U.S. government-sponsored, nonmilitary, international bro... | The Broadcasting Board of Governors' (BBG) broadcasting services, Radio Sawa, and the Alhurra satellite television networks--collectively known as the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN)--currently aim to reach Arabic speakers in 19 countries and areas throughout the Middle East. Annual spending for current a... |
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 requires states and localities to bring together about 17 federally funded employment and training services into a single system—the one-stop system. Funded through four federal agencies, these programs, also known as the mandatory partner programs (or more simply, mandatory partner... | The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 includes provisions intended to ensure that people with disabilities have equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the programs and activities offered through one-stop career centers (one-stops). But little is known, and questions have been raised, about how well t... |
Private banking has been broadly defined as financial and related services provided to wealthy clients. Such products and services may include deposit-taking, lending, mutual funds investing, personal trust and estate administration, funds transfer services, and establishing payable through accounts or offshore trusts.... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed U.S. regulatory oversight of private banking activities involving offshore jurisdictions, focusing on: (1) regulatory oversight procedures to ensure that offshore private banking activities are covered by banks' anti-money-laundering efforts; (2) deficiencies identified... |
Almost 537 million general-purpose credit cards were in circulation in the United States as of the end of 2012.some credit card issuers have offered college affinity cards, which are governed by contracts (agreements) between the issuer and an organization such as a college, university, or alumni association. The cards... | Institutions of higher education, alumni groups, and other affiliated organizations may enter into agreements with credit card issuers for “college affinity cards,” in which issuers use the institution's name or logo in exchange for payments. Separately, some credit card issuers offer “college student credit cards,” wh... |
USDA relies on telecommunications systems and services to help it administer federal programs and serve millions of constituents. From telephone calls to video conference meetings to providing nationwide customer access to information, USDA reports that it spends about $219 million annually for a wide array of telecomm... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) efforts to improve its management of telecommunications resources and act on opportunities to achieve savings. GAO noted that: (1) USDA has taken positive steps to begin correcting its telecommunications management weaknesses--impr... |
Guam and CNMI natives are U.S. citizens, and many serve in the U.S. military. Upon discharge from the U.S. military, veterans, based on their eligibility, can obtain health care at VA facilities or from non-VA providers through VA sharing agreements. Guam is a 212-square-mile island located roughly 6,000 miles west of ... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the need for establishing a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) inpatient facility on Guam, focusing on: (1) how VA currently meets Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) veterans' health care needs; (2) veterans' possible future demand for hea... |
In January 2012, IRS estimated that the gross tax gap—the difference between taxes owed and taxes paid on time—was $450 billion in tax year 2006. IRS estimated that it would eventually recover about $65 billion of this amount through late payments and enforcement actions, leaving a net tax gap of $385 billion. The tax ... | Heightened attention to federal deficits has increased pressure on IRS to reduce the tax gap--the difference between taxes owed and taxes paid on time--and better enforce taxpayer compliance. Resource limitations and concern over taxpayer burden, however, prevent IRS from auditing more than a small fraction of individu... |
Established under the Social Security Amendments of 1965, Medicare is a two-part program: (1) “hospital insurance,” or part A, which covers inpatient hospital services and skilled nursing facility, hospice, and home health care services, and (2) “supplementary medical insurance,” or part B, which covers physician and o... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed recent legislative efforts to address fraud and abuse in the Medicare program. GAO noted that: (1) both the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) directly address Medicare fraud and abuse and provi... |
Since we designated the implementation and transformation of DHS as high risk in 2003, DHS has made progress addressing management challenges and senior department officials have demonstrated commitment and top leadership support for addressing the department’s management challenges. However, the department has signifi... | This testimony discusses the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) efforts to strengthen and integrate its management functions. DHS now has more than 200,000 employees and an annual budget of almost $60 billion, and its transformation is critical to achieving its homeland security and other missions. Since 2003, GAO... |
We provided a draft of this report to State, DOD, and USAID for review. None of the agencies provided formal comments. However, State provided technical comments, which we have incorporated as appropriate. We are sending copies of this report to the appropriate congressional committees, the Secretaries of State and Def... | Terrorist attacks against U.S. diplomats and personnel overseas have led to increased attention of State's diplomatic security efforts. In this special publication, GAO identifies key issues affecting Diplomatic Security for Congressional oversight. These issues were identified from a body of related GAO work and State... |
Cuba is the largest Caribbean nation, with a population of more than 11 million people and an area of about 111,000 square kilometers (slightly smaller than Pennsylvania). Cuba lies approximately 90 miles south of Key West, Florida. See figure 1 for a map of Cuba. According to the World Bank, Cuba’s gross domestic prod... | In the more than 50 years since it established an embargo on Cuba, the U.S. government has pursued a policy designed to isolate Cuba's communist regime. In December 2014, the President announced a significant change in U.S. policy. Since then, the U.S. government has restored diplomatic relations with Cuba and modified... |
The Army’s vision for the 21st century mandates a land force that can operate in joint, combined, and multinational formations to perform a variety of missions, ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to major theater wars. The Army’s vision also requires that it be capable of putting a combat force an... | Prior reports and studies have identified major risks in the Department of Defense's (DOD) management, funding, and reporting of spare parts spending programs. Spare parts shortages adversely affect the U.S. Army's operations and can compromise the readiness of weapon systems. To address these issues, Congress has full... |
Over 87 million children in the United States participate in activities provided by child- and youth-serving organizations each year. Many of these organizations have formalized and structured environments, such as schools, which children are required to attend. Others are voluntary, extracurricular activities, such as... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed certain implementation issues under the National Child Protection Act of 1993, focusing on: (1) the extent to which selected states have enacted statutes authorizing national background checks of child care providers, the fees charged for background checks of volunteers... |
FTA’s primary source of funding for new fixed-guideway projects or extensions to existing fixed-guideway systems is the Capital Investment Grant program, which is a discretionary program funded from annual appropriations rather than the Highway Trust Fund. Over the past 10 fiscal years, FTA has provided states, cities,... | FTA's Capital Investment Grant program provides roughly $2 billion in appropriated funds each year to help states, cities, and localities plan and build new or extensions to existing fixed-guideway transit systems. Under this program, project sponsors—usually local transit agencies—have typically applied for their proj... |
Generally, employers can provide health coverage in two ways. They can purchase coverage from health insurers, such as local Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans; other private insurance carriers; or managed care plans, such as health maintenance organizations. Alternatively, they can self-fund their plans—that is, they as... | Health insurance premiums have increased at double-digit rates over the past few years. While searching for affordable options, some employers and individuals have purchased coverage from certain entities that are not authorized by state insurance departments to sell this coverage. Such unauthorized entities--also some... |
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.