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The Bureau has made significant progress redesigning its approach for conducting the 2010 Census, including early planning, a greater reliance on contractors, and actions related to nonresponse follow-up, a key cost driver. Specifically, the Bureau’s preparations for the 2010 Census appear to be further along than at a... | The U.S. Census Bureau (Bureau) estimates that the 2010 Census will cost over $11.3 billion, making it the most expensive in our history. The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate appropriation bills propose to reduce the Bureau's fiscal year 2007 budget request, raising questions about the Bureau's design of the 20... |
Funds from the rental-of-space account in FBF pay for all leased space in GSA’s inventory. During fiscal years 1997 and 1998, GSA received appropriations of about $4.6 billion in NOA for this account, about $2.3 billion in each fiscal year. GSA submitted two requests, totaling $324 million in NOA, to reprogram funds fr... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the General Services Administration's (GSA) Galaxy program for estimating the rental expenses of the Federal Buildings Fund, focusing on whether the: (1) new Galaxy program included the elements needed for tracking actual rental expenditures and forecasting future renta... |
Attention deficit disorders are among the most commonly diagnosed childhood behavioral disorders. Although there are a number of disorder subtypes, as a group these disorders are referred to as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Symptoms include hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattention. The American ... | Children diagnosed with attention deficit disorders are often treated with stimulant medications, such as Ritalin or Adderall. These drugs are controlled substances under federal law because of their high potential for abuse. Many of these stimulant drugs must be taken several times a day to be effective, so children n... |
The increased popularity and widespread use of OHVs on federal lands in the 1960s and early 1970s prompted the development of a unified federal policy for such use. Executive Order 11644 was issued in February 1972 to establish policies and provide for procedures to control and direct the use of OHVs on federal lands s... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) and the Forest Service's implementation of executive orders regulating the use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) on federal lands, focusing on the agencies': (1) designation of federal lands for OHV use; (2) monitoring of OHV use to ide... |
DOD has made significant progress in reducing delays in personnel security clearance decisions and in meeting statutory timeliness objectives since we first designated DOD’s personnel security clearance program as a high-risk area in 2005. In 2007, we found that initial clearances for DOD industry personnel took an ave... | In light of longstanding problems with delays and backlogs, Congress mandated personnel security clearance reforms through the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), which requires, among other things, that executive agencies meet objectives for the timeliness of the investigative and adjudic... |
The decennial census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution and provides data that are vital to the nation. This information is used to apportion the seats of the U.S. House of Representatives; realign the boundaries of the legislative districts of each state; allocate billions of dollars in federal financial assistance;... | The cost of the decennial census has steadily increased each decade, with the 2010 Census being the most costly in history, totaling approximately $13 billion. If the growth rate continues, the 2020 Census could cost approximately $25 billion (in constant 2010 dollars). In an effort to contain costs while continuing to... |
Over the past year, DOD has substantially restructured the JSF program, taking positive actions that should lead to more achievable and predictable outcomes. Restructuring has consequences—higher development costs, fewer aircraft in the near term, training delays, and extended times for testing and delivering capabilit... | The F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), is the Department of Defense's (DOD) most costly and ambitious aircraft acquisition, seeking to simultaneously develop and field three aircraft variants for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and eight international partners. The JSF is critical for r... |
Radiological sources are used throughout the world for peaceful purposes. Until the 1950s, only naturally occurring radioactive materials, such as radium-226, were available to be used in radiological sources. Since then, sources containing radiological material produced artificially in nuclear reactors and accelerator... | In the hands of terrorists, radiological material, such as cesium-137, could be used to construct a "dirty bomb." Such material--encapsulated in steel or titanium and called a sealed source--is commonly found in equipment used by U.S. medical facilities to treat, among other things, cancer patients. NRC is responsible ... |
The NCLBA of 2001 amended and reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the largest and most comprehensive federal education law. The focus of this legislation is on improving students’ academic performance. A growing body of research has shown that teacher effectiveness is a significant factor in improv... | The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) of 2001 established qualification requirements that teachers of core academic subjects must meet by the end of the 2005-2006 school year. Congress has appropriated approximately $3 billion a year through the Title II, Part A (Title II), of NCLBA for teacher improvement programs sinc... |
The three stamps issued thus far in the nation’s semipostal program have all been authorized through separate congressional acts pertaining solely to those stamps. The Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act required that the Service issue a Breast Cancer Research stamp, the nation’s first semipostal. Two additional semipostals—th... | Congress has directed the U.S. Postal Service to issue three fund-raising stamps, also called semipostals, since 1998. These stamps are sold at a higher price than First-Class stamps, with the difference going to federal agencies for specific causes. The proceeds from the three stamps address breast cancer research, as... |
GPRA is intended to shift the focus of government decisionmaking, management, and accountability from activities and processes to the results and outcomes achieved by federal programs. New and valuable information on the plans, goals, and strategies of federal agencies has been provided since federal agencies began imp... | This report discusses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) fiscal year 2000 performance report and fiscal year 2002 performance plan required by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. Although FEMA did not attain all of its goals for selected key outcomes in its fiscal year 2000 annual performa... |
DOD’s efforts to build partner capacity include a broad range of security cooperation activities designed to build the defense capacity of foreign partners and allies. These security cooperation activities include military- to-military training, military exercises in cooperation with partner nations, knowledge sharing ... | DOD has increasingly focused on security cooperation activities designed to build the defense capacity of foreign partners and allies, furthering the U.S. objective of securing international peace and cooperation. Both the 2011 National Military Strategy of the United States of America and the 2011 National Strategy fo... |
EPA’s size, geographical dispersion, reliance on its partnership with state and local governments, and broad and complex mission all combine to make management of the agency a formidable challenge. Our recent work has identified several particular management challenges at EPA, including the need to address workload and... | The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) overarching mission is to protect human health and the environment by implementing and enforcing the laws intended to improve the quality of the nation's air, water, and lands. EPA's policies and programs affect virtually all segments of the economy, society, and government. ... |
Under the Housing Act of 1937, as amended, HUD contracts with housing authorities to provide subsidies and grants for operating expenses and modernizing deteriorated housing. In return, housing authorities agree to provide residents with decent, safe, and sanitary housing. These agreements are formalized in a contract ... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), focusing on: (1) its major operational difficulties; (2) the causes of those problems; and (3) the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) corrective actions and the effects of those actions. GAO found that: (1) H... |
Millions of individuals arrive in the United States every year and undergo an inspection to ensure they are entering the country lawfully and not transporting any illegal goods or harmful pests and prohibited agricultural products. Prior to the creation of DHS in 2003, passengers were required to undergo separate custo... | International air passengers arriving in the United States are subject to an inspection to ensure they possess legal entry and immigration documents and do not bring in contraband, such as illegal drugs, counterfeit goods, or harmful pests and prohibited agriculture products. With the creation of the Department of Home... |
To describe the evolution of PBGC’s current statutory limitation on administrative expenses, we reviewed PBGC’s enabling and appropriations legislation from 1974 to 2002. We reviewed Titles I and IV of ERISA (29 U.S.C. Chapter 18); Chapter 91 of Title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Government Corpo... | Concerned about the increasing proportion of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's (PBGC) operational and administrative budget that is outside the annual administrative expense limitation, the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging asked GAO to review PBGC's (1) application of the limita... |
Under the current LCS program, two shipyards are building an equal number of two different versions of the LCS seaframe: Lockheed Martin builds the Freedom variant at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin, and Austal USA builds the Independence variant in Mobile, Alabama. Table 1 shows the status of LCS ... | The Navy envisioned a revolutionary approach for the LCS program: dual ship designs with interchangeable mission packages intended to provide mission flexibility. This approach has fallen short, with significant cost increases, schedule delays, and reduced capabilities—some of which have yet to be demonstrated. The LCS... |
As the nation’s principal border agency, the Customs Service has a significant narcotics interdiction role and is increasingly relying upon technology to help implement that role. Equipment and technology used by Customs for screening and drug interdiction activities include automated databases, portable contraband det... | Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO provided information on the operational viability of pulsed fast neutron analysis technology (PFNA), which is designed to directly and automatically detect and measure the presence of specific materials by exposing their constituent chemical elements to short bursts of subatom... |
The Army Materiel Command initiated an effort in 1999 to replace its existing materiel management systems—the Commodity Command Standard System and the Standard Depot System—with LMP. In addition to replacing these systems, which have been used for over 30 years to manage inventory and depot maintenance operations, the... | The Logistics Modernization Program (LMP) is an Army business system that is intended to replace the aging Army systems that manage inventory and depot repair operations. From 1999 through 2009, the Army expended more than $1 billion for LMP. LMP was originally scheduled to be completed by 2005, but after the first dep... |
DOD and VHA provide health care, including medications for psychiatric, pain, and sleep conditions, to servicemembers and veterans through their respective health care systems. DOD provides health care to active duty servicemembers; Reserve and National Guard members on active duty; and other beneficiaries, such as fam... | Medication continuation, when clinically appropriate, is critical for transitioning servicemembers with PTSD or TBI who have been prescribed psychiatric, pain, or sleep medications. Adverse health effects may occur if these medications are inappropriately discontinued. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal ... |
The Office of the Under Secretary for Energy, Science and Environment comprises nine program offices, including the Offices of Environmental Management; Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology; and Science and accounts for about 57 percent of DOE’s fiscal year 2006 budget request (see fig. 1). ESE has five sites that co... | A successful terrorist attack on a Department of Energy (DOE) site containing nuclear weapons material could have devastating effects for the site and nearby communities. DOE's Office of the Under Secretary for Energy, Science and Environment (ESE), which is responsible for DOE operations in areas such as energy resear... |
The BIA and DOD school systems are unlike public school systems in a number of ways and are also distinct from each other. Information on the schools, the students and families they serve, the settings in which they operate, and other fundamental aspects of these systems helps put our findings into context. BIA schools... | Unlike public schools, the schools run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) depend almost entirely on federal funds. Although the two school systems are similar in that regard, their histories and settings are very different. The performance of many BIA students on standardized test... |
According to experts, a nuclear EMP is the burst of electromagnetic radiation resulting from the detonation of a nuclear device, which can disrupt or destroy electronic equipment. Nonnuclear EMP weapons can also be designed to intentionally disrupt electronics, but these generally have short range and are not a threat ... | Electromagnetic risks caused by a man-made EMP or a naturally occurring solar weather event could have a significant impact on the nation's electric grid as well as other infrastructure sectors that depend on electricity, such as communications. These risks could lead to power outages over broad geographic areas for ex... |
The VWP was established as a pilot program, with two participating countries, in November 1986 and became a permanent program in October 2000. The program allows eligible nationals from the 38 VWP countries to travel to the United States for 90 days or less for business or pleasure without a visa and requires that VWP ... | The Visa Waiver Program allows nationals from the 38 VWP countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa. To help prevent terrorists and others who present a threat from travelling to the United States, DHS requires VWP countries to, among other things, enter into infor... |
According to IOM, the bombing of the Al-Askari Mosque in Samara in February 2006 triggered sectarian violence that increased the number of displaced Iraqis. Although military operations, crime, and general insecurity remained factors, sectarian violence became the primary driver for population displacement. As displaye... | Iraqi refugees are one of the largest urban populations the UN has been called on to assist. The UN reports government estimates of up to 4.8 million Iraqis displaced within the last 5 years, with 2 million fleeing, primarily to Syria and Jordan. GAO examined challenges in (1) measuring and monitoring progress in achie... |
Wind power is one of several renewable energy options. Other renewable sources include sunlight (photovoltaics), heat from the sun (solar thermal), naturally occurring underground steam and heat (geothermal), plant and animal waste (biomass), and water (hydropower). Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are con... | Wind-generated electricity--wind power--has the potential to provide electricity to homes and businesses without causing air pollution or depleting nonrenewable resources, unlike electricity generated by fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil). Furthermore, because wind power has no fuel costs--wind power depends on ... |
The FBI’s mission responsibilities include investigating serious federal crimes, protecting the nation from foreign intelligence and terrorist threats, and assisting other law enforcement agencies. Approximately 12,000 special agents and 16,000 analysts and mission support personnel are located in the bureau’s Washingt... | The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is in the process of modernizing its information technology (IT) systems. Replacing much of its 1980s-based technology with modern system applications and supporting technical infrastructure, this modernization is intended to enable the FBI to take an integrated, agencywide app... |
Interest rates are key assumptions in calculating the present value of promised future pension benefits. When interest rates are lower, more money is needed today to finance future benefits because it will earn less income when invested. At a 6-percent interest rate, for example, a promise to pay $1.00 per year for the... | Employers with defined benefit plans have expressed concern that low interest rates were affecting the reasonableness of their pension calculations used to determine funding requirements under the Employee Retirement and Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). ERISA requires employers to use a variation of the 30-year Tre... |
As authorized by Congress, SBA established the 504 loan program to foster economic development; create or preserve job opportunities; and stimulate the growth, expansion, and modernization of small businesses. The 504 loan program provides long-term, fixed-rate financing to new or growing small businesses for fixed ass... | Title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 established what is commonly referred to as the “504 loan program” to provide small businesses with financing for long-term fixed assets, such as land and buildings. SBA oversees the program, and about 270 CDCs issue “504 loans” that generally cover up to 40 percent ... |
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (P.L. 104-193), enacted in August 1996, overhauled the nation’s welfare system. Although some states were already implementing changes to their welfare programs before this legislation, the act abolished the federal Aid to Families With Dependent Child... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information about: (1) welfare-to-work formula and competitive grants awarded to, or declined by, states for fiscal year (FY) 1998; (2) how selected grantees are planning to use these funds; and (3) how selected grantees plan to meet welfare-to-work requirements to bett... |
To describe the availability, use, and affordability of manufactured housing, we reviewed and analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Manufactured Homes Survey (MHS) from 2000 to 2013 and 2011 American Housing Survey (AHS) on the production and location of manufactured housing and the characteristics of owners. We ... | Manufactured housing traditionally has been a low-cost option in the U.S. housing market. For nearly 40 years, HUD has provided standards for the manufactured housing industry by developing and updating the HUD Code. The 2000 Act was intended, among other things, to establish a balanced consensus process for updating t... |
The Bureau’s $11.3 billion life-cycle cost estimate for the 2010 Census lacks timely and complete supporting data. The supporting data of the estimate is not timely because it does not contain the most current information from testing and evaluation. Also, the supporting data of the estimate is not complete because it ... | The decennial census is a constitutionally mandated activity, with immutable deadlines. It produces data used to allocate about $200 billion yearly in federal financial assistance, reapportion the seats of the House of Representatives, and provide a profile of the nation's people to help guide policy decisions. The U.S... |
Since 1955, the executive branch has encouraged federal agencies to obtain commercially available goods and services from the private sector when the agencies determine that such action is cost-effective. OMB formalized the policy in its Circular A-76, issued in 1966. In 1979, OMB supplemented the circular with a handb... | The Commercial Activities Panel is a congressionally mandated panel to study, and make recommendations for improving, the policies and procedures governing the transfer of commercial activities from government to contractor personnel. The growing controversy surrounding competitions under the Office of Management and B... |
The DOD supply chain is a global network through which DLA and the military departments provide commodities and distribution services to the U.S. military forces. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics and its subordinate, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense... | In fiscal year 2015, DLA generated $23 billion in revenues from supply chain management sales to the military departments and other customers, such as federal agencies. These sales included commodities and distribution services provided through the Defense-wide Working Capital Fund, a revolving fund. Senate Report 114-... |
Since 2003, JPDO and ATO have made progress in planning for and implementing NextGen. In accordance with Vision 100, JPDO created a multi-agency research and development plan for the transition to NextGen. This plan consists of three basic documents—a Concept of Operations, an Enterprise Architecture, and an Integrated... | To prepare for forecasted air traffic growth, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including its Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) and Air Traffic Organization (ATO), is planning for and implementing the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) in partnership with other federal agencies and ... |
Although NORAD had performed some risk assessments in response to individual DOD leadership inquiries about ASA operations, it had not done routine risk assessments as part of a risk-based management approach to determine ASA operational requirements. Moreover, NORAD has not conducted similar assessments since 2006. Fo... | This testimony discusses GAO's recently issued report on the North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) and the Department of Defense's (DOD) air sovereignty alert (ASA) operations. According to the National Strategy for Aviation Security, issued in March 2007, and officials from U.S. intelligence agencies with... |
The Medicare physician fee schedule has three components. The first, the physician work component, provides payment for the physician’s time, skill, and training required to provide a given service. The second, the practice expense component, reflects the expenses incurred in operating a practice, such as rent; utiliti... | Medicare's physician fee schedule establishes payments for more than 7,000 different services, such as office visits, surgical procedures, and treatments. Before 1992, fees were based on charges physicians billed for these services. Since then, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), which runs Medicare, has b... |
Critical infrastructures are systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to our nation that their incapacity or destruction would have a debilitating impact on national security, economic well-being, public health or safety, or any combination of these. Critical infrastructure includes, among other things... | Critical infrastructures are systems and assets critical to the nation's security, economy, and public health and safety, most of which are owned by the private sector. These assets rely on networked computers and systems, thus making them susceptible to cyber-based risks. Managing such risk involves the use of cyberse... |
OMB plays a central role in setting federal financial management policy and guidance. The CFO Act of 1990 established OMB’s Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM), which has responsibility to provide overall direction and leadership to the executive branch on financial management matters by establishing financia... | Billions of dollars have been spent governmentwide to modernize financial management systems that have often exceeded budgeted cost, resulted in delays in delivery dates and did not provide the anticipated system functionality when implemented. GAO was asked to identify (1) the key causes for financial management syste... |
Rural communities often have small or aging drinking water and wastewater systems. The need for a water project can arise for multiple reasons, including replacing or upgrading outdated or aging equipment that does not treat water to meet water quality standards and systems that do not produce water to meet new treatme... | Many rural communities with populations of 10,000 or less face challenges in financing the costs of replacing or upgrading aging and obsolete drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. EPA and USDA oversee the three largest federally funded drinking water and wastewater funding programs for these communities. In res... |
Nanotechnology is generally defined as the ability to understand and control matter at the nanoscale (between 1 and 100 nanometers), in order to create materials, devices, and systems with fundamentally new properties and functions specific to that scale. For example, opaque materials, such as copper, become transparen... | The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), administered by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), is a multiagency effort intended to coordinate the nanotechnology-related activities of 25 federal agencies that fund nanoscale research or have a stake in the results. Nanotechnology is the ability to cont... |
GPRA is intended to shift the focus of government decisionmaking, management, and accountability from activities and processes to the results and outcomes achieved by federal programs. New and valuable information on the plans, goals, and strategies of federal agencies has been provided since federal agencies began imp... | This report reviews the Department of Justice's fiscal year 2000 performance report and fiscal year 2002 performance plan required by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 and assesses Justice's progress in achieving selected key outcomes that were identified as important mission areas. Justice's overall p... |
Building highways requires a diverse collection of skill sets and expertise. The highway construction industry is composed of a variety of different trades such as equipment operators, mechanics, truck drivers, ironworkers, carpenters, and cement masons. These trades are not specific to highway construction but also ap... | The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) on-the-job training program-- a relatively small part of the federal aid highway program--requires states to implement job training programs to provide traditionally underrepresented groups with opportunities in highway construction. To increase the effectiveness of state job... |
As we reported in March 2012, retirement plan sponsorship is low among small employers, which may reflect the challenges employers face in establishing and maintaining a plan. Our analysis of available Labor and IRS data found that about 14 percent of small employers sponsored some type of plan in 2009. As shown in fig... | About 42 million workers, or about onethird of all private-sector employees, work for employers with fewer than 100 employees, and recent federal data suggest many of these workers lack access to work-based retirement benefits. Despite efforts by the federal government to develop new plan designs and to increase tax in... |
Research indicates that making price and other contextual information available is important for consumers to be able to anticipate the costs of their care and also to make informed health care decisions. In recent years, many public and private price transparency initiatives have been initiated to provide consumers wi... | In recent years, consumers have become responsible for a growing proportion of the costs of their health care. Health care price information that is transparent--available before consumers receive care--may help consumers anticipate these costs. Research identifies meaningful types of health care price information, suc... |
The U.S.-Mexico border extends more than 2,000 miles, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. As can be seen in figure 1, portions of four states—Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California—encompassing 97 counties and 44 U.S. federally recognized tribal nations make up the border region. The region includes a wid... | A serious problem for U.S. communities along the U.S.-Mexico border is the lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation systems. Inadequate systems can pose risks to human health and the environment, including the risk of waterborne diseases. Numerous federal programs provide grants, loans, or other assistance ... |
Under DERP, DOD is required to carry out a program of environmental restoration activities at sites located on former and active defense installations that were contaminated while under DOD’s jurisdiction. The goals of the program include the identification, investigation, research and development, and cleanup of conta... | The Department of Defense (DOD) estimates that cleaning up known hazards at the over 4,700 formerly used defense sites (FUDS)--sites transferred to other owners before October 1986--will require more than 50 years and cost about $18 billion. This estimate excludes any additional needed cleanup of emerging contaminants-... |
Job Corps was established in 1964 as an employment and training program aimed at providing severely disadvantaged youth with a comprehensive array of services, primarily in a residential setting. Administered by the Department of Labor, Job Corps services are provided at 110 centers located throughout the United States... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO identified state and local youth training programs that incorporate four basic characteristics of the Job Corps Program: (1) serving a severely disadvantaged population; (2) providing basic education instruction; (3) focusing on vocational training services; and (4) providing th... |
Between 1975 and 1989, over 2 million Indo-Chinese, many of them Vietnamese, left their countries of origin seeking asylum elsewhere in the region. Most were ultimately resettled in Western countries, including the United States and Canada. However, by the late 1980s an unabating outflow, large numbers of asylum seeker... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) for the resettlement of asylum seekers from Vietnam and southeast Asia, focusing on: (1) whether Hong Kong and Indonesia implemented CPA refugee status determination procedures in accordance with international... |
We have identified three fundamental principles that can serve as a framework for considering large-scale federal assistance efforts. These principles are (1) identifying and defining the problem, (2) determining the national interests and setting clear goals and objectives that address the problem, and (3) protecting ... | The current economic downturn has brought significant financial stress to the auto manufacturing industry. Recent deteriorating financial, real estate, and labor markets have reduced consumer confidence and available credit, and automobile purchases have declined. While auto manufacturers broadly have experienced decli... |
The traditional financial statements, in terms of form and content, have not changed much over the years. The financial reporting model uses a mixture of historical costs and fair value to present a company’s transactions. This model has value but fails to meet the broader range of information needs of investors who wa... | On December 9, 2002, GAO convened a governance and accountability forum to discuss challenges facing regulators, the accounting profession, and boards of directors and management of public companies in effectively implementing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related regulatory actions to improve public confidence in... |
The extent of foodborne illness in the United States and its associated costs are significant. CDC estimates that unsafe foods cause as many as 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths annually. In terms of medical costs and productivity losses, foodborne illnesses associated with seven major pa... | The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the state agriculture and health departments spent about $1.3 billion in fiscal year 1999. FSIS and FDA spent about $1 billion, and the states reported spending about $300 million. The amounts and proportions of food safety expen... |
The Authority has designed an integrated transportation network for Los Angeles County called the Metro System. To develop part of that system, it has signed three grant agreements with FTA to help fund the final design and construction phases of a heavy rail system called the Red Line. As shown in figure 1, the Red Li... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Red Line subway project, focusing on the: (1) project's estimated cost; (2) Authority's financing plans; and (3) Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) oversight of the project's quality control and assuranc... |
A juvenile is an individual at or below the maximum age of juvenile court jurisdiction. Established by state statute, the maximum age of juvenile court jurisdiction is the oldest age at which an individual can be processed in juvenile court. Individuals who are above the maximum age of juvenile court jurisdiction are c... | Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the frequency with which juveniles have been sent to criminal court, focusing on: (1) juvenile conviction rates and sentences in criminal court; (2) dispositions of juvenile cases in juvenile court; and (3) conditions of confinement for juveniles incarcerated in adult... |
Information security is a critical consideration for any organization that depends on information systems and computer networks to carry out its mission or business and is especially important for government agencies, where maintaining the public’s trust is essential. While the dramatic expansion in computer interconne... | SEC is responsible for enforcing securities laws, issuing rules and regulations that protect investors, and helping to ensure that securities markets are fair and honest. In carrying out its mission, the commission relies extensively on computerized systems that collect and process financial and sensitive information. ... |
An unexplained increase in patient deaths occurred in one ward at the Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital (hereinafter referred to as Hospital) in Columbia, Missouri, during the spring and summer of 1992. In October 1992, based on information provided by a Missouri state legislator, the Federal Bureau of Investig... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General's (OIG) Special Inquiry into the alleged cover-up of an unexplained increase in deaths at the Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans Medical Center, Columbia, Missouri, focusing on: (1) whether the Special In... |
Studies published by the Institute of Medicine and others have indicated that fragmented, disorganized, and inaccessible clinical information adversely affects the quality of health care and compromises patient safety. In addition, long-standing problems with medical errors and inefficiencies increase costs for health ... | Health information technology (IT) offers promise for improving patient safety and reducing inefficiencies. Given its role in providing health care in the United States, the federal government has been urged to take a leadership role to improve the quality and effectiveness of health care, including the adoption of IT.... |
The National Response Plan (NRP) was issued in December 2004 to establish a single, comprehensive framework for the management of domestic incidents, including natural disasters. The NRP is the federal government’s plan to coordinate its resources and capabilities across agencies and integrate them with other levels of... | Hurricane Katrina was one of the largest natural disasters in U.S. history. Despite a large deployment of resources at all levels, many have regarded the federal response as inadequate. GAO has a body of ongoing work that covers the federal government's preparedness and response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Due to w... |
Since 2000, we have identified problems ranging from significant cost and schedule overruns on major projects to ineffective oversight of safety and security at NNSA and EM sites, indicating that DOE and NNSA continue to face challenges in ensuring the effectiveness of their oversight efforts. Examples, in chronologica... | A 2005 DOE policy required the department's M&O contractors to implement assurance systems to drive continuous improvement through contractor self-assessment and effective federal oversight. A policy change in 2011 sought to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of DOE oversight programs by leveraging the contractor... |
Concerns about discrimination in the credit markets, particularly in the market for home mortgages, have existed for some time and have recently moved to the fore among civil rights issues. This resurgence of interest is due in large part to repeated reports in the media and elsewhere suggesting that the problem of len... | Pursuant to congressional requests, GAO reviewed federal oversight and enforcement of fair lending laws, focusing on: (1) efforts to strengthen law enforcement procedures; and (2) challenges bank regulators face in their efforts to detect discrimination and ensure compliance. GAO found that: (1) since 1992, bank regula... |
The dramatic expansion in computer interconnectivity and the rapid increase in the use of the Internet are changing the way our government, the nation, and much of the world communicate and conduct business. Without proper safeguards, these factors also pose enormous risks that make it easier for individuals and groups... | The Department of the Treasury relies heavily on information systems--and on the public's trust in its work. Information security is therefore critical to Treasury operations. In support of its annual audit of the government's financial statements, GAO assessed the effectiveness of (1) Treasury's information security c... |
Information security is a critical consideration for any organization that depends on information systems and computer networks to carry out its mission or business. It is especially important for government agencies, where the public’s trust is essential. The dramatic expansion in computer interconnectivity and the ra... | In fiscal year 2006, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) collected about $2.5 trillion in tax payments and paid about $277 billion in refunds. Because IRS relies extensively on computerized systems, effective information security controls are essential to ensuring that financial and taxpayer information is adequately pr... |
As is the case with each new Congress, we are beginning to have discussions with regard to many new requests for GAO’s professional, objective, fact-based, nonpartisan, and non-ideological information, analysis, and recommendations. On November 17, 2006, I was pleased to offer three sets of recommendations for your con... | This testimony is given in support of the fiscal year 2008 budget request for the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) before the House Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, Committee on Appropriations. The requested funding will help us continue our support of the Congress in meeting its constitutional respon... |
In contrast to workers in a traditional defined benefit (DB) plan, workers in a 401(k) plan, the predominant type of defined contribution (DC) plan in the United States, have more control over their retirement assets, but also bear greater responsibility and risk in the investment of assets. In a typical 401(k) plan, w... | Recent volatility in financial markets highlights the need for prudent investment decisions if 401(k) plans are to provide an adequate source of retirement income. While plan sponsors and participants may receive help in assessing their investment choices, concerns have been raised about the impartiality of the advice ... |
The Air Force and the Navy plan to replace many of their current fighter aircraft with the Joint Strike Fighter, also called the F-35. DOD plans to buy a total of 2,443 F-35s—1,763 for the Air Force and 680 for the Department of the Navy—between 2008 and 2037. However, we have reported on F-35 issues since 2005 and fou... | Fighter aircraft are important to achieve and maintain air dominance during combat operations as well as to protect the homeland. DOD plans to replace many of its current fighter fleet with the F-35; however, the F-35 program has experienced numerous delays and cost increases. To maintain fighter capabilities and capac... |
GSA’s Federal Technology Service is responsible for ensuring that federal agencies have access to the telecommunications services and solutions needed to meet mission requirements. Currently, GSA uses a series of contracts intended to meet agency needs for various services. Specifically, it awarded two large, governmen... | The General Services Administration (GSA) has begun planning for a governmentwide telecommunications program known as Networx. GSA issued a request for information in October 2003 that proposed two acquisitions: Networx Universal, which was to provide a full range of national and international network services across t... |
Since its creation in 1970, EPA has generally been responsible for ensuring the enforcement of the nation’s environmental laws. This responsibility has traditionally involved monitoring compliance by those in the regulated community (such as factories or businesses that release pollutants into the environment or use ha... | The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces the nation's environmental laws through its Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA). OECA sets overall enforcement policies and through its 10 regions oversees state agencies authorized to implement environmental programs consistent with federal requireme... |
Prior to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, only those Navy ships and air squadrons at peak readiness were deployed overseas, usually for 6 months at a time. Most of the Navy’s remaining units were not available because they were in the early stages of their maintenance or training cycles, or because the Navy d... | The Navy initiated its Fleet Response Plan (FRP) in March 2003 as a critical enabler to help meet the new demands of the twenty-first century security environment. FRP represents a major change in the way the Navy manages its forces, and is intended to more rapidly prepare and then sustain readiness in ships and squadr... |
DOD conducts a number of homeland defense and civil support missions. Examples of DOD’s homeland defense missions include defending against threats to the homeland from, among other things, international terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and cyber operations aimed at DOD computer networks. Ex... | Defending U.S. territory and citizens is the highest priority of DOD, and providing defense support of civil authorities is one of the department's primary missions. DOD is the federal agency with lead responsibility for homeland defense, whereas for civil support missions DOD provides assistance to the lead civilian f... |
NBC-Denver is a service center operated by the Department of the Interior. NBC-Denver develops and operates administrative and financial systems (including payroll/personnel, administrative payments, accounts receivable, property management, and accounting) for the Department of the Interior as well as more than 30 oth... | This report reviews information system general controls over the financial systems maintained by the Department of the Interior at its National Business Center (NBC) in Denver, Colorado. GAO found that although the Denver center has made progress in correcting previously cited computer security weaknesses, additional w... |
The HUBZone Act of 1997 (which established the HUBZone program) identified HUBZones as (1) qualified census tracts, which are determined generally by area poverty rate or household income; (2) qualified nonmetropolitan counties, which are determined generally by area unemployment rate or median household income; and (3... | The purpose of the HUBZone program is to stimulate economic development in economically distressed areas designated as HUBZones. SBA certifies small business firms located in HUBZones to participate in the HUBZone program—that is, determines they are eligible for federal contracting preferences under the program, such ... |
Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information by government or contractor employees through negligence or misconduct can have a significant effect on the government’s ability to perform its primary functions, potentially resulting in financial loss, damaged reputation, and loss of public trust. Sensitive information... | In performing agency tasks, contractor employees often require access to sensitive information that must be protected from unauthorized disclosure or misuse. This report assesses the (1) extent to which agency guidance and contracts contain safeguards for contractor access to sensitive information, and (2) adequacy of ... |
FSA is USDA’s primary federal agency charged with administering farm programs at the local level. FSA’s fiscal year 1997 salary and expenses were $956 million. This amount provided funding for 17,269 federal and nonfederal employees at the national office, 50 state offices, and 2,440 county offices. In fiscal year 1997... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the administrative requirements placed on farmers participating in the revamped farm programs, as well as the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) efficiency in delivering program services to farmers, focusing on the: (1) extent to which the changes to the farm programs r... |
The next Congress and new administration will confront a set of pressing issues that will demand urgent attention and continuing oversight to ensure the nation’s security and well-being. The goal of our transition planning is to look across the work we have done and across the scope and breadth of the federal governmen... | The upcoming 2009 transition will be a unique and critical period for the U.S. government. It marks the first wartime presidential transition in 40 years. It will also be the first administration change for the relatively new Department of Homeland Security operating in the post 9/11 environment. The next administratio... |
In 1997 and 1998, the quality of service IRS provided to taxpayers was identified as a problem both in and outside IRS. The Vice President’s National Performance Review looked within and across federal agencies at how existing programs could operate more efficiently and effectively and what activities the government sh... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) efforts to improve customer service. GAO noted that: (1) IRS' strategy for managing the implementation of its customer service initiatives shows promise but could be improved; (2) IRS' basic approach was to establish a... |
DOD stated in its May 1997 Report of the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) that a steady increase in investment in modern equipment to an annual level of $60 billion is required to fulfill the defense strategy. To achieve modernization goals, DOD plans to reduce the cost of its infrastructure, which includes central tra... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the significant differences in two Department of Defense training programs, focusing on the: (1) training categories and military services with the most significant funding changes from the 1998 to the 1999 Future Years Defense Program (FYDP); (2) bases for the changes;... |
FDA classifies each device type into one of three classes based on the level of risk it poses and the controls necessary to reasonably ensure its safety and effectiveness. Examples of types of devices in each class include the following: class I: tongue depressors, elastic bandages, reading glasses, and forceps; class ... | The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for overseeing medical devices sold in the United States. In general, new devices are subject to FDA review via either the 510(k) premarket notification process, which determines if a device is substantially equivalent to another legally marketed device, or the more... |
The WIA Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs provide employment services to a wide range of participants. The Adult Program serves all individuals age 18 and older, and the Dislocated Worker Program serves individuals who have been or will be terminated or laid off from employment, among others. The Adult Program prior... | As the economy recovers, some employers continue to face difficulty finding qualified workers. The WIA Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs provide services, including job training, which aims to help participants acquire skills and credentials employers need. Under WIA, states are required to report data on training p... |
To be validated as a joint urgent operational need, a requirement must be joint in nature and, importantly, if not addressed immediately will seriously endanger personnel or pose a major threat to ongoing operations. DOD has taken a number of steps to provide urgently needed capabilities to the warfighter more quickly ... | With the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, DOD has had to accelerate efforts to field capabilities addressing urgent warfighter needs, including joint needs affecting more than one service. GAO was asked to assess (1) how quickly capabilities responding to joint urgent operational needs have been developed and fielded... |
During congressional deliberations on the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, concerns surfaced about whether there would be enough farmworkers to meet the needs of the agricultural industry after the act’s new constraints on foreign workers’ ability to enter the country were implemente... | Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed various aspects of the H-2A nonimmigrant guestworker program, focusing on the: (1) likelihood of a widespread agricultural labor shortage and its impact on the need for nonimmigrant guestworkers; and (2) H-2A program's ability to meet the needs of agricultural workers... |
Both FAA and ACI have estimated the costs of planned airport capital development. Our analysis indicates that recent funding levels would cover the costs estimated by FAA, but not all the costs estimated by ACI. Options for addressing the potential difference between funding and planned development estimates include in... | Much has changed since the Congress enacted the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21) 3 years ago--the downturn in the nation's economy and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, have taken a heavy toll on aviation. Competition for federal funding has also grown. The rea... |
Mass transit includes four main components––heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, and bus. Heavy rail systems—subway systems like New York City’s transit system and Washington, D.C.’s metro—typically operate on fixed rail lines within a metropolitan area and have the capacity for a heavy volume of traffic. Commuter ra... | From fiscal years 2006 through 2008, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has allocated about $755 million dollars to transit agencies through its Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) to protect transit systems and the public from terrorist attacks. GAO was asked to evaluate the extent to which (1) TSGP funds are... |
Project sponsors can begin constructing and operating New Starts projects upon the successful completion of specific project development milestones and upon obtaining an FFGA from FTA. To obtain an FFGA, project sponsors are required by law to go through a planning and project development process, which is divided into... | Many states, cities, and localities are building or planning mass transit projects to meet the nation's transportation needs. The New Starts program--administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA)--is an important source of new capital investment in mass transportatio... |
Despite their commitment to halve global hunger by 2015, efforts of host governments and donors, including the United States, to accelerate progress toward that goal have been insufficient, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. First, host governments have provided limited agricultural spending, with only eight meeting the... | The number of undernourished people worldwide now exceeds 1 billion, according to the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of food insecurity, with 1 out of every 3 people undernourished. Global targets were set at the 1996 World Food Summit and reaf... |
The federal government recognizes fusion centers as assets that are critical to enhancing homeland security because they coordinate the gathering, analysis, and dissemination of law enforcement, homeland security, public safety, and terrorism information. Centers also serve as focal points for the two-way exchange of i... | Fusion centers play a key role in sharing threat information among all levels of government and the private sector. Federal agencies support these centers by providing personnel, funding, and other assistance. GAO was asked to assess how federal agencies are accounting for ongoing support provided. This report addresse... |
Since the early 1990s, the explosion in computer interconnectivity, most notably growth in the use of the Internet, has revolutionized the way organizations conduct business, making communications faster and access to data easier. However, this widespread interconnectivity has increased the risks to computer systems an... | The National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) is an important element of the U.S.' strategy to protect the nation's infrastructures from hostile attacks, especially computer-based attacks. This testimony discusses the key findings of a GAO report on NIPC's progress in developing national capabilities for analyzi... |
According to the National Academy of Public Administration, federal participation in economic development evolved during the 20th century. Economic development programs implemented during the 1930s characteristically involved direct federal action, bypassing state and local governments. During the 1940s and 1950s, thes... | GAO was asked to update its 1989 report on the distribution of economic development funding using newer tools now available for measuring the distribution of federal funds to rural areas. GAO agreed to (1) identify federal economic development programs, (2) determine the best way to identify rural areas for this report... |
Located in FAA’s Office of Aviation Safety (Aviation Safety), the Aircraft Certification Service (Aircraft Certification) and Flight Standards Service (Flight Standards) issue certificates and approvals for new aviation products to be used in the national airspace system as well as for new operators in the system, such... | Among its responsibilities for aviation safety, FAA issues certificates for new aircraft and parts, and grants approvals for changes to air operations and aircraft, based on federal aviation regulations. Various studies, GAO's prior work, and industry stakeholders have raised questions about the efficiency of FAA's cer... |
Large banking organizations typically establish ongoing relationships with their corporate customers and evaluate the overall profitability of these relationships. They use company-specific information gained from providing certain products and services—such as credit or cash management—to identify additional products ... | Investment affiliates of large commercial banks have made competitive inroads in the annual $1.3 trillion debt-underwriting market. Some corporate borrowers and officials from an unaffiliated investment bank have alleged that commercial banks helped their investment affiliates gain market share by illegally tying and u... |
The federal government’s vast real property portfolio is used for all aspects of operations and includes buildings such as warehouses, office space, dormitories, and hospitals. Agencies’ physical security programs address how agencies approach aspects of physical security for these buildings, such as conducting risk as... | GAO has designated federal real property management as a high-risk area due, in part, to the continued challenge of facility protection. Executive branch agencies are responsible for protecting about 370,000 non-military buildings and structures; the Federal Protective Service (FPS) protects over 9,000 of these. ISC--a... |
There are certain statutory authorities under which the President may draw down articles and services from the inventory and resources of U.S. government agencies. Section 506(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, allows for drawdowns of defense articles from the stocks of DOD and defense services of... | The President has special legal authorities that allow him to direct the drawdown of defense articles, such as vehicles, food, or medical equipment, and services, such as airlift support, as well as military education and training, to provide assistance in response to an international crisis. Since 2011, there have bee... |
Congress established the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCESRC) on October 30, 2000, through Public Law No. 106-398, which transferred to USCESRC the facilities, material, and staff of the U.S. Trade Deficit Review Commission. According to the commission’s charter, USCESRC must monitor and assess ... | In October 2000, Congress established the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission to assess the national security implications of the trade and economic relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China and issue an annual report by June 1. The 12-member commission has a budget of abo... |
The automation of mail sorting and distribution activities with state-of-the- art technology is a core component of the Service’s strategy to achieve its goals for efficiency, effectiveness, and financial performance. According to the Service, the success of this strategy relies, in considerable part, on the Service’s ... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO updated its previous report on the U.S. Postal Service's National Change of Address (NCOA) program, focusing on: (1) the actions the Service has taken in response to GAO's 1996 report; and (2) whether any additional actions are needed to strengthen the Service's oversight of the... |
DHS, DOE and FERC have taken various actions to address electromagnetic risks to the electric grid, and these actions generally fall into four categories: (1) standards, guidelines, tools and demonstration projects; (2) research reports; (3) strategy development and planning; and (4) training and outreach. Additionally... | This testimony summarizes the information contained in GAO's March 2016 report, entitled Critical Infrastructure Protection: Federal Agencies Have Taken Actions to Address Electromagnetic Risks, but Opportunities Exist to Further Assess Risks and Strengthen Collaboration , GAO-16-243 . Key federal agencies have taken v... |
For CBP round 1, we found problems with the bidding process, including poor timing and lack of clarity in bid submission information and CMS’s inability to inform suppliers of missing financial documentation. In comparison with CBP round 1, CMS provided CBP round 1 rebid bidding information to suppliers earlier, and it... | To reduce spending on durable medical equipment (DME) and related items, under federal law the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is phasing in, with several rounds of bidding, a competitive bidding program (CBP) for certain DME and other items. Because of numerous concerns, the Medicare Improvements for Pa... |
As detailed in our April 2015 report, in the summer of 2014, refiners purchased all the helium offered in BLM’s first-ever competitive helium auction at higher than expected prices. Two refiners purchased all 93 million cubic feet of helium that was auctioned at an average price of $161 per thousand cubic feet—signific... | Helium is a key nonrenewable resource with a variety of uses. The federal government maintains an underground reservoir near Amarillo, Texas, for the storage of both federally owned helium and helium owned by private companies. The Helium Stewardship Act of 2013 establishes a phased process for the privatization of the... |
The Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs are the nation’s two largest federal programs providing cash payments to people with severe long-term disabilities. Between 1985 and 1995, the number of DI recipients increased almost 50 percent to about 5.7 million, and the n... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the growth in the backlog of pending cases at the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA), focusing on SSA initiatives to: (1) reduce backlogged cases; and (2) make the disability appeals process more timely and efficient. GAO found t... |
In response to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 and the Vice-President’s National Performance Review (NPR), the Secretary of Agriculture initiated a departmental reorganization to refocus and simplify the Department’s headquarters structure, improve accountability and service to customers, reform the ... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) progress in streamlining its administrative operations, focusing on USDA's efforts to: (1) reduce the number of administrative staff departmentwide; (2) consolidate and streamline administrative support structures fo... |
Employers in both the public and private sectors have realized that offering work/life programs—such as alternative work schedules, child care, and health and wellness programs—have become an essential element in recruiting and retaining their workforces. The federal government, as a major employer, also recognizes tha... | To improve its ability to recruit and retain federal employees, agencies have implemented a wide range of work/life programs, such as flexible work schedules, child care, and employee assistance programs. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) plays a key role in guiding federal human capital initiatives, including t... |
Foodborne illness in the United States is extensive and expensive. The incidence of foodborne illness is estimated to range from 6.5 million to 81 million cases each year and result in as few as 500 to as many as 9,100 related deaths annually. In terms of medical costs and productivity losses, foodborne illness costs t... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO: (1) analyzed the federal food safety agencies' budgets for fiscal year 1999 to determine whether the appropriated funds of more than $1 billion can be spent more effectively; and (2) provided its views on whether the food safety initiatives for fiscal years 1998-1999 will addre... |
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.