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DOD codified its DOD Executive Agent program in 2002 and issued a directive, DOD Directive 5101.1, that defines a DOD Executive Agent and establishes the roles and responsibilities governing the DOD Executive Agent assignments and arrangements. DOD officials told us that the department issued a directive for its DOD Ex... | DOD maintains military forces with unparalleled capabilities. However, the department continues to confront weaknesses in the management of its business functions that support these forces. DOD uses Executive Agents, which are intended to facilitate collaboration, to achieve critical department objectives. Senate Repor... |
In the United States, there are essentially two categories of drugs for distribution: prescription and nonprescription. Nonprescription drugs are often referred to as over-the-counter (OTC) medications (the terms are used interchangeably in this report). The term “prescription” has several meanings but generally refers... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the creation of a drug class that would be available only through pharmacies, but would not require a physician's prescription, focusing on: (1) studies and reports on the development, operation, and consequences of different drug distribution systems; (2) the drug dist... |
DOD’s combat casualty care researchers focus their efforts on the major causes of injury and death on the battlefield, and on improving medical care in specific battlefield conditions. For example, DOD estimates that approximately 84 percent of potentially survivable battlefield deaths are caused by bleeding. Therefore... | DOD estimates that about 24 percent of servicemembers who die in combat could have survived if improved and more timely medical care could be made available. Because multiple DOD organizations conduct research to develop medical products and processes to improve combat casualty care, it is critical that these organizat... |
The Army established the MWO program to enhance the capabilities of its fielded weapon systems and other equipment and correct any identified operational and safety problems. Modifications vary in size and complexity. For example, for a modification to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the Army is adding the driver’s therm... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Army's management of its modification work order (MWO) program, focusing on: (1) the availability of information needed by Army headquarters and field personnel to effectively oversee and manage the MWO program; (2) the availability of spare parts nee... |
Multimission stations, formerly referred to as small boat stations, are involved in all Coast Guard missions, including search and rescue, recreational and commercial fishing vessel safety, marine environmental response, and law enforcement activities such as drug and migrant interdiction. Search and rescue has traditi... | The Coast Guard conducts homeland security and search and rescue operations from nearly 200 shoreside stations along the nation's coasts and waterways. After several rescue mishaps that resulted in the deaths of civilians and station personnel, Congress recognized a need to improve performance at stations and appropria... |
Our prior report recommended that DOD immediately reverse the $615 million of illegal and otherwise improper closed account adjustments identified in the report and determine the correct accounting for these adjustments after the reversal. Of the $615 million of illegal and otherwise improper adjustments, DOD has agree... | Congress changed the law governing the use of appropriation accounts in 1990 because it found that the Department of Defense (DOD) may have spent hundreds of millions of dollars for purposes that Congress had not approved. The 1990 law provided that, 5 years after the expiration of the period of availability of a fixed... |
“Wetland” is a generic term used to describe a variety of wet habitats. In general, wetlands are characterized by the frequent or prolonged presence of water at or near the soil surface, soils that form under flooded or saturated conditions (hydric soils), and plants that are adapted to life in these types of soils (hy... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO: (1) developed an inventory of the federal agencies involved in wetlands-related activities and the funding and staffing associated with their activities during fiscal years (FY) 1990 through 1997; and (2) determined if the data on wetlands acreage reported by these agencies are... |
Military test and training ranges are used primarily to test weapon systems and to train military forces. Test ranges are used to evaluate warfighting systems and functions in a natural environment and under simulated operational conditions. Training ranges include air ranges for air-to-air, air-to-ground, drop zone, a... | For many years, DOD has reported that it faces challenges in carrying out realistic training because of the cumulative result of outside influences—such as urban growth and endangered species habitat—that DOD refers to as encroachment. In January 2014, DOD reported concerns with security encroachment by foreign entitie... |
In 1994–95, Mexico faced a severe financial crisis when a shift in market sentiment led to sudden large capital outflows. Investors also temporarily removed their funds from other emerging market countries, an effect known as contagion. In response to the crisis, Mexico quickly adopted a strong and ultimately successfu... | Building on reform initiatives instituted after the Mexican financial crisis, the IMF implemented new initiatives in the mid-1990s to better anticipate, prevent, and resolve sovereign financial crises. GAO was asked to assess (1) the IMF's framework for anticipating financial crises, (2) the status of key IMF reform in... |
The National Airlift Policy, issued in June 1987, reinforced the need for and use of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) program, established in 1951. The policy states that military and commercial airlift resources are equally important; that DOD should determine which resources must be moved by the military and which ... | In the event of a national emergency, the Department of Defense (DOD) can use commercial aircraft drawn from the Civil Reserve Air Fleet to augment its own airlift capabilities. The Civil Reserve Air Fleet is a fleet of aircraft owned by U.S. commercial air carriers but committed voluntarily to DOD for use during emerg... |
A major goal of Customs is to prevent the smuggling of drugs into the country by attempting to create an effective drug interdiction, intelligence, and investigation capability that disrupts and dismantles smuggling organizations. Although Customs inspectors have the option to conduct examinations of all persons, cargo... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the internal control techniques the Customs Service has in place to safeguard certain law enforcement records in the Treasury Enforcement Communications System (TECS) from being inappropriately deleted. GAO noted that: (1) Customs did not have adequate internal controls... |
Geriatric assessment, defined as the skillful gathering of information about an elderly person’s health, needs, and resources, is a potentially useful component of any program for frail elderly clients needing home and community-based long-term care. Such assessment is especially relevant to multiservice programs that ... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed how publicly funded programs assess the need for home and community-based long-term care services for the poor disabled elderly, focusing on the: (1) comprehensiveness of the assessment instruments; (2) uniformity of their administration; and (3) uniformity of training ... |
The programs discussed in this report are very diverse. The various programs we discuss were created at different times, to serve different populations, and in response to different policy issues (see box on next page). Programs also vary greatly in terms of how they are structured and funded. In addition, programs are... | The federal government provides assistance aimed at helping people with low-incomes who may earn too little to meet their basic needs, cannot support themselves through work, or who are disadvantaged in other ways. With fiscal pressures facing the federal government and the demands placed on aid programs, GAO was asked... |
The Army is made up of both operating and generating forces. Operating forces consist of combat units, including divisions, brigades, and battalions that conduct operations around the world, including contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as humanitarian assistance and civil support missions. The Army... | To support ongoing operations, the Army gives priority to providing personnel to its operating forces over its support organizations, including Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).TRADOC performs various functions, such as developing warfighting doctrine and providing training. To help manage its workforce, TRADOC h... |
Since the end of the Cold War, the Navy has emphasized a strategy of littoral warfare. As part of this strategy, the Navy and the Marine Corps have been developing operational concepts for amphibious warfare, which rely heavily on the ability to launch and support amphibious assaults from ships up to 25 nautical miles ... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Navy's upgrade of its surface ships' guns to determine whether the Navy has chosen the most cost-effective system for improving naval surface fire support (NSFS). GAO found that: (1) the Navy did not sufficiently analyze its needs before deciding on the upgrade of i... |
Because of such emergencies as natural disasters, hazardous material spills, and riots, all levels of government have had some experience in preparing for different types of disasters and emergencies. Preparing for all potential hazards is commonly referred to as the “all-hazards” approach. While terrorism is a compone... | Federal, state, and local governments share responsibility for terrorist attacks. However, local government, including police and fire departments, emergency medical personnel, and public health agencies, is typically the first responder to an incident. The federal government historically has provided leadership, train... |
DODIG has taken a number of actions to improve its tracking of the timeliness of military whistleblower reprisal investigations, including developing an automated tool to address statutory notification requirements. However, DODIG does not regularly report to Congress on the timeliness of military whistleblower reprisa... | Whistleblowers play an important role in safeguarding the federal government against waste, fraud, and abuse, and their willingness to come forward can contribute to improvements in government operations. However, whistleblowers also risk reprisal, such as demotion, reassignment, and firing. This testimony discusses DO... |
The Congress established VETS in 1980 to carry out the national policy that veterans receive priority employment and training opportunities. Faced with growing long-term challenges of new service delivery systems, an evolving labor market, and changing technology, VETS’ vision is to find innovative ways to maximize the... | The Department of Labor's (DOL) Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) and Local Veterans' Employment Representative (LVER) program allow states to hire staff members to serve veterans exclusively. The two programs are mandatory partners in the new one-stop center system created in 1998 by the Workforce Investment ... |
For nearly 25 years, the United States has provided the Cuban people with alternative sources of news and information. In 1983, Congress passed the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act to provide the people of Cuba, through Radio Martí, with information they would not ordinarily receive due to the censorship practices of the... | The United States has long provided the Cuban people with alternative sources of news and information. As part of this effort, in December 2006 the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) awarded sole-source contracts to two Miami radio and television stations--Radio Mambi and TV Azteca--to provide additional broadcast... |
In 2004, DOJ estimated that American Indians experience rates of violent crime that are far higher than most other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. For example, DOJ estimated that across the United States, the annual average violent crime rate among American Indians was twice as high as that of African Am... | The Department of Justice (DOJ) reports from the latest available data that from 1992 to 2001 American Indians experienced violent crimes at more than twice the national rate. The Department of the Interior (DOI) and DOJ provide support to federally recognized tribes to address tribal justice issues. Upon request, GAO ... |
Information technology should enable government to better serve the American people. However, according to OMB, despite spending more than $600 billion on IT over the past decade, the federal government has achieved little of the productivity improvements that private industry has realized from IT. Too often, federal I... | The federal government reportedly plans to spend at least $82 billion on IT in fiscal year 2014. Given the scale of such planned outlays and the criticality of many of these systems to the health, economy, and security of the nation, it is important that federal agencies successfully acquire these systemsthat is, ensu... |
In the context of electronic government, collaboration can be defined as a mutually beneficial and well-defined relationship entered into by two or more organizations to achieve common goals. It is an in-depth, managed relationship that brings together separate and distinct organizations into a new structure. Recent ma... | In accordance with the President's management agenda, the Office of Management and Budget has sponsored initiatives to promote expansion of electronic government--the use of information technology, particularly Web-based Internet applications, to enhance government services. Each initiative demands a high degree of col... |
Laws enacted since 2006 have directed CMS to collect performance information on providers and eventually reward quality and efficiency of care rather than reimburse for volume of services alone. The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 required the establishment of the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) to enc... | Health care payers—including Medicare—are increasingly using VBP to reward the quality and efficiency instead of just the volume of care delivered. Both traditional and newer delivery models use this approach to incentivize providers to improve their performance. Feedback reports serve to inform providers of their resu... |
A structured settlement is the payment of money for a personal injury claim in which at least part of the settlement calls for future payment. The payments may be scheduled for any length of time, even as long as the claimant’s lifetime, and may consist of installment payments and/or future lump sums. Payments can be i... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Department of Justice's (DOJ) policy and guidance for selecting structured settlement brokers, focusing on: (1) the policies and guidance for selecting structured settlement brokers used by DOJ and six selected agencies; and (2) a list of the structur... |
Contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and other transactions are among the tools DOD has to support or acquire research. The instruments are not interchangeable, but rather are to be used according to the nature of the research and the type of government-recipient relationship desired. Contracts are procurement in... | GAO evaluated the Department of Defense's (DOD) use of cooperative agreements and other transactions to further its objectives of: (1) helping to reduce the barriers to integrating the defense and civilian sectors of the industrial base; (2) promoting new relationships and practices within the defense industry; and (3)... |
IRS has two categories of traditional audits for large corporations: Coordinated Industry Cases (CIC) and Industry Cases (IC). CAP includes both CICs and ICs, with the majority being CICs (about 88 percent). The distinction between CIC and IC is based on criteria such as the amount of gross assets, amount of gross rece... | IRS audits of the tax returns filed by large corporations take four years, on average, to complete. Additional years can be spent in appeals. This is costly to IRS and creates years of uncertainty about a large corporation's actual tax liability. In response, IRS developed CAP in 2005. Under this process, IRS and taxpa... |
The domestic auto industry—including automakers, dealerships, and automotive parts suppliers—contributes substantially to the U.S. economy, but has faced financial challenges in recent years. According to the Congressional Research Service, more than 435,000 U.S. automotive manufacturing jobs have been eliminated since... | Over $81 billion has been committed under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to improve the domestic auto industry's competitiveness and long-term viability. The bulk of this assistance has gone to General Motors (GM) and Chrysler, who sponsor some of the largest defined benefit pension plans insured by the feder... |
CMS, within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), provides operational direction and policy guidance for the nationwide administration of the Medicare program. It contracts with private organizations—called carriers and fiscal intermediaries—to process and pay claims from Medicare providers and perform rel... | In 1990, GAO designated the Medicare program to be at high-risk for waste, fraud, and abuse. More than a decade later, Medicare remains on GAO's high-risk list. This report examines Medicare's claims review process, which is designed to detect improper billing or payments. GAO found that most physicians who bill Medica... |
PTSD can develop following exposure to life-threatening events, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape. PTSD is the most prevalent mental disorder arising from combat. People who experience stressful events often relive the experience through nightmares and fla... | Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is caused by an extremely stressful event and can develop after the threat of death or serious injury as in military combat. Experts predict that about 15 percent of servicemembers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan will develop PTSD. Efforts by VA to inform new veterans, including Re... |
Immunizations are widely considered one of the leading public health achievements of the 20th century. Mandatory immunization programs have eradicated polio and smallpox in the United States and reduced the number of deaths from several childhood diseases, such as measles, to near zero. A consistent supply of many diff... | Vaccine shortages began to appear in November 2000, when supplies of the tetanus and diptheria booster fell short. By October 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported shortages of five vaccines that protect against eight childhood diseases. In addition to diptheria and tetanus vaccines, vacci... |
The PMA initiative to improve financial performance is aimed at ensuring that federal financial systems produce accurate and timely information to support operating, budget, and policy decisions. It focuses on key issues such as data reliability, clean financial statement audit opinions, and effective internal control ... | As part of its work to improve the management and performance of the federal government, GAO monitors progress and continuing challenges related to the President's Management Agenda (PMA). The Administration has looked to GAO's high-risk program to help shape various governmentwide initiatives, including the PMA. GAO r... |
CCC was originally incorporated in 1933 under a Delaware charter and was reincorporated in 1948 as a federal corporation within USDA by the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (P.L. 80-806, June 29, 1948). Although CCC operates under a large number of statutory directives and limitations, its broad powers under th... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on how Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds are spent and controlled, focusing on: (1) how much money CCC had available and spent in fiscal years (FY) 1996 and 1997, including the sources of these funds and the programs and activities for which they were... |
The 1988 amendments to CSLA established the current U.S. policy to provide federal payment, subject to appropriations—known as indemnification—for a portion of claims by third parties for injury, damage, or loss that result from a commercial launch-related incident. All FAA- licensed commercial launches and reentries b... | A catastrophic commercial launch accident could result in injuries or property damage to the uninvolved public, or "third parties." In anticipation of such an event, a launch company must purchase a fixed amount of insurance for each launch, per calculation by FAA; the federal government is potentially liable for claim... |
The Department of Education is responsible for overseeing state implementation of NCLBA, which amended and reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Title I of this act authorizes funds to states for local school districts with high concentrations of children from low-income families to improve the acade... | The school choice provision of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) of 2001 applies to schools that receive Title I funds and that have not met state performance goals for 2 consecutive years, including goals set before the enactment of NCLBA. Students in such schools must be offered the choice to transfer to another s... |
Under the fee-demonstration program, up to 100 sites per agency have been permitted to charge, collect, and establish recreation fees. The National Park Service and BLM have 100 sites each participating in the program, while the FWS and the Forest Service have 88 sites each.Because the program is a demonstration progra... | Congress authorized the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program to help federal land management agencies provide high-quality recreational opportunities to visitors and protect resources. The program focuses on recreational activities at the following four land management agencies: the National Park Service, the Fish an... |
From its origins as a research project sponsored by the U.S. government, the Internet has grown increasingly important to American businesses and consumers, serving as the host for hundreds of billions of dollars of commerce each year. It is also a critical resource supporting vital services, such as power distribution... | This testimony discusses privatizing the management of the Internet domain name system. This system is a vital aspect of the Internet that works like an automated telephone directory, allowing users to reach Web sites using easy-to-understand domain names like www.senate.gov , instead of the string of numbers that comp... |
OGAC is responsible for establishing overall PEPFAR policy and program strategies and allocating funds from the Global Health and Child Survival account to PEPFAR implementing agencies, primarily CDC and USAID.These agencies execute PEPFAR program activities through agency headquarters offices and in-country interagenc... | PEPFAR, first authorized in 2003, has supported significant advances in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care in more than 30 countries. In reauthorizing the program in 2008, Congress directed OGAC to continue to expand the number of people receiving care and treatment through PEPFAR while also making it a major pol... |
The Border Patrol developed its 2004 Strategy following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as a framework for the agency’s new priority mission of preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States and to support its traditional mission of preventing aliens, smugglers, narcotics, and ... | Border Patrol, within DHSs CBP, is the federal agency with primary responsibility for securing the national borders between the U.S. ports of entry (POE). DHS has completed a new 2012-2016 Border Patrol Strategic Plan (2012-2016 Strategic Plan) that Border Patrol officials stated will emphasize risk management instead... |
ICE has designed some management controls to govern 287(g) program implementation, such as MOAs with participating agencies that identify the roles and responsibilities of each party, background checks of officers applying to participate in the program, and a 4-week training course with mandatory course examinations fo... | This testimony discusses the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) management of the 287(g) program. Recent reports indicate that the total population of unauthorized aliens residing in the United States is about 12 million. Some of these aliens have committed one or m... |
For nearly 40 years, the Rocky Flats site, located about 16 miles northwest of downtown Denver, served as a nuclear weapons production facility, and it now bears the scars of that role. Soil, groundwater, and surface water at the site, as well as many of the buildings, are contaminated with radioactive materials, such ... | GAO reviewed several aspects of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Rocky Flats Environmental Technology site cleanup and closure plan. Specifically, GAO reviewed (1) the status and cost of the Rocky Flats closure project, (2) the likelihood that the site will be closed by 2006, and (3) the management actions needed, if a... |
In February 2012, we reported that the increased seigniorage resulting from replacing $1 notes with $1 coins could potentially offer $4.4 billion in net benefits to the government over 30 years. We determined that seigniorage was the sole source of the net benefits and not lower production costs due to switching to the... | Since coins are more durable than notes and do not need replacement as often, many countries have replaced lower-denomination notes with coins to obtain a financial benefit, among other reasons. Six times over the past 22 years, GAO has reported that replacing the $1 note with a $1 coin would provide a net benefit to t... |
In 2001, DOD shifted from a threat-based planning process focused on preparing the department for a set of threat scenarios to a capabilities- based process focused on identifying what capabilities DOD would need to counter expected adversaries. The expectation was that a capabilities- based process would prevent DOD f... | The Department of Defense's (DOD) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities-such as satellites and unmanned aircraft systems-are crucial to military operations, and demand for ISR capabilities has increased. For example, DOD plans to invest $28 billion over the next 7 years in 20 airborne ISR sy... |
SCI refers to classified information concerning or derived from intelligence sources, methods, or analytical processes requiring exclusive handling within formal access control systems established by the Director of Central Intelligence. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is responsible for adjudicating and granting... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed whether the Executive Office of the President (EOP) has established procedures for: (1) acquiring personnel access to classified intelligence information, specifically sensitive compartmented information (SCI); and (2) safeguarding such information. GAO noted that: (1) ... |
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2010 requires that DOD develop and maintain the FIAR Plan. The FIAR Plan must include specific actions to take and the costs associated with correcting the financial management deficiencies that impair DOD’s ability to prepare reliable and timely financial m... | The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 mandates an audit of DOD's fiscal year 2018 department-wide financial statements. To help achieve this, the DOD Comptroller issued the FIAR Guidance to provide a standard methodology for DOD components to follow to improve financial management and achieve audi... |
The Internet became widely accessible to U.S. households by the mid- 1990s. For a few years, the primary means to access the Internet was a dial-up connection, in which a standard telephone line is used to make an Internet connection. A dial-up connection offers data transmission speeds of up to 56 kilobits per second ... | The United States ranks 15th among the 30 democratic nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on one measure of broadband (i.e., high-speed Internet) subscribership. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has regulatory authority over broadband, and several federal programs fund... |
In recent years it has become clear that past fire suppression policies have not worked as effectively as was once thought. In fact, they have had major unintended consequences, particularly on federally owned lands. For decades the federal wildland fire community followed a policy of suppressing all wildland fires as ... | Each year, fires on federal lands burn millions of acres and federal land management agencies spend hundreds of millions of dollars to fight them. Wildland fires also threaten communities adjacent to federal lands. The Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and the Interior, the lead federal agencies in fighting wildfires, ... |
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act eliminated many of the legislative barriers to affiliations among banks, securities firms, and insurance companies. One of the expected benefits of expanded affiliation across industries was to provide financial institutions with greater access—by sharing information across affiliates—to a tr... | This report provides information on (1) the efficacy and adequacy of remedies provided by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 in addressing attempts to obtain financial information by false pretenses and (2) suggestions for additional legislation or regulatory action to address threats to the privacy of financial inform... |
Under the Housing Act of 1937, as amended, Congress created the federal public housing program to help communities provide housing for low- income families. Congress annually appropriates funds for the program, and HUD allocates these funds to the approximately 3,400 public housing authorities nationwide. Housing autho... | Congress established the HOPE VI program to revitalize severely distressed public housing. In fiscal years 1993 to 2001, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded approximately $4.5 billion in HOPE VI revitalization grants. The Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation, Sen... |
Although its effect on communities can be devastating, wildland fire is a natural and necessary process that provides many benefits to ecosystems, such as maintaining habitat diversity, recycling soil nutrients, limiting the spread of insects and disease, and promoting new growth by causing the seeds of fire-dependent ... | In 2000, Congress authorized the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service to allow the Colorado State Forest Service to conduct certain activities, such as reducing hazardous vegetation, on U.S. Forest Service land when performing similar activities on adjacent state or private land. The Department of the Interi... |
The U.S. financial regulatory structure is a complex system of multiple federal and state regulators as well as self-regulatory organizations (SRO) that operate largely along functional lines. That is, financial products or activities generally are regulated according to their function, no matter who offers the product... | The Dodd-Frank Act requires or authorizes various federal agencies to issue hundreds of rules to implement reforms intended to strengthen the financial services industry. GAO is required to annually study financial services regulations. This report examines (1) the regulatory analyses federal agencies performed for rul... |
According to senior SBA officials in headquarters and the field, several aspects of the current organizational alignment contribute to the challenges faced by SBA management. The problem areas include cumbersome communication links between headquarters and field units; complex, overlapping organizational relationships;... | The Small Business Administration (SBA) has made organizational structure and service delivery changes during the past 10 years. However, ineffective lines of communication, confusion over the mission of district offices, complicated and overlapping organizational relationships, and a field structure not consistently m... |
The PMAs—Alaska Power Administration (Alaska), Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville), Southeastern Power Administration (Southeastern), Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern), and Western Area Power Administration (Western)—were established from 1937 through 1977 to sell and transmit electricity genera... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Department of Energy's five power marketing administrations (PMA), focusing on operating, financial, and competitive issues facing PMA. GAO found that: (1) five PMA were established between 1937 and 1977 to sell and transmit electricity generated most... |
Influenza is more severe than some other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold. Most people who contract influenza recover completely in 1 to 2 weeks, but some develop serious and potentially life- threatening medical complications, such as pneumonia. People aged 65 and older, people of any age with chr... | Shortages of influenza vaccine in the 2004-05 and previous influenza seasons and mounting concern about recent avian influenza activity in Asia have raised concern about the nation's preparedness to deal with a worldwide influenza epidemic, or influenza pandemic. Although the extent of such a pandemic cannot be predict... |
NIH’s extramural research funding efforts reflect its large, decentralized organization. Twenty-four of the 27 ICs fund extramural research, each with a separate appropriation, and these ICs make final decisions on which extramural research projects to fund following a standard peer review process defined by law and NI... | The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) included $10.4 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Of the NIH Recovery Act funding, $8.2 billion was to be used to support additional scientific research and $400... |
The purpose of DOE’s contract with ORAU is to provide management and direction of programs through ORISE that maintain and advance science and education capabilities supporting DOE’s strategic goals in the areas of defense, energy, science, and the environment. To support these goals, ORAU carries out a range of activi... | The ORISE research participation program seeks to enhance the future scientific and engineering workforce by providing students, postgraduates, and faculty with hands-on research experiences in federal agencies. The program is administered by a DOE contractor, and other agencies sponsor research participants via intera... |
Prior to the passage of ATSA, the screening of passengers and checked baggage had been performed by private screening companies under contract to the airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was responsible for ensuring compliance with screening regulations. With the passage of ATSA and the transfer of aviat... | It has been over 3 years since the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) assumed responsibility for passenger and baggage screening at commercial airports. This testimony focuses on the progress TSA is making in strengthening aspects of aviation security and the challenges that remain. Particularly, this testimo... |
This section discusses the Corps’ organizational structure; the Olmsted Locks and Dam project; the project’s timeline, maximum project cost, funding, and construction method; and the economic benefits and costs of navigation projects. Located within the Department of Defense, the Corps has both military and civilian re... | The Corps is responsible for planning and constructing the Olmsted Locks and Dam project on the Ohio River, 17 miles upstream from the Mississippi River. The project will replace two locks and dams, which are beyond their design lives, with new locks and a new dam. According to the Corps, more tonnage passes through Ol... |
Employers sponsor two broad categories of pension plans: (1) defined benefit plans (DB)—in which employers generally maintain a fund to provide a specified level of monthly retirement income based on a formula specified in the plan—or (2) defined contribution plans (DC)—in which retirement income is based on employer a... | Defined benefit plans use interest rates to “discount,” or determine the current value, of estimated future benefits. Experts in the United States have disagreed on both the approach that should be taken by plans to determine a discount rate and the appropriate rate to be used. Different discount rates can create large... |
The Great Lakes contain over 95 percent of the nation’s surface freshwater supply for the contiguous 48 states and more than 20 percent of the world’s freshwater supply. The lakes provide water for drinking, transportation, power, recreation—such as swimming and fishingand a host of other uses for more than 30 million... | The Great Lakes remain environmentally vulnerable, prompting the United States and Canada to agree on actions to preserve and protect them. As requested, this report (1) determines the extent to which current EPA monitoring efforts provide information for assessing overall conditions in the Great Lakes Basin, (2) ident... |
The National Industrial Security Program was established in 1993 for the protection of classified information. DSS administers the National Industrial Security Program on behalf of DOD and 23 other federal departments and agencies. DSS is responsible for providing oversight, advice, and assistance to more than 11,000 U... | The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for ensuring that U.S. contractors safeguard classified information in their possession. DOD delegates this responsibility to its Defense Security Service (DSS), which oversees more than 11,000 contractor facilities that are cleared to access classified information. Some U... |
EPA relies heavily on grants to carry out its environmental mission; over one half of its $7.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2000 was provided for grants. Grants are used (1) to financially support continuing environmental programs administered by state and local governments and (2) to fund other environmental project... | This report provides information on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) management and oversight of project grants. Specifically, GAO examines (1) the dollar amounts of project grants EPA awarded in fiscal years 1996 through 1999 and the program activities they funded, by grantee type; (2) how the activities fu... |
VA has two basic cash disability benefits programs. The compensation program pays monthly benefits to eligible veterans who have service- connected disabilities (injuries or diseases incurred or aggravated while on active military duty). The payment amount is based on the veteran’s degree of disability, regardless of e... | For fiscal year 2002, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will pay $25 billion in cash disability benefits to 3.3 million disabled veterans and their families. Veterans who are dissatisfied with VA's 57 regional offices' decisions may file appeals with VA's Board of Veteran's Appeals. In about half of such appeals,... |
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 maintaining the public’s trust is essential. The dramatic expansion in computer interconnectivit... | The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) relies extensively on computerized systems to carry out its mission to provide effective supervision, regulation, and housing mission oversight of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and the federal h... |
The purpose of SORNA is to protect the public from sex offenders and offenders against children by providing a comprehensive set of sex offender registration and notification standards. These standards require convicted sex offenders, prior to their release from imprisonment or within 3 days of their sentencing if the ... | In recent years, certain individuals who had been convicted of a sex offense in the United States have traveled overseas and committed offenses against children. GAO was asked to review what relevant federal agenciesincluding DOJ, DHS, and the Department of Stateare doing with regard to registered sex offenders trave... |
The “defense industrial base” includes all commercial and government- owned facilities that are responsible for the design, production, delivery, and maintenance of military weapon systems, subsystems, and components or parts that fulfill U.S. military requirements. The portion of the defense industrial base that is as... | DOD's three manufacturing arsenals provide manufacturing, supply, and technical support services for the military services and allies during national emergencies and contingency operations. The Fiscal Year 2014 NDAA required DOD to report to Congress on its arsenals and included a provision for GAO to review DOD's repo... |
Titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act, as amended, establish minimum requirements nursing homes must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, respectively, with key legislative provisions enacted below. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA ‘87) included wide-ranging reforms. F... | To help ensure nursing home residents receive quality care, CMS, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), defines quality standards homes must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. To monitor compliance with these standards, CMS enters into agreements with state survey ag... |
The Rocky Mountain Arsenal, established in 1942, occupies 17,000 acres northeast of Denver, Colorado, and is contaminated from years of chemical and weapons activities. The Army manufactured chemical weapons, such as napalm bombs and mustard gas, and conventional munitions until the 1960s and destroyed weapons at the A... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the cleanup program at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, focusing on the: (1) status of cleanup efforts; (2) completion plans for the cleanup; and (3) cost-sharing plans between the Army and Shell Oil Company, which leased a portion of the Arsenal. GAO found that: (1) permane... |
In our 2005 report, we found that facilities-related problems at the Smithsonian had resulted in a few building closures and access restrictions and some cases of damage to the collections. A few facilities had deteriorated to the point where access must be denied or limited. For example, the 1881 Arts and Industries B... | The Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian) is the world's largest museum complex and research organization. The age of the Smithsonian's structures, past inattention to maintenance needs, and high visitation levels have left its facilities in need of revitalization and repair. This testimony discusses our prior work on ... |
Motor vehicle crashes are complex events resulting from several factors, including driver behavior, the driving environment, and the vehicle. Vehicle design can affect safety through crashworthiness—that is, by providing occupants protection during a crash—and through crash avoidance—that is, by helping the driver to a... | In 2003, 42,643 people were killed and more than 2.8 million people were injured in motor vehicle crashes. Efforts to reduce fatalities on the nation's roadways include the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program. Under this program, NHTSA conducts vehicle crash and ro... |
Over the years, Congress has established many employment-related programs to help people with disabilities obtain jobs. Four of these programs, PWI, Supported Employment State Grants, Randolph-Sheppard, and JWOD, illustrate several different approaches taken by Congress to create more employment opportunities for peopl... | Congress has created 20 federal employment-related programs that are aimed at helping people with disabilities obtain jobs. Little is known about the effectiveness and the management of some of these programs. GAO was asked to review four of these programs; the Department of Education (Education) oversees three--Projec... |
For the purposes of this report, an air-rail connection refers to a connection between an airport terminal and an intercity passenger rail station (in other contexts, an air-rail connection may refer to a connection between an airport terminal and an intracity rail station that serves other forms of local rail, such as... | Increasing passenger travel has led to growing congestion in the nation's air transportation system, and projections suggest that this trend is likely to continue. The integration of air and intercity passenger rail service, which is provided in the United States by Amtrak, has been suggested by some transportation exp... |
As a comprehensive health benefit program for vulnerable populations, each state Medicaid program, by law, must cover certain categories of individuals and provide a broad array of benefits. Within these requirements, however, the Medicaid program allows for significant flexibility for states to design and implement th... | Studies on healthcare spending generally find that a small percentage of individuals account for a large proportion of expenditures, and Medicaid—a federal-state health financing program for low-income and medically needy individuals—is no exception. Medicaid expenditures for fiscal year 2013 totaled about $460 billion... |
RUS, EDA, Reclamation, and the Corps each have distinct missions and fund rural water supply and wastewater projects under separate programs and congressional authorizations. Furthermore, each agency has its own definition of what constitutes a rural area and a unique organizational structure to implement its programs.... | funds for constructing and upgrading water supply and wastewater treatment facilities. As a result, they typically rely on federal grants and loans, primarily from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), Economic Development Administration (EDA), Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Cor... |
Established in 1965, HUD is the principal federal agency responsible for the programs dealing with housing and community development and fair housing opportunities. Among other things, HUD’s programs provide (1) mortgage insurance to help families become homeowners and to help provide affordable multifamily rental hous... | GAO discussed the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) fiscal year 1997 budget request, focusing on: (1) HUD multifamily reengineering cost estimates; (2) proposed bonus pools for high-performing grantees who exceed established performance measures; and (3) HUD progress in addressing management deficienc... |
Total expenditures in all U.S. elementary and secondary schools in school year 1993-94 reached an estimated $285 billion. Education is the largest single expenditure category in state budgets, accounting for about 20 percent of total state spending in fiscal year 1994. Elementary and secondary schools receive most of t... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the measures of equity and effort included in the Title I Education Finance Incentive Program, focusing on: (1) several options for improving these measures; (2) the characteristics of states with higher levels of equity and effort; and (3) alternative ways of using the... |
The H-1B program enables companies in the United States to hire foreign workers for work in specialty occupations on a temporary basis. A specialty occupation is defined as one requiring theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and the attainment of a bachelor’s degree or higher (... | This testimony comments on the H-1B program. Congress created the current H-1B program in 1990 to enable U.S. employers to hire temporary, foreign workers in specialty occupations. The law capped the number of H-1B visas issued per fiscal year at 65,000, although the cap has fluctuated over time with legislative change... |
Since the 1960s, the United States has operated two separate operational polar-orbiting meteorological satellite systems. These systems are known as the Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES), managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, D... | Polar-orbiting environmental satellites provide data and imagery that are used by weather forecasters, climatologists, and the military to map and monitor changes in weather, climate, the ocean, and the environment. The current polar satellite program is a complex infrastructure that includes two satellite systems, sup... |
Historically, the U.S. government has granted federal recognition through treaties, congressional acts, or administrative decisions within the executive branch—principally by the Department of the Interior. In a 1977 report to the Congress, the American Indian Policy Review Commission criticized the department’s tribal... | Federal recognition of an Indian tribe can dramatically affect economic and social conditions for the tribe and the surrounding communities because these tribes are eligible to participate in federal assistance programs. There are currently 562 recognized tribes with a total membership of 1.7 million, and several hundr... |
Reset encompasses activities related to the repair, upgrade, or replacement of equipment used in contingency operations. Aviation and ground equipment are managed separately within the Marine Corps, and different definitions of reset are used for each. Marine Corps officials defined aviation equipment reset as an aircr... | The U.S. Marine Corps received approximately $16 billion in appropriated funds between fiscal years 2006 and 2010 for reset of aviation and ground equipment that has been degraded, damaged, and destroyed during oversees contingency operations. Reset encompasses activities for repairing, upgrading, or replacing equipmen... |
The Army has 10 active duty divisions, as listed in appendix II. Six of these divisions are called heavy divisions because they are equipped with large numbers of tanks, called armor. Two other divisions are called light divisions because they have no armor. The remaining two divisions are an airborne division and an a... | Congress has expressed concern about the extent to which the Department of Defense has moved funds that directly affect military readiness, such as those that finance training, to pay for other subactivities within its operation and maintenance (O&M) account, such as real property maintenance and base operations. This ... |
According to INS, the estimated population of undocumented aliens in the United States increased from 3.5 million in 1990 to about 7 million in 2000. Many states that had relatively few undocumented aliens in 1990 experienced rapid growth of this population during the decade. The estimated number of undocumented aliens... | About 7 million undocumented aliens lived in the United States in 2000, according to Immigration and Naturalization Service estimates. Hospitals in states where many of them live report that treating them can be a financial burden. GAO was asked to examine the relationship between treating undocumented aliens and hospi... |
DRO is responsible for the detention of aliens in its custody pending civil administrative immigration removal proceedings. According to ICE, as of the week ending December 31, 2006, there were 27,607 aliens detained in ICE custody at 330 adult detention facilities nationwide. The majority of ICE’s alien detainee popul... | The total number of aliens detained per year by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) increased from about 95,000 in fiscal year 2001 to 283,000 in 2006. The care and treatment of these detained aliens is a significant challenge to ICE. GAO was asked to review ICE's ... |
In March 2014 and April 2015, we reported that CBP had made progress in deploying programs under the Arizona Border Surveillance Technology Plan, but that CBP could take additional action to strengthen its management of the Plan and the Plan’s programs. As of May 2016, CBP has initiated or completed deployment of techn... | CBP employs surveillance technologies, UAS, and other assets to help secure the border. For example, in January 2011, CBP developed the Arizona Border Surveillance Technology Plan, which includes seven acquisition programs related to fixed and mobile surveillance systems, among other assets. CBP has also deployed UAS, ... |
DHS approached the 9/11 Commission Act requirement for a quadrennial homeland security review in three phases. In the first phase, DHS defined the nation’s homeland security interests, identified the critical homeland security missions, and developed a strategic approach to those missions by laying out the principal go... | The United States continues to face a range of evolving threats, such as the 2010 attempted attack on the nation's air cargo system, that underscore why homeland security planning efforts are crucial to the security of the nation. The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 required the Departme... |
As noted earlier, before a rule can become effective, it must be filed in accordance with the statute. GAO conducted a review to determine whether all final rules covered by CRA and published in the Register were filed with the Congress and GAO. We performed this review to both verify the accuracy of our database and t... | GAO discussed its experience in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). GAO noted that: (1) its primary role under the CRA is to provide Congress with a report on each major rule concerning GAO's assessment of the promulgating federal agency's compliance with the procedural steps requi... |
As the United States has become more dependent on foreign sources for crude oil, our energy security has become increasingly intertwined with that of other countries. Crude oil is a global commodity and, as such, any world event that increases instability in crude oil prices reduces energy security for all oil-buying c... | Venezuela is the world's eighth-largest oil exporter and among the top 10 countries in total proven oil reserves. Venezuela also supplies about 11 percent of current U.S. imports of crude oil and petroleum products and wholly owns five refineries in the U.S. Consequently, Venezuela is a key player in the future energy ... |
Our 2012 annual report identified 51 areas where unnecessary duplication, overlap, or fragmentation exists as well as additional opportunities for potential cost savings or enhanced revenues. We identified about 130 specific actions that Congress or the executive branch could take to address these areas. We identified ... | This testimony discusses our 2012 annual report, which presents 51 areas where programs may be able to achieve greater efficiencies or become more effective in providing government services by reducing potential duplication, overlap, or fragmentation in federal programs and activities. We have also continued to monitor... |
Passenger and freight rail are part of a complex national transportation system for transporting people and goods. Currently, there are seven Class I railroads and over 500 short line and regional railroads operating in the United States. These railroads operate the nation’s freight rail system and own the majority of ... | Concerns about the weak economy, congestion in the transportation system, and the potentially harmful effects of air emissions generated by the transportation sector have raised awareness of the potential benefits and costs of intercity passenger and freight rail relative to other transportation modes such as highways.... |
JSF is a joint, multinational acquisition program for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and eight cooperative international partners. The program began in November 1996 with a 5-year competition between Lockheed Martin and Boeing to determine the most capable and affordable preliminary aircraft design. Lockheed Martin... | Under the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act of 2005, GAO is required to to review the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program annually for the next 5 years. This is the first GAO report, and it (1) analyzes the JSF program's business case for delivering new capabilities to the warfighter and (2) determines... |
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: I am pleased to be here today to assist the Subcommittee in its review of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) strategic plan. Hearings such as this one are an important part of assuring that the intent of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPR... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO assessed the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) strategic plan for compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act. GAO noted that: (1) CFTC's strategic plan contained all of the major components required by the Results Act; (2) there are several areas in w... |
In the late 1980s, changes in the national security environment resulted in a Defense infrastructure with more bases than the Department of Defense (DOD) needed. To enable DOD to close unneeded bases and realign others, Congress enacted base closure and realignment (BRAC) legislation that instituted base closure rounds... | Through four rounds of base closures and realignments between 1988 and 1995, the Department of Defense (DOD) expected to reduce its domestic infrastructure and provide needed dollars for high priority programs, such as weapons modernization. Although DOD projects it will realize significant recurring savings from the c... |
To determine what experts and the available research indicate about the types of reentry programs and substance abuse programs that are effective or cost beneficial for juvenile offenders, we reviewed relevant literature, studies, and federal resources for juvenile justice programs, and interviewed federal officials an... | State juvenile justice systems face critical problems when it comes to juvenile delinquency issues such as reentry--when offenders return home from incarceration--and substance abuse. GAO was asked to review juvenile reentry and substance abuse program research and efforts by the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of... |
The U.S. bank regulatory structure is composed of several agencies at both the federal and state levels. The specific regulatory structure for a depository institution is determined by the type of charter the institution chooses. Depository institution charter types include commercial banks; S&Ls and savings banks; ILC... | The Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (BHC Act) establishes the legal framework under which bank holding companiesthat is, companies which own or control banksoperate and restricts the type of activities that these companies may conduct. The BHC Act excludes from these restrictions certain companies because the financ... |
DOE’s responsibility for contractors’ litigation costs has its roots in the early nuclear programs. Since the inception of these programs in the 1940s, the federal government has relied on contractors to operate its nuclear facilities. However, because of the high risk associated with operating these facilities, the ag... | Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Department of Energy's (DOE) efforts to control its litigation costs, focusing on: (1) the amount DOE spends on litigation to defend its contractors; and (2) whether DOE controls are adequate to ensure that these legal costs are appropriate. GAO found... |
The federal government has held funds in trust for Indian tribes since 1820. Enacted in 1887, the General Allotment Act, also known as the Dawes Act, provided for the division of Indian tribal lands into allotments of up to 160 acres for individual tribal members and families. Subsequently, the Indian Reorganization Ac... | The American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 established the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST), within the Department of the Interior, to oversee the implementation of management reforms for funds--derived primarily from Interior's leasing of Indian lands--that Interior holds in t... |
IRS administers America’s tax laws and collects the revenues that fund government operations and public services. In fiscal year 2006, IRS collected more than $2.5 trillion in revenue. IRS’s Taxpayer Service and Enforcement programs generate more than 96 percent of the total federal revenue collected for the U.S. gover... | On June 25, 2006, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) headquarters building suffered flooding during a period of record rainfall and sustained extensive damage to its infrastructure. IRS officials ordered the closure of the building until December 2006 to allow for repairs to be completed. IRS headquarters officials rep... |
Calls to reform the UN began soon after its creation in 1945. Despite cycles of reform, UN member states have had concerns about inefficient management operations. As one of the 192 member states, the United States played a significant role in promoting UN reform, calling for financial and administrative changes. The U... | Despite various reform efforts, significant inefficiencies in United Nations (UN) management operations persist. In September 2005, heads of UN member states approved a resolution that called for a series of reforms to strengthen the organization. As the largest financial contributor to the UN, the United States has a ... |
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: We are pleased to be here today to participate in the Subcommittee’s oversight hearing on the U.S. Postal Service. My testimony will (1) focus on the performance of the Postal Service and the need for improving internal controls and protecting revenue in an organization tha... | GAO discussed the challenges that confront the Postal Service and Congress as they consider how to sustain the Postal Service's performance and maintain a competitive role in providing mail service to the American public in the future. GAO noted that: (1) the Postal Service reported that fiscal year (FY) 1996 represent... |
Enactment of the TANF block grant significantly changed federal welfare policy and gave states more flexibility in designing their welfare programs. For example, states have flexibility in setting benefit levels, eligibility requirements, work requirements, and policies for sanctioning noncompliant recipients (that is,... | The debate over reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant has focused on work requirements and brought attention to the measure of TANF work participation. The measure is used to assess states' performance and determine whether a state is subject to penalty for not meeting TANF w... |
We have found that other countries are experiencing challenges in managing their human capital, and their experiences may prove valuable to federal agencies in the United States. For example, they are using their performance management systems to connect employee performance with organizational success to help foster a... | As the federal government confronts an array of challenges in the 21st century, it must employ strategic human capital management, including succession planning, to help meet those challenges. Leading organizations go beyond a succession planning approach that focuses on replacing individuals and engage in broad, integ... |
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