GAO Duplication & Cost Savings A 2014 Overview HIGHLIGHTs from GAO-14-343SP --- IMPROVING GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS IS IMPORTANT. GAO's annual reports have identified approximately 440 opportunities to take action where federal programs or activities could be improved. [IMAGE: Several circles connected by a dotted line.] DOING SO COULD SAVE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. Improving these activities can save time, effort, and money. [IMAGE: Coins falling into piggy bank.] --- DUPLICATION Duplicative activities are essentially the same-but are being administered through different agencies or programs. [IMAGE: Several Circles on top of each other.] DETERMINING WHETHER SHARED SYSTEMS ARE MOST EFFICIENT COULD SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS For example, at one Air Force base, the Department of Defense maintains eight separate satellite ground control systems that operate ten satellites. Separate systems may be more costly and may introduce inefficiencies to DOD's satellite control operations. [IMAGE: Four buildings and two satellites.] --- OVERLAP Overlapping activities are similar enough in scope and action that some of the same people may unintentionally benefit from all of them. [IMAGE: Serveral circles partially overlapping each other.] TAXPAYERS COULD SAVE APPROXIMATELY ONE BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. Currently, for example, some people receive disability payments from the Social Security Administration as well as unemployment benefits, administered by the Department of Labor and the states. [IMAGE: Hand holding two checks.] --- FRAGMENTATION Fragmented activities are working toward different parts of the same goal, and are being inefficiently administered through different agencies or different parts of the same agency. [IMAGE: circle with several wedges broken out.] THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD SAVE AS MUCH AS 82 MILLION DOLLARS IN PROCUREMENT COSTS. For example, in 2013 Congress passed legislation that restricts the ability of the military services to develop separate combat uniforms, from which the savings are expected to add up over time. [IMAGE: Four servicemembers in different uniforms, with packages air-dropping down to them.] --- COST SAVINGS There are opportunities to cut costs and collect additional revenue if the government took actions to encourage payment. [IMAGE: Five pieces of red paper with a negative dollar balance.] IRS COULD COLLECT SOME DELINQUENT FEDERAL TAXES- MORE THAN 500 MILLION DOLLARS OVER 5 YEARS-IF CONGRESS TOOK ACTIONS TO ENCOURAGE PAYMENT For example, Congress could limit passport issuance for individuals with tax debt, or collect Medicaid provider payments to repay federal taxes. [IMAGE: Two people at a desk facing each other.] --- ACTIONS GAO HAS SUGGESTED OVER TIME [IMAGE: Progress in Addressing 2011, 2012, and 2013 Actions as of the 2013 and 2014 Annual Reports - image shows number of addressed actions rising between 2013 and 2014.] --- Find out more in the Duplication and Cost Savings section of GAO.gov [IMAGE: GAO DUPLICATION & COST SAVINGS MEDALLION] --- Looking for more information? Visit GAO.gov. Read the full report: GAO-14-343SP. --- [IMAGE: GAO logo] --- This work has been released into the public domain.