Reports & Testimonies
GAO’s reports and testimonies give Congress, federal agencies, and the public timely, fact-based, non-partisan information that can improve government operations and save taxpayers billions of dollars.
Most Recent Reports
1 - 20 of 58308 Reports
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IT Portfolio Management: Preliminary Results of Federal Efforts to Address Statutory Requirements
The federal government invests more than $100 billion annually in IT. But these investments can be poorly managed—resulting in IT that fails to deliver needed improvements and is often late and over budget. A law aimed at improving IT management requires agencies to review their portfolios of IT projects and high-risk IT investments. Our ongoing analysis shows that agencies haven't completed these reviews. This statement...
Cloud Computing: Agencies Need to Address Key OMB Procurement Requirements
In 2019, the Office of Management and Budget established 5 key requirements for agencies related to procuring secure, cost-effective cloud services. As of July 2024, the 24 major agencies set policies and guidance that addressed some of these requirements but not others. For example, all the agencies had established guidance to ensure their chief information officer oversees agency modernization efforts. But most hadn't established guidance...
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K-12 Education: Nationally, Black Girls Receive More Frequent and More Severe Discipline in School Than Other Girls
Measures of well-being show many girls are struggling. Plus, how they're treated and disciplined in school can have profound effects that last into adulthood. This report examined discipline disparities among girls in public schools. Among girls, Black girls faced more and harsher forms of discipline than others. We found that Black girls received harsher punishments than White girls, even for similar infractions. Our analysis of...
Coast Guard: Actions Needed to Address Persistent Challenges Hindering Efforts to Counter Illicit Maritime Drug Smuggling
This testimony discusses how federal agencies are combating the maritime flow of illicit drugs into the U.S. These drugs—and the criminal organizations that traffic and smuggle them—are significant threats to national security and public health. The Coast Guard leads operations to detect and disrupt the maritime flow of these drugs into the United States. It also provides ships and aircraft for such missions. But the...
Federal Contracting: Timely Actions Needed to Address Risks Posed by Consultants Working for China
Federal agencies often use consultants to conduct their work. But when the Defense Department and other agencies with sensitive missions contract with consultants also working for potential U.S. adversaries such as China, it can pose risks to national security. Existing regulations and policies don't specifically address consultant contracting activity with China prior to awarding most contracts. Congress has enacted laws aimed at strengthening assessment of...
Federal Domestic Violence Assistance: HHS Should Assess Accessibility-Related Technical Assistance for Local Centers
Data shows that people with disabilities experience domestic violence at 5 times the rate of those without disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities are especially at risk. Some survivors may not be aware of or have access to services from local domestic violence programs. The Department of Health and Human Services has a key role in ensuring local programs that receive federal funds are accessible. HHS...
Next Generation 911: Some Federal Agencies Have Begun Planning, but Few Have Upgraded Their Call Centers
911 call centers get about 240 million phone calls a year. Some of the nation's call centers are working to upgrade to the next generation of technology. The new systems can provide more information to first responders, and can receive text messages, images, and more—in addition to traditional phone calls. We found: 7 of the 11 federal agencies operating 911 call centers were upgrading, but...
Rural Development: Actions Needed to Improve Assistance to Southwest Border Communities Known as Colonias
Colonias are predominantly rural, Hispanic communities near the U.S.-Mexico border. Many have poor access to drinking water, inadequate sewage systems, and substandard housing. Poverty rates are higher in regions with colonias. HUD and USDA have 5 grant and loan programs that target colonias to improve water and wastewater systems and housing. But USDA doesn't have accurate data on the extent of its programs' benefits. And...
Tax Administration: IRS Needs to Take Additional Actions to Prepare for New Information Reporting Requirements
Employers, banks, and other third-parties file "information returns" with the IRS detailing your income and other factors that can affect your tax bill. Mismatches between this data and what you report on your taxes can indicate errors or fraud. Recent changes to reporting requirements—including new rules for reporting cryptocurrency—could allow IRS to collect billions of dollars more in taxes. But IRS could better prepare to...
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Process and Considerations for Adding Names to the Wall
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial lists the names of more than 58,000 men and women who were killed in the war. 380 names have been added to it since its 1982 dedication, for example, to correct omissions. Not all Vietnam-era military casualties are eligible. We reviewed how DOD adds names. We also looked at its responses to requests to add 74 sailors who died in 1969...
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COVID-19: HHS Needs to Identify Duplicative Pandemic IT Systems and Implement Key Privacy Requirements
The Department of Health and Human Services gathers key information needed for public health emergencies, such as pandemics. This includes data on critical response resources and medical care capacity, among other things. We reviewed HHS's efforts to reduce unnecessary duplication, overlap, or fragmentation in the systems it uses to collect this kind of data, and its efforts to protect personal information. HHS doesn't have a...
Corps of Engineers: The Status of Construction Project Environmental Mitigation Has Not Been Reported and Tracked as Required
In its construction projects, the Army Corps of Engineers may sometimes cause environmental damage. Its flood control efforts may, for example, harm fish populations. Corps project plans must include how it will reduce environmental damage. It must also report its progress in doing so. We found: The Corps didn't deliver required annual reports on the status of these projects to Congress after FY 2020 Corps...
Elections: Preliminary Observations on State Laws and Perspectives on Holding Special Elections to Fill House Vacancies
In recent years, threats against members of Congress have increased. This has raised questions about states' ability to fill vacancies in the U.S. House of Representatives. If the Speaker of the House announces there are more than 100 vacancies, federal law generally requires states to hold special elections within 49 days. We testified about state laws and perspectives on holding such elections. We surveyed state...
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Older Americans Act: Agencies Should Take Steps to Better Manage Fraud Risks
Each year, the Older Americans Act provides billions of dollars in grants for programs that help older people stay in their homes. And as the U.S. population ages, demand will likely increase for services like in-home meals, transportation, and caregiver support. We looked at fraud risk management in these programs administered by the Departments of Health and Human Services and Labor. Both agencies said the...
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Military Construction: Better Information Sharing Would Improve DOD's Oversight
The Department of Defense requested over $15 billion for its military construction program in FY 2025. Projects include child development centers, hangars, and more. Over the last 5 years, poor initial planning contributed to about 25% of the projects being delayed for at least a year. Our recommendations are to help DOD address this issue and others we found in our review. For example, if...
VA Disability Exams: Improvements Needed to Strengthen Oversight of Contractors' Corrective Actions
The Department of Veterans Affairs may require veterans filing disability claims to undergo medical exams, which are often conducted by contractors. We testified about how VA manages the quality of contracted disability exams and more. VA takes steps toward preventing low-quality work and correcting errors. For example, it requires contractors to create plans for improving the kinds of exams most prone to mistakes. VA has...
Domestic and Child Abuse: DOD Needs to Clarify Guidance on Incident Determination Committee Notifications
Military committees review reported domestic or child abuse in military families to determine whether incidents meet DOD's criteria for abuse. These decisions are administrative and aren't intended to be used in legal or disciplinary proceedings, but some have been used in child custody or divorce cases. Committees must notify commanders, victims, and alleged abusers of their decisions in writing. The notifications should indicate the purpose...
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Child Care Accessibility: Agencies Can Further Coordinate to Better Serve Families with Disabilities
We also published an " Easy Read" version of this report. Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand. We published the Easy Read version to make our report more accessible to certain people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Millions of U.S. families include a child or parent with a disability. Many families struggle to find quality care for their children...
International Infrastructure Projects: China's Investments Significantly Outpace the U.S., and Experts Suggest Potential Improvements to the U.S. Approach
China's Belt and Road Initiative is the world's largest infrastructure finance program. It has funded roads, ports, and other projects around the world, and has expanded China's influence. We found: From 2013-2021, China provided $679 billion for infrastructure projects in transportation, energy, and three other sectors, while the U.S. provided $76 billion in the same sectors China's infrastructure projects had some benefits for host countries...
Oak Ridge Mercury Cleanup: Opportunities Exist to Enhance Risk Management and Technology Development
The Department of Energy said that about 700,000 pounds of mercury were released during nuclear weapons production at its site in Oak Ridge, TN. Mercury contamination is a health and environmental hazard. DOE estimates that mercury cleanup at this site could cost at least $3.2 billion and take until 2043. This Q&A covers how these estimates could grow due to DOE's risk management approach. For...