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As of April 29, 2024, there are 5085 open recommendations that still need to be addressed. 418 of these are priority recommendations, those that we believe warrant priority attention. Learn more about our priority designation on our Recommendations page.

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121 - 140 of 5085 Recommendations, including 418 Priority Recommendations

Service Members Transitioning to Civilian Life: Agencies Can Improve Warm Handovers for Additional Assistance

GAO-24-106248
Dawn Locke
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8 Open Recommendations
Agency Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should develop a written plan to analyze its available Transition Assistance Program data to identify reasons why transitioning service members who should receive a warm handover are not receiving one, and take appropriate action to collect additional warm handover data. Actions could include requiring Transition Assistance Program officials to provide an explanation when not providing a warm handover. (Recommendation 1)
Open

DOD agreed with this recommendation. The Department noted it plans to use TAP data to better understand when a warm handover is not provided by TAP officials. We will monitor their efforts to implement this recommendation.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should develop a process to regularly request updated online contact information from receiving agencies, including VA and DOL, to help ensure that Transition Assistance Program officials can connect service members with agency programs through warm handovers. (Recommendation 2)
Open

DOD agreed with this recommendation. DOD stated that it has instituted support and data sharing agreements with receiving agencies, including VA and DOL. The agreements will be leveraged to facilitate regular updates to online contact information from warm handover partnering agencies. We will monitor efforts to implement this recommendation.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should develop additional guidance to commanders and their designees on verifying warm handovers and on recording the verifications in the Transition Assistance Program database. (Recommendation 3)
Open

DOD agreed with this recommendation. The TAP Interagency Governance Structure is developing a course and written Commander's guide to better educate commanders on the importance of verifying warm handovers and recording the verifications in the TAP database. We will monitor the progress of these efforts.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with interagency partners, such as DOL and VA, should develop a plan to assess the helpfulness of warm handovers as a part of its overall assessment of the Transition Assistance Program. (Recommendation 4)
Open

DOD agreed with this recommendation. The Department leads the Transition Executive Committee, which oversees governance for transition and reintegration interagency coordination. As part of that Committee, a group assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of TAP aspects, including warm handovers. DOD said this effort aligns with its ongoing efforts to improve TAP, supported by insights from studies and reports from interagency partners. We will monitor the Department's efforts to implement this recommendation.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should develop and implement a process to share information and findings on the helpfulness of warm handover from partner agencies with military service branches, including Transition Assistance Program counselors and other stakeholders. (Recommendation 5)
Open

DOD agreed with this recommendation. DOD noted that the TAP Interagency Governance structure ensures coordination and information sharing among interagency work groups and military departments. DOD believes this approach facilitates a seamless exchange of best practices, findings and updates on warm handovers, which enhances the support provided to transitioning service members in all service branches. We will monitor the progress of these efforts.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs coordinates with DOL and VA through the Transition Assistance Program interagency partnership to identify criteria and standards for the ENPP and TSMRC pilot projects to determine whether and how to scale the piloted approaches into the overall warm handover process. (Recommendation 6)
Open

DOD agreed with this recommendation. DOD's Transition Executive Committee (TEC) coordinates interagency efforts to identify criteria and standards for ENPP and TSMRC pilot projects to determine whether and how to scale the piloted approaches into the overall warm handover process. The TEC will coordinate interagency assessment of criteria and standards for the ENPP and TSMRC pilots. We will monitor the progress of these efforts.
Department of Veterans Affairs The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should ensure the Undersecretary for Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration coordinates with DOD through the Transition Assistance Program interagency partnership to identify criteria and standards for the TSMRC pilot, to determine whether and how to scale the piloted approach into the overall warm handover process. (Recommendation 7)
Open

VA agreed with this recommendation. The agency plans to use a DOD assessment to identify budget requirements and resources to fund its pilot at all military installations. We will monitor the agency's efforts to address this recommendation.
Department of Labor The Secretary of Labor should ensure that the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training Service coordinates with DOD through the Transition Assistance Program interagency partnership to identify criteria and standards for ENPP to determine whether and how to scale the piloted approach into the overall warm handover process. (Recommendation 8)
Open

DOL agreed with this recommendation. The agency emphasized its commitment to leveraging its resources and services along with its interagency partners, including DOD, that are available for transitioning service members. We will monitor the agency's efforts to implement this recommendation.

Nuclear Terrorism Prevention: DHS Has Strengthened the Securing the Cities Program, but Actions Are Needed to Address Key Remaining Challenges

GAO-24-106922
Allison Bawden
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5 Open Recommendations
Agency Recommendation Status
Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office The Assistant Secretary of CWMD should ensure that the performance sections of regions' implementation plans align with the revised set of performance measures and outcomes. (Recommendation 1)
Open

When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office The Assistant Secretary of CWMD should clearly communicate performance expectations to the STC regions for how they will be assessed. (Recommendation 2)
Open

When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office The Assistant Secretary of CWMD should regularly communicate the results of its assessments to the regions and outside entities, such as Congress. (Recommendation 3)
Open

When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office The Assistant Secretary of CWMD should ensure that the STC regions are reporting timely, consistent, complete, and accurate information in their quarterly performance reports. (Recommendation 4)
Open

When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office The Assistant Secretary of CWMD should formally track and document information on regions' progress toward achieving program phases and goals. (Recommendation 5)
Open

When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Army Modernization: Production Challenges for Stryker Upgrade Reinforce Need to Follow Acquisition Leading Practices in Future Efforts [Reissued with revisions on Apr. 3, 2024]

GAO-24-106590
Mona Sehgal
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should ensure that Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems applies acquisition leading practices to manage and address production risk to inform future Stryker upgrade efforts. (Recommendation 1)
Open

When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Spectrum IT Modernization: Incorporating Leading Practices Could Improve Planning Effort

GAO-24-106634
Andrew Von Ah
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4 Open Recommendations
Agency Recommendation Status
National Telecommunications and Information Administration The Office of Spectrum Management should develop a high-quality reliable cost estimate that aligns with cost estimating best practices as defined in GAO's Cost Guide and Agile Guide for the IT modernization project. (Recommendation 1)
Open

NTIA concurred with this recommendation. As of March 2024, NTIA stated that it is in the process of completing a cost estimate in accordance with GAO cost estimating best practices and developing performance measures for the IT modernization project.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration The Office of Spectrum Management should develop a reliable integrated master schedule that aligns with scheduling best practices as defined in GAO's Schedule Assessment Guide and Agile Guide for the IT modernization project. (Recommendation 2)
Open

NTIA concurred with this recommendation. As of March 2024, NTIA stated that it had developed an overall plan for the project and would establish an integrated master schedule after it awards a contract for the IT modernization project.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration The Office of Spectrum Management should finalize its stakeholder management plan. The plan should document a regular meeting schedule for the IT modernization project to ensure covered agencies have the ability to request information and communicate on NTIA's IT modernization project. (Recommendation 3)
Open

NTIA concurred with this recommendation. As of March 2024, NTIA provided a stakeholder management plan that, according to officials, addresses this recommendation. We are assessing the plan to determine whether it implements this recommendation.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration The Office of Spectrum Management should develop performance measures for the IT modernization project that clearly link with the project's established goals and have specified targets and time frames. (Recommendation 4)
Open

NTIA concurred with this recommendation. As of March 2024, NTIA stated that it is in the process of completing a cost estimate in accordance with GAO cost estimating best practices and developing performance measures for the IT modernization project.

Information Technology: IRS Needs to Complete Planning and Improve Reporting for Its Modernization Programs

GAO-24-106566
David (Dave) Hinchman
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Recommendation Status
Internal Revenue Service The Commissioner of the IRS should complete the enterprise roadmap and ensure it addresses the strategic operating plan's technology objective. (Recommendation 1)
Open

When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Internal Revenue Service The Commissioner of the IRS should complete plans for its modernization programs that include (1) milestones to complete the modernization, (2) a description of the work necessary to complete the modernization, and (3) details regarding the disposition of the legacy system, if applicable. (Recommendation 2)
Open

When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Note: the list of open recommendations for the last report may continue on the next page.

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