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Open Recommendations

Semiconductors: Commerce Needs Plan to Meet CHIPS for America R&D Requirements
GAO-26-109121
Aug 06, 2026
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Commerce The Secretary of Commerce should ensure that the Director of the CHIPS R&D Office develops a plan and timeline with sufficient detail to address how and when the National Semiconductor Technology Center will align with all applicable requirements in the FY21 NDAA. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Commerce The Secretary of Commerce should ensure that the Director of the CHIPS R&D Office fully implements the NAPMP requirements by either (a) making a timely decision to move forward with the two existing awards or (b) developing a plan and timeline for how Commerce will implement the NAPMP requirements in the FY21 NDAA if it decides not to move forward with the awards. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Commerce The Secretary of Commerce should ensure that the Director of the CHIPS R&D Office develops a plan and timeline describing how and when Commerce will reestablish the Industrial Advisory Committee to align with all applicable requirements in the FY21 NDAA. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Economic Development Administration: Actions Needed to Assess Disaster Recovery Outcomes
GAO-26-107742
Jul 02, 2026
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4 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Economic Development Administration The Secretary of Commerce should ensure that EDA, in coordination with Economic RSF participating agencies, implements a way to periodically monitor, assess, and report on progress toward the Economic RSF's strategic outcomes. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Economic Development Administration The Secretary of Commerce should ensure that EDA, in coordination with Economic RSF participating agencies, updates the Economic RSF operating documents in a timely manner. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Economic Development Administration The Secretary of Commerce should ensure that EDA implements performance measures that specifically address its disaster recovery work and intended outcomes. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Economic Development Administration The Secretary of Commerce should ensure that EDA resumes procedures for validating grantee-reported performance data. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Puerto Rico Grid Recovery: Limited Progress Toward Stability and Opportunities Exist to Improve Federal Assistance
GAO-26-107772
Jul 02, 2026
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5 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Acting Administrator of FEMA should update its guidance to provide information on potential flexibilities that could be used to streamline the environmental and historic preservation review process, such as categorical exclusions. (Recommendation 1).
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Acting Administrator of FEMA should take steps to help ensure sufficient and consistent resources are available to conduct environmental and historic preservation reviews. (Recommendation 2).
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Acting Administrator of FEMA, to the extent that FEMA implements broader reforms to federal disaster assistance, should take steps to identify and communicate opportunities to streamline its programs funding grid recovery in Puerto Rico, including trade-offs and any statutory changes required. (Recommendation 3).
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy, in coordination with FEMA, HUD, and the Government of Puerto Rico, should clarify objectives, roles, and responsibilities for collaboration by, for example, updating or establishing a new memorandum of understanding for collaboration among federal and Puerto Rico entities to reflect current roles, responsibilities, and objectives. (Recommendation 4).
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy, in coordination with FEMA and HUD, should take steps to establish a mechanism to support coordination among federal and Puerto Rico entities involved in Puerto Rico's grid recovery and modernization. (Recommendation 5).
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Small Business Research Programs: Clearer Guidance Could Improve Award Data to More Effectively Measure Outcomes
GAO-25-107942
Sep 23, 2025
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Small Business Administration The Administrator of SBA should develop formal definitions for open and conventional topics and provide that guidance to participating agencies to encourage the consistent categorization of topic types in SBIR and STTR solicitations. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In its comments on a draft of this report, SBA's Director of the Office of Strategic Management and Enterprise Integrity reported that SBA concurs with GAO's recommendation, but did not provide additional information on plans to implement the recommendation. We will continue to monitor SBA's implementation of this recommendation.
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