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Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Housing and Urban Development

GAO-20-500PR Published: Apr 23, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 30, 2020.
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Fast Facts

Each year, we make more than 1,000 recommendations to help improve the federal government. We alert department heads to the recommendations where they can save the most money, address issues on our High Risk List, or significantly improve government operations.

This report outlines our 17 priority open recommendations for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as of April 2020.

For example, strengthening inspections and oversight of lead paint hazards could help ensure the health and safety of those who live in HUD-assisted properties.

Since our letter in April 2019, HUD has not implemented any of our priority recommendations.

Priority recommendations graphic

Priority recommendations graphic

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Highlights

What GAO Found

In April 2019, GAO identified nine priority recommendations for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Since then, HUD has not closed any of those recommendations.

In April 2019, GAO identified eight additional priority recommendations for HUD, bringing the total number to 17. These recommendations involve the following areas:

  • Addressing Ginnie Mae's risk management and staffing-related challenges.
  • Strengthening the monitoring of disaster recovery block grant funds.
  • Strengthening processes to address lead paint hazards.
  • Enhancing oversight of Moving to Work.
  • Improving cybersecurity risk management and workforce planning practices.
  • Improving information technology management.

HUD's continued attention to these issues could lead to significant improvements in government operations.

Why GAO Did This Study

Priority open recommendations are the GAO recommendations that warrant priority attention from heads of key departments or agencies because their implementation could save large amounts of money; improve congressional and/or executive branch decision making on major issues; eliminate mismanagement, fraud, and abuse; or ensure that programs comply with laws and funds are legally spent, among other benefits. Since 2015 GAO has sent letters to selected agencies to highlight the importance of implementing such recommendations.

For more information, contact Daniel Garcia-Diaz at (202) 512-8678 or garciadiazd@gao.gov.

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Topics

Business systems modernizationCompliance oversightCybersecurityDisaster recoveryGovernment mortgage corporationGrant programsHigh-risk issuesHousingHuman capital managementInformation technologyRisk managementWorkforce planning