Department of Agriculture:
Actions Needed To Enhance Paperwork Management and Reduce Burden
GGD-80-14: Published: Mar 10, 1980. Publicly Released: Mar 26, 1980.
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A study was undertaken which examines the effectiveness of the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) paperwork management program and policies. To manage paperwork effectively, federal agencies need reliable information on the burden imposed on the public, the use made of the information requested, and the extent of duplicate reporting. To ascertain burden estimates, 87 USDA requirements were analyzed. How reasonable or reliable the estimates are is difficult to ascertain, since neither the USDA nor the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) made a comprehensive evaluation.
USDA should improve its paperwork management program to better manage and further reduce the burden imposed on the public. In determining the true burden imposed on the public, burden estimates are used as an indicator to manage and limit the paperwork burden imposed. Thus, accurate and reliable burden estimates are essential. To prepare the burden estimates, the Food Safety and Quality Service (FSQS) relied soley on its program staff's judgment rather than contacting respondents. However, staff judgment does not produce reliable estimates. Additionally, USDA agencies must justify need and demonstrate practical utility when collecting federal paperwork from the private sector. Practical utility is defined by OMB as an agency's ability to use and timely process the information it collects. However, FSQS and the Packers and Stockyards program (P&S) justify need on the basis that the reporting is required under USDA regulations and by law; and the USDA practical utility review is conducted informally without documentation to support what was questioned or changed.
Feb 11, 2021
Freedom of Information Act:
Update on Federal Agencies' Use of Exemption StatutesGAO-21-148: Published: Jan 12, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 11, 2021.
Oct 8, 2020
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Open Data:
Agencies Need Guidance to Establish Comprehensive Data Inventories; Information on Their Progress is LimitedGAO-21-29: Published: Oct 8, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 8, 2020.
Jul 16, 2020
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Coast Guard:
Actions Needed to Ensure Investments in Key Data System Meet Mission and User NeedsGAO-20-562: Published: Jul 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 16, 2020.
Mar 30, 2020
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Information Management:
Selected Agencies Need to Fully Address Federal Electronic Recordkeeping RequirementsGAO-20-59: Published: Feb 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Mar 30, 2020.
Mar 16, 2020
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Freedom of Information Act:
Federal Agencies' Recent Implementation EffortsGAO-20-406R: Published: Mar 11, 2020. Publicly Released: Mar 16, 2020.
Dec 16, 2019
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Assessing Data Reliability (Supersedes GAO-09-680G)GAO-20-283G: Published: Dec 16, 2019. Publicly Released: Dec 16, 2019.
Oct 17, 2019
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Freedom of Information Act:
DHS Needs to Reduce Backlogged Requests and Eliminate Duplicate ProcessingGAO-20-209T: Published: Oct 17, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 17, 2019.
Aug 10, 2018
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Paperwork Reduction Act:
Agencies Could Better Leverage Review Processes and Public Outreach to Improve Burden EstimatesGAO-18-381: Published: Jul 11, 2018. Publicly Released: Aug 10, 2018.
Jun 25, 2018
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Freedom of Information Act:
Agencies Are Implementing Requirements but Additional Actions Are NeededGAO-18-365: Published: Jun 25, 2018. Publicly Released: Jun 25, 2018.
Mar 13, 2018
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Freedom of Information Act:
Agencies Are Implementing Requirements but Need to Take Additional ActionsGAO-18-452T: Published: Mar 13, 2018. Publicly Released: Mar 13, 2018.
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