The Budget Treatment of Trust Funds
T-AFMD-90-3: Published: Oct 18, 1989. Publicly Released: Oct 18, 1989.
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GAO discussed the federal budget treatment of trust funds, focusing on whether the budget should include Social Security trust fund surpluses in the budget totals that are subject to deficit reduction actions. GAO noted that: (1) the federal budget includes widely different discretionary and entitlement programs as trust fund programs; (2) the government treated trust funds separately until fiscal year 1969, when it introduced a unified budget which included trust funds; (3) debate continues regarding the appropriate budgetary treatment of trust funds, and there has been a proliferation of proposals aimed at removing one or more trust funds from the budget; (4) 1985 budget deficit reduction legislation provided for the two Social Security trust funds to go off-budget, and allowed the Office of Management and Budget to offset a projected $65 billion Social Security surplus, and another $69 billion total budget deficit; (5) establishment of off-budget government-sponsored enterprises has increased since 1985; (6) general, trust and enterprise fund subdivisions to the unified budget could enhance comprehension of the unified budget and subsequent fiscal policy decisions; (7) the government lacks a clear, concise definition of trust funds; and (8) an increase in national savings and investment would enhance other budget deficit activities.
Apr 25, 2018
DHS Program Costs:
Reporting Program-Level Operations and Support Costs to Congress Would Improve OversightGAO-18-344: Published: Apr 25, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 25, 2018.
Feb 6, 2018
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Budget Issues:
Continuing Resolutions and Other Budget Uncertainties Present Management ChallengesGAO-18-368T: Published: Feb 6, 2018. Publicly Released: Feb 6, 2018.
Oct 12, 2017
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Public Relations Spending:
Selected Agencies' Activities Supported by Contracts and Public Affairs StaffGAO-17-711: Published: Sep 12, 2017. Publicly Released: Oct 12, 2017.
Oct 2, 2017
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U.S. Territories:
Public Debt OutlookGAO-18-160: Published: Oct 2, 2017. Publicly Released: Oct 2, 2017.
Sep 20, 2017
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Budget Issues:
Budget Uncertainty and Disruptions Affect Timing of Agency SpendingGAO-17-807T: Published: Sep 20, 2017. Publicly Released: Sep 20, 2017.
May 3, 2017
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The Nation's Fiscal Health:
Action is Needed to Address the Federal Government's Fiscal FutureGAO-17-579T: Published: May 3, 2017. Publicly Released: May 3, 2017.
Jan 18, 2017
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Overseas Contingency Operations:
OMB and DOD Should Revise the Criteria for Determining Eligible Costs and Identify the Costs Likely to Endure Long TermGAO-17-68: Published: Jan 18, 2017. Publicly Released: Jan 18, 2017.
Jan 17, 2017
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The Nation's Fiscal Health:
Action is Needed to Address the Federal Government's Fiscal FutureGAO-17-237SP: Published: Jan 17, 2017. Publicly Released: Jan 17, 2017.
Jan 12, 2017
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Grants Management:
Selected Agencies Should Clarify Merit-Based Award Criteria and Provide Guidance for Reviewing Potentially Duplicative AwardsGAO-17-113: Published: Jan 12, 2017. Publicly Released: Jan 12, 2017.
Dec 20, 2016
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Declining Resources:
Selected Agencies Took Steps to Minimize Effects on Mission but Opportunities Exist for Additional ActionGAO-17-79: Published: Dec 20, 2016. Publicly Released: Dec 20, 2016.
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