International Affairs Budget:
Framework for Assessing Relevance, Priority, and Efficiency
T-NSIAD-98-18: Published: Oct 30, 1997. Publicly Released: Oct 30, 1997.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the programs and activities funded by the international affairs budget, the function 150 account of the federal budget, focusing on the issues that should be raised in assessing the current programs and activities on the books that support U.S. foreign policy and economic objectives.
GAO noted that: (1) funding in the 150 account, which totalled $18.1 billion in fiscal year 1997, constitutes only 1 percent of the federal budget and just 3 to 4 percent of discretionary funding; (2) these expenditures fund activities that are designed to influence world political and economic agendas; (3) to support its interest in such agendas, the U.S. government maintains a worldwide infrastructure of embassies, missions, consulates, and trade offices, with an overseas staff of more than 35,000; (4) the 150 account funds a wide range of programs and activities; (5) a large percentage of the funds in the account is directed by Congress or the President for specific countries and purposes; (6) to facilitate the examination of 150 account funding, GAO grouped the various programs and activities into six categories: (a) security and peacekeeping operations; (b) bilateral assistance; (c) foreign affairs management; (d) public diplomacy; (e) multilateral assistance; and (f) trade and investment; and (7) GAO presented information on the funding levels and trends for activities in each of the six categories and also discussed the particular set of issues and questions that could be raised with respect to relevance, priority, and efficiency.
Sep 20, 2018
Humanitarian Assistance:
USAID Should Improve Information Collection and Communication to Help Mitigate Implementers’ Banking ChallengesGAO-18-669: Published: Sep 20, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 20, 2018.
Sep 18, 2018
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Immigration:
Progress and Challenges in the Management of Immigration Courts and Alternatives to Detention ProgramGAO-18-701T: Published: Sep 18, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 18, 2018.
Sep 6, 2018
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Reported Injuries to U.S. Personnel in Cuba:
Preliminary Observations on State's Response and Management ChallengesGAO-18-695T: Published: Sep 6, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 6, 2018.
Sep 5, 2018
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Central American Police Training:
State and USAID Should Ensure Human Rights Content Is Included as Appropriate, and State Should Improve DataGAO-18-618: Published: Sep 5, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 5, 2018. -
Reported Injuries to U.S. Personnel in Cuba:
State Should Revise Policies to Ensure Appropriate Internal Communication of Relevant IncidentsGAO-18-615: Published: Jul 30, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 5, 2018.
Aug 30, 2018
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Export-Import Bank:
Status of End-Use Monitoring of Dual-Use Exports as of August 2018GAO-18-683R: Published: Aug 30, 2018. Publicly Released: Aug 30, 2018.
Aug 8, 2018
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Foreign Assistance:
U.S. Assistance for the West Bank and Gaza, Fiscal Years 2015 and 2016GAO-18-612: Published: Aug 8, 2018. Publicly Released: Aug 8, 2018.
Jul 30, 2018
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Foreign Military Sales:
Financial Oversight of the Use of Overhead Funds Needs StrengtheningGAO-18-553: Published: Jul 30, 2018. Publicly Released: Jul 30, 2018.
Jul 12, 2018
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Foreign Assistance:
Better Guidance for Strategy Development Could Help Agencies Align Their EffortsGAO-18-499: Published: Jul 12, 2018. Publicly Released: Jul 12, 2018.
Jul 10, 2018
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Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States:
Action Needed to Address Evolving National Security Concerns Facing the Department of DefenseGAO-18-494: Published: Jul 10, 2018. Publicly Released: Jul 10, 2018.
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