U.S. Commission on Civil Rights: Management Could Benefit from Improved Strategic Planning and Increased Oversight

In October 2007, the Commission issued an updated 5-year strategic plan for Fiscal Years 2008-2013, as recommended, and this updated plan is now publicly available on the Commission's Web site. As part of its efforts to update the strategic plan in accordance with GPRA and OMB guidance, the Commission participated in an OMB review and worked with OMB to develop performance measures and track improvements; trained members of the senior staff on GPRA requirements; and consulted with stakeholders more extensively in developing the plan, in response to comments on an earlier draft.

Since the Commission issued an updated 5-year Strategic Plan in October 2007 for the fiscal years 2008-2013, the Commission's annual performance plan can be linked appropriately to the agency's long-term strategic goals and objectives, as required under GPRA and OMB guidance. As of June 2009, the Commission's fiscal year 2008 annual performance plan--which was submitted in the fall of 2007--discusses the Commission's strategies or resources for achieving its goals, provides budgetary information for its programs, and provides performance indicators for its annual goals, as required, according to agency officials. The annual plan also sets annual performance targets by strategic goal, in accordance with GPRA. In addition, the Commission's administrative policies also now require Commission offices and divisions to comply with GPRA and OMB requirements, including reporting performance data consistent with OMB guidance.

The Commission's Fiscal Year 2008 annual performance and accountability report, issued in November 2008, is the first to reflect operation under the agency's updated 5-year strategic plan for FY 2008-2013. The Commission's annual report--available on the Commission's Web site--generally includes elements required under GPRA, as recommended. The report generally refers to performance goals established in its annual plan for FY 2008; identifies each strategic goal; identifies objectives for each goal; indicates which performance targets for those objectives were met or not met; and discusses reasons for not meeting targets, as required under GPRA. It also uses measures that can be linked to long-term strategic goals and objectives described in its 2008-2013 strategic plan, as required under GPRA and OMB guidance.

As of August 2006, the Commission on Civil Rights has implemented many of GAO's previous recommendations, especially recommendations on financial, procurement, and project management. For example, as we had recommended previously, the Commission adopted policies in May 2005 to increase the Commissioners' involvement in project planning; has required monthly project cost data to be provided to the staff director and agency heads and others; began using the General Services Administration as the Commission's accounting services provider; obtained its first financial audit--for FY 2005--to comply with the audit requirements of the Accountability of Tax Dollars Act of 2002; and developed a procurement and acquisition guide to help bring its practices in line with federal procurement requirements. The Commission also moved towards implementing recommendations previously made by the Office of Personnel Management in its 1999 report. For example, it has drafted a human capital strategic plan and accountability system. This plan will be made final after a new draft strategic plan is approved (planned for the fall 2006).

The Commission on Civil Rights issued its annual performance and accountability report for FY 2005 upon completion of the Commission's FY 2005 financial audit. As we had recommended, this performance and accountability report outlines the status of the Commission's efforts to implement GAO's and OPM's recommendations.

In July 2006, the Commission obtained the services of an Inspector General from the Peace Corps to evaluate the Commission's policies for ensuring objectivity and accountability for its national office products and to evaluate the advisory committee re-chartering process and other issues related to the operations of the state advisory committees. The Commission previously submitted a fiscal year 2005 Inspector General Act Report to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget. This report summarizes several audits of Commission programs, activities, and functions conducted by both Federal and non-Federal auditors during FY 2005; significant findings for those audits that have been completed; and the Commission's implementation of auditors' recommendations. The Commission also obtained the services of an accounting firm to conduct its first financial audit.