Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government Programs, Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue

GAO-11-318SP Published: Mar 01, 2011. Publicly Released: Mar 01, 2011.

Highlights

What GAO Found

Overlap and fragmentation among government programs or activities can be harbingers of unnecessary duplication. In this report we include 81 areas for consideration drawn from GAO's prior and ongoing work. We present 34 areas where agencies, offices, or initiatives have similar or overlapping objectives or provide similar services to the same populations; or where government missions are fragmented across multiple agencies or programs. We also present 47 additional areas—beyond those directly related to duplication, overlap, or fragmentation—describing other opportunities for agencies or Congress to consider taking action that could either reduce the cost of government operations or enhance revenue collections for the Treasury. All of these areas span a range of agencies and government missions: agriculture, defense, economic development, energy, general government, health, homeland security, international affairs, and social services. Collectively, by reducing or eliminating duplication, overlap, or fragmentation and addressing these other cost savings opportunities, the federal government could potentially save billions of tax dollars annually and help agencies provide more efficient and effective services—but these actions will require some difficult decisions.

Go to Report at a Glance to view the table summarizing all 81 areas we include in this report. The areas identified in this report are not intended to represent the full universe of duplication, overlap, or fragmentation within the federal government.

Why GAO Did This Study

This is GAO's first annual report to Congress in response to a new statutory requirement that GAO identify federal programs, agencies, offices, and initiatives, either within departments or governmentwide, which have duplicative goals or activities. Congress asked GAO to conduct this work and to report annually on our findings. (See Pub. L. No. 111-139, § 21, 124 Stat. 29 (2010), 31 U.S.C. § 712 Note.) This work will inform government policymakers as they address the rapidly building fiscal pressures facing our national government.

Objectives

(1) identify federal programs or functional areas where unnecessary duplication, overlap, or fragmentation exists, the actions needed to address such conditions, and the potential financial and other benefits of doing so

(2) highlight opportunities for additional potential savings or increased revenues.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter	Status	Comments
Congress could help eliminate some of the barriers to program alignment through legislation, particularly through the pending reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and other key education bills. Specifically, Congress may choose either to eliminate programs that are too small to evaluate cost-effectively or combine programs serving smaller target groups into a larger program.	Closed – Implemented	In December 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act was enacted, which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) but does not include authorization for several overlapping teacher quality programs identified in GAO's report from March 2011. As a result, the ESEA reauthorization may help eliminate some barriers to educational program alignment.
Congress might also include legislative provisions to help the Department of Education reduce fragmentation, such as by giving broader discretion to the agency to move resources away from certain programs. Congress could provide the department guidelines for selecting these programs. To the extent that overlapping programs continue to be authorized, they could be better aligned with each other in a way that allows for comparison and evaluation to ensure they are complementary rather than duplicative.	Closed – Implemented	Legislation has been enacted to give the Department of Education (Education) broader discretion to move resources away from certain programs, as GAO suggested in March 2011. Specifically, the Department of Education appropriations acts for fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016 generally authorized the department to use certain evaluation funds for a specified period of time to evaluate any Elementary and Secondary Education Act program without respect to the source of the funds. According to Education, the department has used this authority, for example, to combine funds to support new, high-priority evaluations, including short turnaround impact evaluations on technology-enabled strategies that are being used to improve instruction and outcomes for elementary and secondary school students.
Congress may wish to consider updating eligibility criteria and targeting service, including terminating service at airports that are less remote from medium- or large-hub airports as well as changing other program criteria to consolidate subsidized air service.	Closed – Implemented	The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 updates eligibility criteria and limits program eligibility, including the following changes: Only locations that have at least 10 enplanements per day during the most recent fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2012, except for locations beyond 175 miles of a large- or medium-hub airport, are considered eligible under the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, but the Secretary of Transportation is allowed to restore eligibility if certain conditions are met (Pub. L. No. 112-95, (2012)). Alaska and Hawaii are exempted from this change. For communities in the 48 contiguous United States, eligibility is limited to communities that, at any time between September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2011, (1) received Essential Air Service, or (2) received a 90-day notice of intent to terminate air service from an air carrier and the Secretary of Transportation required the air carrier to continue service.
Congress may wish to consider revising the program's operating requirements for providing air service to communities to improve efficiency and to better match capacity with community use.	Closed – Implemented	Appropriations and authorization legislation revised the Essential Air Service (EAS) program's requirements that airlines must meet to operate air service for communities. These revisions better match communities' use of airline service, as GAO suggested in March 2011. Specifically, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 eliminated the requirement, discussed in GAO's July 2009 report, that aircraft providing service under the EAS program have a minimum 15-seat passenger capacity for fiscal year 2012. (Pub. L. No. 112-55 (2011)) so that airlines may provide service with smaller aircraft that matches a community's use. Additional legislation (Pub. L. No. 116-6 (2019)) extended the elimination of the requirement through September 30, 2019. Further, the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 added new language to the Small Community Air Service Development program requiring the Secretary of Transportation to give priority in making grants under the program to communities that submit an application to consolidate air service into one regional airport ((49 U.S.C. ? 41743(c)(5)(G)), although, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the department has not received any applications proposing consolidation of air service to one regional airport. Recognizing that certain locations have different operational capacity needs, DOT has, for example, selected airlines to provide subsidized service to the airport in Bar Harbor, ME, with aircraft that have more capacity during their peak summer season. Congress codified this DOT practice in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Pub. Law No. 115-254).
Congress may wish to consider assessing multimodal solutions, such as more cost-effective bus service to hub airports or air taxi service, to provide communities alternatives to Essential Air Service (EAS).	Closed – Not Implemented	As of March 2020, Congress had not taken specific legislative action to assess multimodal solutions, as GAO suggested in July 2009, and GAO has determined that the matter is no longer necessary. Communities eligible for EAS can use subsidies for multimodal approaches to connect to the national air system. For example, communities taking advantage of the Alternate EAS can use on-demand taxi service. Communities can also use other existing Department of Transportation (DOT) programs for multimodal alternatives to connect to air service. For example, DOT awarded Small Community Air Service Development Program grants to the Northern Colorado Regional Airport in Loveland, CO, in 2011 and the Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport in Sanford, ME, in 2013 to support intermodal service. During GAOs December 2019 review of the EAS program, none of the communities and airports GAO spoke to that receive air service through EAS expressed an interest in connecting to the national air system via bus or train instead of via a flight from their local airport. For example, Pendleton, OR airport officials indicated that the community already has bus service to the large-hub airport in Portland, OR, but air service from Pendleton to Portland is more convenient for those that have difficulty travelling or do not want to drive. In addition, bus service might not operate to allow people to catch their flights; for example, a Fort Dodge, IA airport official said that a bus would not have a schedule that would allow people to catch their flights. As a result, GAO has closed this action as not addressed and will no longer track implementation.
Congress may need to take action to require the Department of the Interior to establish an annual production incentive fee or similar fee for nonproducing leases.	Closed – Implemented	In August 2022, Congress enacted the Inflation Reduction Act, which increased onshore escalating rental rates for oil and gas leases. This may encourage diligent development of those leases.
If the Department of the Interior chooses not to take any action based on its study, Congress may wish to provide additional guidance or take additional actions to direct Interior to improve its oversight of federal lands and waters and the revenues derived from production of oil and gas.	Closed – Implemented	In August 2022, Congress enacted the Inflation Reduction Act, which increased royalty rates for new onshore and certain new offshore leases.
Additional opportunities for potential cost savings exist with the continued use of the Dashboard by congressional committees to support critical oversight efforts.	Closed – Implemented	In 2011, congressional committees requested that GAO further review the accuracy of the data on the IT Dashboard and inform Congress on the costs and schedule performance of IT investments to help improve congressional oversight efforts. A congressional committee also recently asked GAO to utilize the Dashboard to conduct performance trend analysis of agencies' IT investments to determine if they are improving over time, and to report to Congress on the results of the review.
Congress may wish to consider limiting program funding pending receipt of an independent assessment of TSA's SPOT program. Specifically, Congress could consider freezing appropriation levels for the SPOT program at the 2010 level until the validation effort is complete.	Closed – Implemented	Program funds were frozen at fiscal year 2010 levels for fiscal year 2011. The conference report accompanying the consolidated appropriations act for fiscal year 2012 stated that funding was included for 145 additional behavior detection officers (H.R. Rep. No. 112-331, at 971 (2011) (Conf. Rep.)). This increase is less than half of TSAs fiscal year 2012 request for 350 full-time behavior detection officers. The conference report also directed TSA to brief congressional committees no later than 90 days after the enactment of the act on its plans and actions to implement recommendations from the DHS validation study and GAOs May 2010 report. See GAO, Aviation Security: Efforts to Validate TSAs Passenger Screening Behavior Detection Program Underway, but Opportunities Exist to Strengthen Validation and Address Operational Challenges, GAO-10-763 (Washington, D.C.: May 20, 2010).
Congress could clarify the purposes for which the $639.4 million in unobligated balances is available. The unobligated balances have remained in U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Customs User Fee Account for more than 10 years.	Closed – Implemented	Congress has not enacted legislation to clarify the availability of the $639.4 million unobligated balance in the Customs User Fee Account, as GAO suggested in March 2011. However, CBP officials told us that in September 2012, CBP transferred $639.4 million into an unavailable treasury receipt account. This action, according to these officials, effectively removed $639.4 million from CBP's financial reports and addressed the House Committee on Appropriation's request to provide a status of the funds and a path forward for eliminating these funds from CBP financial reports. The House of Representatives report accompanying the 2013 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill reported that these fee balances did not appear accessible to CBP. The House Appropriations Committee directed CBP to determine the availability of these funds and a path for eliminating them from CBP's books no later than January 30, 2013. H.R. Rep. No. 112-492, at 31 (2012). CBP officials said the $639.4 million has been marked as unavailable and plans no further action on the $639.4 million unless directed otherwise.
Congress could consider giving the IRS the authority to collect the information that the Social Security Administration (SSA) needs on government pension income to administer the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision accurately and fairly.	Open	No legislative action identified. As of March 2024, Congress had not yet passed legislation to give IRS authority to collect information that would provide SSA with accurate information on noncovered pension payments, as GAO suggested in November 2007. In prior years, the President's Budget submission proposed legislation that would provide seed money to states for them to develop systems that will enable them to provide information on their noncovered pension payments to SSA so that the agency can apply the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision. The proposal would include funds for administrative expenses, with a portion available to the states, to develop a mechanism so that SSA could enforce these provisions. While this legislation proposes to address the issue differently, it may allow SSA to better administer offsets and ensure benefit fairness, which could address the underlying issue. As of March 2024, no legislative action has been taken on this proposal either. Therefore, congressional action to help SSA obtain information on noncovered pension payments would help SSA to better enforce offsets, ensure fairness, and achieve cost savings.

See All 11 Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Defense	The Department of Defense (DOD) could take action to further assess alternatives for restructuring the governance structure of the military health care system.	Closed – Implemented DOD has taken action to further assess alternatives for restructuring the governance structure of its Military Health System in order to reduce duplication within the command structure and eliminate redundant processes that add to growing defense health care costs, as GAO suggested in March 2011. Specifically, in June 2011, the Secretary of Defense established an internal task force to conduct a review of the governance of the Military Health System. The task force indentified cost containment, greater integration, and increased unity of effort as priority objectives for the Military Health System. The task force's final report concluded that the establishment of a Defense Health Agency... View More
Department of Defense	The Department of Defense (DOD) should develop an integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) architecture, including manned and unmanned systems, to align departmentwide strategic goals.	Closed – Implemented DOD has designed and begun implementing an architecture that includes ISR, called the Defense Intelligence Information Enterprise, which is expected to provide a common framework of tools for security and intelligence sharing that may help to align departmentwide goals. In March 2011, GAO suggested that DOD develop this type of architecture. In April 2012, the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence issued a memorandum to the secretaries of the military departments, directors of the defense intelligence agencies and Defense Information Systems Agency, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the combatant commanders that outlined a governance structure for the Defense... View More
Department of Defense	The Department of Defense (DOD) should continue to develop toolssuch as the Joint Staff's decision support tooland performance measures to inform investment decisions.	Closed – Implemented DOD has developed tools and performance measures to inform investment decisions, as GAO suggested in March 2011. In November 2019, DOD released a new intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) strategic roadmap, which included an ISR portfolio scorecard tool and performance measures to inform investment decisions. With the incorporation of the portfolio scorecard and performance measures in the new ISR roadmap, DOD is better positioned to reduce the likelihood of unnecessary duplication, assess the effectiveness of ISR assets, and make trade-offs among ISR capabilities.
Department of Defense	The Department of Defense (DOD) could establish linkages between intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) acquisition plans and strategic goals to better inform investment decisions.	Closed – Implemented DOD has established linkages between ISR acquisition plans and strategic goals, as GAO suggested in March 2011. In November 2019, DOD released a new ISR strategic roadmap. The roadmap articulated the linkages between strategic goals and planned investments with the goal of enabling the department to prioritize investments, close gaps, and determine appropriate sources of ISR funding. DODs identification of linkages between ISR acquisition plans and strategic goals better positions the department to avoid investing in lower-priority or duplicative capabilities.
Department of Defense	The Department of Defense (DOD) could develop and enforce commonality and interoperability standards for sharing of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data and establish timelines for implementation.	Closed – Implemented We previously reported that DOD had taken steps to develop standards for sharing ISR data and that DOD's establishment of the Defense Intelligence Enterprise Manager (DIEM) may put DOD in a position to develop and enforce commonality and interoperability standards. What remained incomplete was a means to enforce interoperability standards. On September 27, 2022, the Office of the DOD Chief Information Officer issued instruction 8330.01 on Interoperability of Information Technology, Including National Security Systems, which covers information technology (IT), which includes any systems, applications, products and IT services, and National Security Systems that DOD acquires, procures,... View More
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should direct the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretaries of the military services to synchronize at a department-wide level, as appropriate, the services' prepositioning programs so that they include updated requirements and maximize efficiency in managing prepositioned assets and activities across the department to reduce unnecessary duplication.	Closed – Implemented The Department of Defense (DOD) agreed with GAO's May 2011 recommendation and has implemented it. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014 required DOD's Strategic Policy for prepositioned materiel and equipment to include "a framework for joint departmental oversight that reviews and synchronizes the services' prepositioning strategies to minimize potentially duplicative efforts and maximize efficiencies in prepositioned material and equipment across the department." (Pub. L. No. 113-66 (2013)) Subsequently, DOD issued in March 2017 its Pre-positioned War Reserve Materiel Strategic Policy. In July 2017, GAO reported that the Strategic Policy does not address... View More
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should direct the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy to develop strategic guidance that includes planning and resource priorities, linking the department's current and future needs for prepositioned stocks to evolving national defense objectives.	Closed – Implemented The Department of Defense (DOD) implemented this action. In March 2017, DOD issued its Pre-positioned War Reserve Materiel (PWRM) Strategic Policy. The Strategic Policy requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy to develop and coordinate planning and resource requirements, such as those found in DOD's Guidance for Employment of the Force and the Defense Planning Guidance, so that war materiel and prepositioned war reserve material are appropriately linked to desired capabilities in support of the national defense strategy. In addition, the Strategic Policy requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics and the DOD component heads to maintain... View More
Department of Agriculture	Additional work to assess progress in collaboration and evaluation could identify areas for improvement, consolidation, or elimination. More analysis is needed by the Departments of Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, and Agriculture, and the Small Business Administration and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine the actual amount of duplicative spending in programs that are designed to target similar economic development activities, locations, and applicants.	Closed – Implemented In January 2012, the administration recommended a broad reorganization of agencies, including economic and business development activities in the Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury, as well as SBA. According to the administration's assessment, the existing structure is inefficient and redundant. To address this redundancy, the administration's proposal would consolidate many of its economic development programs. The proposed reorganization, if implemented, could eliminate duplicative spending that may be present.
Department of Commerce	Additional work to assess progress in collaboration and evaluation could identify areas for improvement, consolidation, or elimination. More analysis is needed by the Departments of Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, and Agriculture, and the Small Business Administration and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine the actual amount of duplicative spending in programs that are designed to target similar economic development activities, locations, and applicants.	Closed – Implemented In January 2012, the administration recommended a broad reorganization of agencies, including economic and business development activities in the Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury, as well as SBA. According to the administration's assessment, the existing structure is inefficient and redundant. To address this redundancy, the administration's proposal would consolidate many of its economic development programs. The proposed reorganization, if implemented, could eliminate duplicative spending that may be present.
Department of Housing and Urban Development	Additional work to assess progress in collaboration and evaluation could identify areas for improvement, consolidation, or elimination. More analysis is needed by the Departments of Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, and Agriculture, and the Small Business Administration and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine the actual amount of duplicative spending in programs that are designed to target similar economic development activities, locations, and applicants.	Closed – Implemented In January 2012, the administration recommended a broad reorganization of agencies, including economic and business development activities in the Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury, as well as SBA. According to the administration's assessment, the existing structure is inefficient and redundant. To address this redundancy, the administration's proposal would consolidate many of its economic development programs. The proposed reorganization, if implemented, could eliminate duplicative spending that may be present.
Office of Management and Budget	Additional work to assess progress in collaboration and evaluation could identify areas for improvement, consolidation, or elimination. More analysis is needed by the Departments of Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, and Agriculture, and the Small Business Administration and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine the actual amount of duplicative spending in programs that are designed to target similar economic development activities, locations, and applicants.	Closed – Implemented In January 2012, the administration recommended a broad reorganization of agencies, including economic and business development activities in the Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury, as well as SBA. According to the administration's assessment, the existing structure is inefficient and redundant. To address this redundancy, the administration's proposal would consolidate many of its economic development programs. The proposed reorganization, if implemented, could eliminate duplicative spending that may be present.
Small Business Administration	Additional work to assess progress in collaboration and evaluation could identify areas for improvement, consolidation, or elimination. More analysis is needed by the Departments of Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, and Agriculture, and the Small Business Administration and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine the actual amount of duplicative spending in programs that are designed to target similar economic development activities, locations, and applicants.	Closed – Implemented In January 2012, the administration recommended a broad reorganization of agencies, including economic and business development activities in the Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury, as well as SBA. According to the administration's assessment, the existing structure is inefficient and redundant. To address this redundancy, the administration's proposal would consolidate many of its economic development programs. The proposed reorganization, if implemented, could eliminate duplicative spending that may be present.
Department of Agriculture	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of Commerce	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of Defense	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of Education	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of Energy	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of Health and Human Services	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of Homeland Security	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of Housing and Urban Development	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of the Interior	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of Justice	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of Labor	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of State	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of Transportation	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of the Treasury	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of Veterans Affairs	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Environmental Protection Agency	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
General Services Administration	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
National Aeronautics and Space Administration	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
National Science Foundation	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Nuclear Regulatory Commission	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Office of Personnel Management	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Small Business Administration	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Social Security Administration	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
U.S. Agency for International Development	It will be important for individual agencies to move quickly to correct any missing items in their plans, establish sound baselines so that progress and efficiencies can be measured, begin their consolidation efforts, track their progress, and report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their progress over time.	Closed – Not Implemented This action was originally based on work completed in 2011, which examined agency efforts to meet the requirements of a data center consolidation initiative begun in 2010 by OMB. Subsequently, agencies established the baselines, began consolidation work, and tracked their progress. In 2016, OMB significantly revised the focus of this initiative from the consolidation of data centers to the optimization of data centers. As a result, the original framework of the consolidation effort, such as the need to complete consolidation plans and establish baselines, no longer applies. Although GAO is annually reviewing the initiative, the changes in program requirements no longer address the issues... View More
Department of Defense	The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) should analyze whether greater cost savings could be achieved through joint contracting for brand name drugs than are currently achieved through their independent strategies, and determine whether it would be cost-effective to take steps to resume joint contracting for brand name drugs.	Closed – Implemented VA and DOD have conducted an analysis of their joint contracting strategies, as GAO suggested in March 2011. Both VA and DOD have reported that differences in the designs of VA's and DOD's pharmacy benefits programs make cost-effective opportunities for brand-name drug joint contracts less common than they were prior to DOD's fiscal year 2005 implementation of its uniform formulary process. As a result of these differences, VA reported in November 2013 that the departments have not entered into any joint contracts for brand-name drugs since November 2011. According to DOD, the VA/DOD Joint Executive Council, which is responsible for coordinating pharmacy activities across VA and DOD,... View More
Department of Veterans Affairs	The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) should analyze whether greater cost savings could be achieved through joint contracting for brand name drugs than are currently achieved through their independent strategies, and determine whether it would be cost-effective to take steps to resume joint contracting for brand name drugs.	Closed – Implemented VA and DOD have conducted an analysis of their joint contracting strategies, as GAO suggested in March 2011. Both VA and DOD have reported that differences in the designs of VA's and DOD's pharmacy benefits programs make cost-effective opportunities for brand-name drug joint contracts less common than they were prior to DOD's fiscal year 2005 implementation of its uniform formulary process. As a result of these differences, VA reported in November 2013 that the departments have not entered into any joint contracts for brand-name drugs since November 2011. According to DOD, the VA/DOD Joint Executive Council, which is responsible for coordinating pharmacy activities across VA and DOD,... View More
Department of Defense	The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) should continue their efforts to jointly contract for generic drugs, and look for opportunities to increase joint contracting efforts as generic versions of existing brand name drugs become available.	Closed – Implemented VA continues to collaborate with DOD to identify opportunities for joint contracting for generic drugs through the Federal Pharmacy Executive Steering Committee. Additionally, DOD noted in January 2012 that joint contracts had been awarded for several generic drugs that had previously been "blockbuster" brand name drugs, and additional joint contract negotiations were under way.
Department of Veterans Affairs	The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) should continue their efforts to jointly contract for generic drugs, and look for opportunities to increase joint contracting efforts as generic versions of existing brand name drugs become available.	Closed – Implemented VA continues to collaborate with DOD to identify opportunities for joint contracting for generic drugs through the Federal Pharmacy Executive Steering Committee. Additionally, DOD noted in January 2012 that joint contracts had been awarded for several generic drugs that had previously been "blockbuster" brand name drugs, and additional joint contract negotiations were under way.
Department of Justice	Continually monitoring the actions planned by the Department of Justice (Justice); the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in four areas of explosives investigationsÂ—including jurisdiction, explosives training, shared explosives databases, and laboratoriesÂ—could help Justice ensure the successful implementation of those actions to reduce duplication and overlap and to improve coordination.	Closed – Implemented Executive branch action has been taken in each of the four identified areas where duplication and redundant efforts needed to be addressed. Jurisdiction: To address jurisdictional disputes in explosives investigations, as of May 2011, Justice created a National Explosives Task Force where ATF and FBI are co-located in headquarters. This task force monitors explosives investigations, may determine the lead agency in investigations when there is uncertainty among field agents, and ensures that ATF and FBI are coordinating. Training: To address fragmentation in the explosives training provided by ATF and FBI, the two agencies created a joint curriculum for their post-blast training as of... View More
Transportation Security Administration	The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) could improve interagency coordination by sharing each other's schedules for conducting future security reviews, and avoid scheduling reviews on hazardous materials trucking companies that have recently received, or are scheduled to receive, a review from the other agency. TSA could also discontinue conducting voluntary security reviews on hazardous materials trucking companies, thereby enabling TSA to increase its security efforts in other areas.	Closed – Implemented In August 2011, TSA reported that the agency had discontinued conducting security reviews on trucking companies that are covered by the FMCSA program. Discontinuing such reviews should eliminate the short-term overlap between TSA's and FMCSA's reviews of hazardous materials trucking companies.
Department of Transportation	The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) could improve interagency coordination by sharing each other's schedules for conducting future security reviews, and avoid scheduling reviews on hazardous materials trucking companies that have recently received, or are scheduled to receive, a review from the other agency. TSA could also discontinue conducting voluntary security reviews on hazardous materials trucking companies, thereby enabling TSA to increase its security efforts in other areas.	Closed – Implemented In August 2011, TSA reported that the agency had discontinued conducting security reviews on trucking companies that are covered by the FMCSA program. Discontinuing such reviews should eliminate the short-term overlap between TSA's and FMCSA's reviews of hazardous materials trucking companies.
Transportation Security Administration	The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) could request that the full results of past Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) security reviews of trucking companies be provided through an existing Department of Transportation (DOT) web portal. Doing so would require cooperation from FMCSA.	Closed – Not Implemented Based on changes in TSA's involvement in assessing hazardous materials trucking companies, GAO is no longer assessing this action. In March 2014, TSA officials stated that FMCSA's security data are available to TSA on an as-needed basis, and that TSA had determined that this level of data access is all TSA needs at this time. TSA officials further stated that TSA has obtained security information from FMCSA on multiple occasions as needed and has received full cooperation from FMCSA. Moreover, TSA officials stated that they have not needed access to the more comprehensive information that DOT's web portal would provide. According to TSA, the information obtained from FMCSA is used to... View More
Transportation Security Administration	The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) should continue efforts toward TSA's stated long-term goal of TSA assuming full regulatory responsibility from FMCSA for commercial trucking security, thereby reducing fragmentation.	Closed – Not Implemented Based on changes in TSA's plans to pursue regulatory responsibility for commercial trucking security, GAO is no longer assessing this action. TSA is not proceeding with plans to assume full regulatory responsibility from FMCSA for commercial trucking security, as TSA had stated it planned to do in GAO's March 2011 report. In October 2011, TSA reported that the agency had drafted proposed regulations for hazardous materials trucking security, which would give TSA regulatory responsibility for this area, and that the proposed regulations were undergoing TSA review. However, in August 2013, TSA officials stated that TSA is not planning to pursue any further development or implementation of... View More
Department of Transportation	The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) should continue efforts toward TSA's stated long-term goal of TSA assuming full regulatory responsibility from FMCSA for commercial trucking security, thereby reducing fragmentation.	Closed – Not Implemented Based on changes in TSA's plans to pursue regulatory responsibility for commercial trucking security, GAO is no longer assessing this action. TSA is not proceeding with plans to assume full regulatory responsibility from FMCSA for commercial trucking security, as TSA had stated it planned to do in GAO's March 2011 report. In October 2011, TSA reported that the agency had drafted proposed regulations for hazardous materials trucking security, which would give TSA regulatory responsibility for this area, and that the proposed regulations were undergoing TSA review. However, in August 2013, TSA officials stated that TSA is not planning to pursue any further development or implementation of... View More
Department of Agriculture	The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) could broaden its efforts to simplify, streamline, or better align eligibility procedures and criteria across programs to the extent that it is permitted by law.	Closed – Implemented USDA officials told GAO that it has broadened its efforts to streamline the application and certification process, enforces rules that prevent simultaneous participation in programs with similar benefits or target audiences, and reviews and monitors program operations to minimize waste and error. Consistent with suggestions made by GAO in March 2011, USDA has focused considerable administrative and financial resources on helping states to simplify and streamline eligibility procedures. For example, in November 2012, USDA established a new, simplified application procedure for schools and school food authorities already participating in the National School Lunch Program that wished to... View More
Department of Education	It will be important for the federal agencies that have adopted the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness (the Federal Strategic Plan) to develop implementation plans that include but are not limited to a project schedule, resource allocation, outreach measures, and a performance measurement strategy to evaluate their progress.	Closed – Implemented The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) told GAO that in implementing the Federal Strategic Plan, it is working with member agencies, such as the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Veterans Affairs (VA), to set priorities, measure progress and results, and hold federal partners accountable, as GAO suggested in March of 2011. In fiscal years 2011 and 2012, USICH issued annual updates and an amendment to the Federal Strategic Plan. The updates noted progress the key member agencies had made toward the plan's goals and included a discussion of their activities and accomplishments. For example, USICH and member... View More
Department of Health and Human Services	It will be important for the federal agencies that have adopted the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness (the Federal Strategic Plan) to develop implementation plans that include but are not limited to a project schedule, resource allocation, outreach measures, and a performance measurement strategy to evaluate their progress.	Closed – Implemented The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) told GAO that in implementing the Federal Strategic Plan, it is working with member agencies, such as the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Veterans Affairs (VA), to set priorities, measure progress and results, and hold federal partners accountable, as GAO suggested in March of 2011. In fiscal years 2011 and 2012, USICH issued annual updates and an amendment to the Federal Strategic Plan. The updates noted progress the key member agencies had made toward the plan's goals and included a discussion of their activities and accomplishments. For example, USICH and member... View More
Department of Housing and Urban Development	It will be important for the federal agencies that have adopted the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness (the Federal Strategic Plan) to develop implementation plans that include but are not limited to a project schedule, resource allocation, outreach measures, and a performance measurement strategy to evaluate their progress.	Closed – Implemented The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) told GAO that in implementing the Federal Strategic Plan, it is working with member agencies, such as the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Veterans Affairs (VA), to set priorities, measure progress and results, and hold federal partners accountable, as GAO suggested in March of 2011. In fiscal years 2011 and 2012, USICH issued annual updates and an amendment to the Federal Strategic Plan. The updates noted progress the key member agencies had made toward the plan's goals and included a discussion of their activities and accomplishments. For example, USICH and member... View More
Department of Veterans Affairs	It will be important for the federal agencies that have adopted the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness (the Federal Strategic Plan) to develop implementation plans that include but are not limited to a project schedule, resource allocation, outreach measures, and a performance measurement strategy to evaluate their progress.	Closed – Implemented The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) told GAO that in implementing the Federal Strategic Plan, it is working with member agencies, such as the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Veterans Affairs (VA), to set priorities, measure progress and results, and hold federal partners accountable, as GAO suggested in March of 2011. In fiscal years 2011 and 2012, USICH issued annual updates and an amendment to the Federal Strategic Plan. The updates noted progress the key member agencies had made toward the plan's goals and included a discussion of their activities and accomplishments. For example, USICH and member... View More
Department of Education	Agencies need to improve collaborative efforts as outlined in the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness's (USICH) Federal Strategic Plan.	Closed – Implemented USICH has taken several actions to increase collaborative efforts across federal agencies, as GAO suggested in its March 2011 report. According to USICH, federal partners met several times in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to discuss improved and additional activities to support implementation of the Federal Strategic Plan, as well as better collaboration among federal partners. USICH has helped foster several interagency collaborations--for example, partnering with the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Veterans Affairs (VA). USICH and HHS organized three expert panel sessions in fiscal year 2011 to help disseminate up-to-date... View More
Department of Health and Human Services	Agencies need to improve collaborative efforts as outlined in the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness's (USICH) Federal Strategic Plan.	Closed – Implemented USICH has taken several actions to increase collaborative efforts across federal agencies, as GAO suggested in its March 2011 report. According to USICH, federal partners met several times in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to discuss improved and additional activities to support implementation of the Federal Strategic Plan, as well as better collaboration among federal partners. USICH has helped foster several interagency collaborations--for example, partnering with the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Veterans Affairs (VA). USICH and HHS organized three expert panel sessions in fiscal year 2011 to help disseminate up-to-date... View More
Department of Housing and Urban Development	Agencies need to improve collaborative efforts as outlined in the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness's (USICH) Federal Strategic Plan.	Closed – Implemented USICH has taken several actions to increase collaborative efforts across federal agencies, as GAO suggested in its March 2011 report. According to USICH, federal partners met several times in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to discuss improved and additional activities to support implementation of the Federal Strategic Plan, as well as better collaboration among federal partners. USICH has helped foster several interagency collaborations--for example, partnering with the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Veterans Affairs (VA). USICH and HHS organized three expert panel sessions in fiscal year 2011 to help disseminate up-to-date... View More
Department of Veterans Affairs	Agencies need to improve collaborative efforts as outlined in the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness's (USICH) Federal Strategic Plan.	Closed – Implemented USICH has taken several actions to increase collaborative efforts across federal agencies, as GAO suggested in its March 2011 report. According to USICH, federal partners met several times in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to discuss improved and additional activities to support implementation of the Federal Strategic Plan, as well as better collaboration among federal partners. USICH has helped foster several interagency collaborations--for example, partnering with the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Veterans Affairs (VA). USICH and HHS organized three expert panel sessions in fiscal year 2011 to help disseminate up-to-date... View More
Department of Agriculture	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council), including the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, should identify and assess their transportation programs and related expenditures and work with other departments to identify potential opportunities for additional coordination. The Coordinating Council should develop the means for collecting and sharing this information by establishing agency roles and responsibilities and developing a strategy to reinforce cooperation.	Closed – Implemented The Coordinating Council has taken actions to improve coordination by identifying and sharing information on relevant federal programs and issuing an updated strategic plan, which addressed GAO's March 2011 suggested actions. The Department of Transportation, which is the chair of the Coordinating Council, published an updated inventory of federal programs serving the transportation-disadvantaged on the Coordinating Council's United We Ride web site. Federal departments on the Coordinating Council have also finalized a strategic plan for 2011 through 2013, which establishes agency roles and responsibilities and identifies a shared strategy to reinforce cooperation, also available on the... View More
Department of the Interior	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council), including the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, should identify and assess their transportation programs and related expenditures and work with other departments to identify potential opportunities for additional coordination. The Coordinating Council should develop the means for collecting and sharing this information by establishing agency roles and responsibilities and developing a strategy to reinforce cooperation.	Closed – Implemented The Coordinating Council has taken actions to improve coordination by identifying and sharing information on relevant federal programs and issuing an updated strategic plan, which addressed GAO's March 2011 suggested actions. The Department of Transportation, which is the chair of the Coordinating Council, published an updated inventory of federal programs serving the transportation-disadvantaged on the Coordinating Council's United We Ride web site. Federal departments on the Coordinating Council have also finalized a strategic plan for 2011 through 2013, which establishes agency roles and responsibilities and identifies a shared strategy to reinforce cooperation, also available on the... View More
Department of Labor	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council), including the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, should identify and assess their transportation programs and related expenditures and work with other departments to identify potential opportunities for additional coordination. The Coordinating Council should develop the means for collecting and sharing this information by establishing agency roles and responsibilities and developing a strategy to reinforce cooperation.	Closed – Implemented The Coordinating Council has taken actions to improve coordination by identifying and sharing information on relevant federal programs and issuing an updated strategic plan, which addressed GAO's March 2011 suggested actions. The Department of Transportation, which is the chair of the Coordinating Council, published an updated inventory of federal programs serving the transportation-disadvantaged on the Coordinating Council's United We Ride web site. Federal departments on the Coordinating Council have also finalized a strategic plan for 2011 through 2013, which establishes agency roles and responsibilities and identifies a shared strategy to reinforce cooperation, also available on the... View More
Department of Transportation	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council), including the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, should identify and assess their transportation programs and related expenditures and work with other departments to identify potential opportunities for additional coordination. The Coordinating Council should develop the means for collecting and sharing this information by establishing agency roles and responsibilities and developing a strategy to reinforce cooperation.	Closed – Implemented The Coordinating Council has taken actions to improve coordination by identifying and sharing information on relevant federal programs and issuing an updated strategic plan, which addressed GAO's March 2011 suggested actions. The Department of Transportation, which is the chair of the Coordinating Council, published an updated inventory of federal programs serving the transportation-disadvantaged on the Coordinating Council's United We Ride web site. Federal departments on the Coordinating Council have also finalized a strategic plan for 2011 through 2013, which establishes agency roles and responsibilities and identifies a shared strategy to reinforce cooperation, also available on the... View More
Department of Education	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council), including the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, should identify and assess their transportation programs and related expenditures and work with other departments to identify potential opportunities for additional coordination. The Coordinating Council should develop the means for collecting and sharing this information by establishing agency roles and responsibilities and developing a strategy to reinforce cooperation.	Closed – Implemented The Coordinating Council has taken actions to improve coordination by identifying and sharing information on relevant federal programs and issuing an updated strategic plan, which addressed GAO's March 2011 suggested actions. The Department of Transportation, which is the chair of the Coordinating Council, published an updated inventory of federal programs serving the transportation-disadvantaged on the Coordinating Council's United We Ride web site. Federal departments on the Coordinating Council have also finalized a strategic plan for 2011 through 2013, which establishes agency roles and responsibilities and identifies a shared strategy to reinforce cooperation, also available on the... View More
Department of Health and Human Services	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council), including the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, should identify and assess their transportation programs and related expenditures and work with other departments to identify potential opportunities for additional coordination. The Coordinating Council should develop the means for collecting and sharing this information by establishing agency roles and responsibilities and developing a strategy to reinforce cooperation.	Closed – Implemented The Coordinating Council has taken actions to improve coordination by identifying and sharing information on relevant federal programs and issuing an updated strategic plan, which addressed GAO's March 2011 suggested actions. The Department of Transportation, which is the chair of the Coordinating Council, published an updated inventory of federal programs serving the transportation-disadvantaged on the Coordinating Council's United We Ride web site. Federal departments on the Coordinating Council have also finalized a strategic plan for 2011 through 2013, which establishes agency roles and responsibilities and identifies a shared strategy to reinforce cooperation, also available on the... View More
Department of Housing and Urban Development	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council), including the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, should identify and assess their transportation programs and related expenditures and work with other departments to identify potential opportunities for additional coordination. The Coordinating Council should develop the means for collecting and sharing this information by establishing agency roles and responsibilities and developing a strategy to reinforce cooperation.	Closed – Implemented The Coordinating Council has taken actions to improve coordination by identifying and sharing information on relevant federal programs and issuing an updated strategic plan, which addressed GAO's March 2011 suggested actions. The Department of Transportation, which is the chair of the Coordinating Council, published an updated inventory of federal programs serving the transportation-disadvantaged on the Coordinating Council's United We Ride web site. Federal departments on the Coordinating Council have also finalized a strategic plan for 2011 through 2013, which establishes agency roles and responsibilities and identifies a shared strategy to reinforce cooperation, also available on the... View More
Department of Veterans Affairs	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council), including the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, should identify and assess their transportation programs and related expenditures and work with other departments to identify potential opportunities for additional coordination. The Coordinating Council should develop the means for collecting and sharing this information by establishing agency roles and responsibilities and developing a strategy to reinforce cooperation.	Closed – Implemented The Coordinating Council has taken actions to improve coordination by identifying and sharing information on relevant federal programs and issuing an updated strategic plan, which addressed GAO's March 2011 suggested actions. The Department of Transportation, which is the chair of the Coordinating Council, published an updated inventory of federal programs serving the transportation-disadvantaged on the Coordinating Council's United We Ride web site. Federal departments on the Coordinating Council have also finalized a strategic plan for 2011 through 2013, which establishes agency roles and responsibilities and identifies a shared strategy to reinforce cooperation, also available on the... View More
Department of Agriculture	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council) should develop and disseminate policies and grantee guidance for coordinating transportation services.	Closed – Implemented As of January 2018, federal departments on the Coordinating Council had taken actions to develop and disseminate policies and guidance for coordinating transportation services, as GAO suggested in March 2011. For example, the Department of Transportation (DOT), which serves as the chair of the Coordinating Council, continued to work with agencies on the council to identify federal programs that can partner with DOT grantees to enhance services for transportation-disadvantaged persons, such as programs funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Guidance to implement these partnerships is available to state and local grantees on DOT's website. In addition, in the spring of... View More
Department of the Interior	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council) should develop and disseminate policies and grantee guidance for coordinating transportation services.	Closed – Implemented As of January 2018, federal departments on the Coordinating Council had taken actions to develop and disseminate policies and guidance for coordinating transportation services, as GAO suggested in March 2011. For example, the Department of Transportation (DOT), which serves as the chair of the Coordinating Council, continued to work with agencies on the council to identify federal programs that can partner with DOT grantees to enhance services for transportation-disadvantaged persons, such as programs funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Guidance to implement these partnerships is available to state and local grantees on DOT's website. In addition, in the spring of... View More
Department of Labor	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council) should develop and disseminate policies and grantee guidance for coordinating transportation services.	Closed – Implemented As of January 2018, federal departments on the Coordinating Council had taken actions to develop and disseminate policies and guidance for coordinating transportation services, as GAO suggested in March 2011. For example, the Department of Transportation (DOT), which serves as the chair of the Coordinating Council, continued to work with agencies on the council to identify federal programs that can partner with DOT grantees to enhance services for transportation-disadvantaged persons, such as programs funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Guidance to implement these partnerships is available to state and local grantees on DOT's website. In addition, in the spring of... View More
Department of Transportation	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council) should develop and disseminate policies and grantee guidance for coordinating transportation services.	Closed – Implemented As of January 2018, federal departments on the Coordinating Council had taken actions to develop and disseminate policies and guidance for coordinating transportation services, as GAO suggested in March 2011. For example, the Department of Transportation (DOT), which serves as the chair of the Coordinating Council, continued to work with agencies on the council to identify federal programs that can partner with DOT grantees to enhance services for transportation-disadvantaged persons, such as programs funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Guidance to implement these partnerships is available to state and local grantees on DOT's website. In addition, in the spring of... View More
Department of Education	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council) should develop and disseminate policies and grantee guidance for coordinating transportation services.	Closed – Implemented As of January 2018, federal departments on the Coordinating Council had taken actions to develop and disseminate policies and guidance for coordinating transportation services, as GAO suggested in March 2011. For example, the Department of Transportation (DOT), which serves as the chair of the Coordinating Council, continued to work with agencies on the council to identify federal programs that can partner with DOT grantees to enhance services for transportation-disadvantaged persons, such as programs funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Guidance to implement these partnerships is available to state and local grantees on DOT's website. In addition, in the spring of... View More
Department of Health and Human Services	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council) should develop and disseminate policies and grantee guidance for coordinating transportation services.	Closed – Implemented As of January 2018, federal departments on the Coordinating Council had taken actions to develop and disseminate policies and guidance for coordinating transportation services, as GAO suggested in March 2011. For example, the Department of Transportation (DOT), which serves as the chair of the Coordinating Council, continued to work with agencies on the council to identify federal programs that can partner with DOT grantees to enhance services for transportation-disadvantaged persons, such as programs funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Guidance to implement these partnerships is available to state and local grantees on DOT's website. In addition, in the spring of... View More
Department of Housing and Urban Development	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council) should develop and disseminate policies and grantee guidance for coordinating transportation services.	Closed – Implemented As of January 2018, federal departments on the Coordinating Council had taken actions to develop and disseminate policies and guidance for coordinating transportation services, as GAO suggested in March 2011. For example, the Department of Transportation (DOT), which serves as the chair of the Coordinating Council, continued to work with agencies on the council to identify federal programs that can partner with DOT grantees to enhance services for transportation-disadvantaged persons, such as programs funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Guidance to implement these partnerships is available to state and local grantees on DOT's website. In addition, in the spring of... View More
Department of Veterans Affairs	Federal departments on the Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (Coordinating Council) should develop and disseminate policies and grantee guidance for coordinating transportation services.	Closed – Implemented As of January 2018, federal departments on the Coordinating Council had taken actions to develop and disseminate policies and guidance for coordinating transportation services, as GAO suggested in March 2011. For example, the Department of Transportation (DOT), which serves as the chair of the Coordinating Council, continued to work with agencies on the council to identify federal programs that can partner with DOT grantees to enhance services for transportation-disadvantaged persons, such as programs funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Guidance to implement these partnerships is available to state and local grantees on DOT's website. In addition, in the spring of... View More
Department of the Treasury	The Financial Literacy and Education Commission should enhance its efforts to coordinate federal activities, such as by exploring further opportunities to strengthen its role as a central clearinghouse for federal financial literacy resources.	Closed – Implemented The Financial Literacy and Education Commission has taken actions to enhance its role in coordinating federal activities, as GAO suggested in March 2011. In August 2012, the commission developed an internal web portal that will allow federal agencies involved in financial literacy efforts to share information and resources, such as news updates and minutes and materials from commission meetings. In addition, in 2012 the commission published a report entitled 2012 Research Priorities and Research Questions, which is intended to help inform, coordinate, and avoid overlap among federal research efforts. The commission has also developed a clearinghouse of federal research and data on... View More
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau	The Financial Literacy and Education Commission should enhance its efforts to coordinate federal activities, such as by exploring further opportunities to strengthen its role as a central clearinghouse for federal financial literacy resources.	Closed – Implemented The Financial Literacy and Education Commission has taken actions to enhance its role in coordinating federal activities, as GAO suggested in March 2011. In August 2012, the commission developed an internal web portal that will allow federal agencies involved in financial literacy efforts to share information and resources, such as news updates and minutes and materials from commission meetings. In addition, in 2012 the commission published a report entitled 2012 Research Priorities and Research Questions, which is intended to help inform, coordinate, and avoid overlap among federal research efforts. The commission has also developed a clearinghouse of federal research and data on... View More
Department of the Treasury	The Office of Financial Education, within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the Office of Financial Education and Financial Access, within the Department of the Treasury, will need to coordinate their roles and activities closely to avoid unnecessary overlap and make the most productive use of their respective resources.	Closed – Implemented Offices involved in financial literacy at CFPB and the Department of the Treasury have been coordinating their roles and activities, as GAO suggested in March 2011. Financial literacy staff from the two agencies have been meeting approximately monthly since CFPB was created and discuss their respective roles and responsibilities to avoid unnecessary overlap, according to staff of both agencies. They have collaborated on several projects, including one to develop evaluation measures and another aimed at youth financial literacy. In addition, after CFPB's Office of Financial Education was staffed up, the Department of the Treasury reorganized the structure of its own financial education... View More
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau	The Office of Financial Education, within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the Office of Financial Education and Financial Access, within the Department of the Treasury, will need to coordinate their roles and activities closely to avoid unnecessary overlap and make the most productive use of their respective resources.	Closed – Implemented Offices involved in financial literacy at CFPB and the Department of the Treasury have been coordinating their roles and activities, as GAO suggested in March 2011. Financial literacy staff from the two agencies have been meeting approximately monthly since CFPB was created and discuss their respective roles and responsibilities to avoid unnecessary overlap, according to staff of both agencies. They have collaborated on several projects, including one to develop evaluation measures and another aimed at youth financial literacy. In addition, after CFPB's Office of Financial Education was staffed up, the Department of the Treasury reorganized the structure of its own financial education... View More
Department of the Treasury	The Financial Literacy and Education Commission should build on progress it has made in recent years in promoting partnerships among the federal, state, local, nonprofit, and private sectors.	Closed – Implemented The Financial Literacy and Education Commission, comprised of 21 federal entities, has continued to build on its progress in promoting partnerships among federal and nonfederal sectors, as GAO suggested in its March 2011 report. For example, in May 2012, the commission released a report entitled 2012 Research Priorities and Research Questions, which was developed in partnership with academic researchers, nonprofit financial educators, and other nonfederal stakeholders. In October 2012, the commission introduced "Starting Early for Financial Success," which seeks, among other things, to create a community of practice among educators and policymakers. The commission also continued to work... View More
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau	The Financial Literacy and Education Commission should build on progress it has made in recent years in promoting partnerships among the federal, state, local, nonprofit, and private sectors.	Closed – Implemented The Financial Literacy and Education Commission, comprised of 21 federal entities, has continued to build on its progress in promoting partnerships among federal and nonfederal sectors, as GAO suggested in its March 2011 report. For example, in May 2012, the commission released a report entitled 2012 Research Priorities and Research Questions, which was developed in partnership with academic researchers, nonprofit financial educators, and other nonfederal stakeholders. In October 2012, the commission introduced "Starting Early for Financial Success," which seeks, among other things, to create a community of practice among educators and policymakers. The commission also continued to work... View More
Department of the Treasury	Federal agencies should measure the outcomes of their financial literacy efforts and federal financial literacy resources should be focused on those agencies and programs with the most expertise and best track records. The Financial Literacy and Education Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) could potentially play a role in developing or disseminating a standard set of evaluation tools or benchmarks that would help assess which federal initiatives have the most effective outcomes.	Closed – Implemented Federal agencies have taken steps to measure the outcomes of their financial literacy efforts, as GAO suggested in its March 2011 report. In July 2012, GAO reviewed the evaluation efforts of the 20 significant federal financial literacy and housing counseling programs and found that at least 13 of these programs had undertaken some method of measuring outcomes, such as the program's impact on consumer behavior. GAO found that nearly all of the remaining programs had assessed or measured their activities in some other manner and noted that outcome-based evaluation is not practical or appropriate for all financial literacy efforts, such as some that use mass media or distribute information... View More
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau	Federal agencies should measure the outcomes of their financial literacy efforts and federal financial literacy resources should be focused on those agencies and programs with the most expertise and best track records. The Financial Literacy and Education Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) could potentially play a role in developing or disseminating a standard set of evaluation tools or benchmarks that would help assess which federal initiatives have the most effective outcomes.	Closed – Implemented Federal agencies have taken steps to measure the outcomes of their financial literacy efforts, as GAO suggested in its March 2011 report. In July 2012, GAO reviewed the evaluation efforts of the 20 significant federal financial literacy and housing counseling programs and found that at least 13 of these programs had undertaken some method of measuring outcomes, such as the program's impact on consumer behavior. GAO found that nearly all of the remaining programs had assessed or measured their activities in some other manner and noted that outcome-based evaluation is not practical or appropriate for all financial literacy efforts, such as some that use mass media or distribute information... View More
Department of Defense	The Department of Defense (DOD) should conduct a comprehensive reassessment of its overseas presence, including the costs and benefits of various alternatives.	Closed – Implemented DOD has conducted a comprehensive reassessment of its overseas presence, as GAO suggested in March 2011, based on findings in its September 2006 report. DOD has submitted an annual Global Defense Posture Report to Congress since 2008 that includes cost information and updates to basing strategy, and it has established a Global Posture Executive Council to govern and oversee posture decisions. Based on decisions made by the Executive Council, DOD has announced changes to its U.S. overseas presence in both Europe and the Pacific, and it has refined its posture planning process by issuing guidance to combatant commanders requiring specified cost information for new and existing posture... View More
Department of Defense	To address specific regional issues in Europe, the Department of Defense (DOD) should reassess plans in Europe, including the costs and benefits of keeping Army brigades in Germany and the appropriateness of building a new Army headquarters given the potential changes in force structure.	Closed – Implemented DOD has reassessed plans and reduced its force structure in Europe in a manner that could save billions of dollars, as GAO recommended in July 2009. In February 2012, the Army announced its decision to permanently reduce the number of U.S. ground forces in Europe by: inactivating two of the four brigade combat teams stationed there, the first to occur in fiscal year 2013, and the second to occur in fiscal year 2014; inactivating its Germany-based V Corps headquarters in fiscal year 2013; and reducing the number of combat support and combat service support positions in Europe by approximately 2,500 positions. Based on the Army's analysis, the closure and consolidation of facilities in... View More
Department of Defense	The Department of Defense (DOD) could continue achieving cost savings by more fully taking action to employ best management practices at all phases of its weapon system acquisition processincluding early systems engineering, analyzing alternatives, managing changes in system requirements, and more prototyping early in program development testing.	Closed – Implemented DOD has employed best management practices at all phases of its weapon system acquisition process, as GAO recommended in a series of reports. In November 2017 and November 2019, GAO reported that DOD had achieved substantial, acquisition-related cost avoidance savings, including $36.0 billion in development costs and $136.1 billion in procurement costs. These savings stemmed from Congress enactment, and DODs implementation, of the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act (WSARA) of 2009, as amended, This act codified many of the recommendations GAO had made, including implementing best practices related to technology maturity, systems engineering, requirements management, and cost... View More
Department of Defense	The Department of Defense (DOD) has started the process of reviewing the potential cost of individual weapon system programs to meet warfighters' most pressing needs, but the department must still address the overall affordability of its major weapon system investment portfolio.	Closed – Implemented DOD has taken steps to address the overall affordability of its weapon system investment portfolio as GAO suggested in March 2011. In March 2013, GAO reported that the total estimated acquisition cost of DOD's 2012 portfolio of major weapon programs was $1.6 trillion, the smallest in more than 5 years. DOD completed or ended more programs than it began, which helped drive this decrease. DOD is also implementing guidance to set and enforce affordability targets for its major defense acquisition programs. For example, GAO reported in March 2013 that 31 of 57 current or future major programs that provided data to GAO had established these targets. DOD's 2012 memorandum on its Better Buying... View More
Department of Defense	The Department of Defense (DOD) needs to do a better job planning and executing programs on a day-to-day basis to achieve better outcomes. Critical to achieving successful outcomes is establishing and sustaining knowledge-based, realistic program baselines.	Closed – Implemented DOD has employed best management practices at all phases of its weapon system acquisition process, as GAO recommended in a series of reports. In November 2017 and November 2019, GAO reported that DOD had achieved substantial, acquisition-related cost avoidance savings, including $36.0 billion in development costs and $136.1 billion in procurement costs. These savings stemmed from Congress enactment, and DODs implementation, of the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act (WSARA) of 2009, as amended. This act codified many of the recommendations GAO had made, including implementing best practices related to technology maturity, systems engineering, requirements management, and cost... View More
Department of Transportation	The Department of Transportation (DOT) may wish to consider assessing multimodal solutions, such as more cost-effective bus service to hub airports or air taxi service, to provide communities alternatives to Essential Air Service (EAS).	Closed – Implemented In responding to our 2012 report, Department of Transportation officials stated that the department is prepared to consider multimodal or surface solutions should communities choose to apply to participate in the "Alternate EAS" program authorized by the Vision 100 -- Century of Aviation Reauthorization.
Federal Communications Commission	The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) needs to undertake a broader rethinking of the vision, size, structure, and goals of the Universal Service Fund.	Closed – Implemented FCC has taken several steps to comprehensively reform the Universal Service Fund's Low Income, High Cost, Rural Health Care, and E-rate programs, as GAO suggested in March 2011. Low Income. In June 2011, FCC adopted changes to the Low Income program to detect and prevent duplicative claims from the same consumer and, in January 2012, adopted an order intended to further strengthen protections against waste, fraud, and abuse. Key to its reforms, according to FCC, were efforts to eliminate duplicate household subscriptions to service. According to FCC, as of April 2014, these efforts have resulted in $438 million in annualized savings to the program. Moreover, FCC brought a series of... View More
Department of the Interior	The Department of the Interior should take steps to increase the diligent development of federal lands and waters leased for oil and gas exploration and production.	Closed – Implemented Actions taken by Congress in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 have put in place escalating rental rates for oil and gas leases, which may encourage diligent development of those leases.
Department of the Interior	The Department of the Interior should complete its study examining how other oil and gas resource owners select fiscal parameters for leasing and adjusting oil and gas royalty rates and use that information to adjust, as appropriate, its royalty rates to a level that ensures the government a fair return. In doing so, it should ensure opportunities for substantive, two-way communication with program stakeholders.	Closed – Implemented Congress took actions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 to revise royalty rates for both onshore and offshore leases.
Department of the Interior	The Department of the Interior should implement GAO's recommendations from prior reports addressing a variety of oil and gas measurement factors.	Open – Partially Addressed As of March 2024, Interior implemented 24 of 26 recommendations that GAO made in reports from March 2010 and April 2015 for improving Interior's oversight, polices, and practices for oil and gas measurement. Interior continues efforts to update oil and gas measurement and site security regulations. Interior plans to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking in December 2024, with a final rule expected in March 2025.
Office of Management and Budget	Until the federal government has implemented effective processes to determine the full extent to which improper payments occur and to reasonably ensure that appropriate actions are taken across entities and programs to effectively recover and reduce improper payments, the federal government will not have reasonable assurance that the use of taxpayer funds is adequately safeguarded.	Open – Partially Addressed As of January 2024, the federal government had taken some steps to estimate improper payments for susceptible programs and to recover overpayments. However, consistent with GAO's March 2011 suggested action, further efforts are needed to help ensure that all risk-susceptible programs are included, estimates are reliable, and improper payments are reduced. Executive agencies are required by law to determine whether any of their programs and activities are susceptible to significant improper payments and annually estimate and report the amount of improper payments in any susceptible programs and activities. Federal entities have taken some steps to implement these requirements. For fiscal... View More
Office of Management and Budget	The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) needs to continue to focus on reducing obligations under high-risk contracts, including those awarded noncompetitively.	Closed – Implemented Since 2011, OMB has taken action to reduce obligations under high-risk contracts, as GAO suggested in March 2011. In particular, OMB has taken steps to address several of GAO's recommendations related to competition that can help reduce overall contract costs and obligations. In March 2011, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) was amended to enhance competition for certain orders under federal supply schedule contracts. In November 2011, OMB issued guidance to agencies on ways to reduce use of management support services, such as engineering and program management, where spending has grown at an accelerated pace with extensive reliance on high-risk contract types, such as time and... View More
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services	Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should direct its claims administration contractors to focus on services where recovery audit contractors (RACs) are not expected to focus their reviews, and where improper payments are known to be high—specifically, home health services. Such direction could make other contractors' postpayment review activities more valuable.	Closed – Implemented Because funding for medical review by the claims administration contractors is limited, starting in April 2011 CMS required each claims administration contractor to develop plans on how it would collaborate on medical reviews with the RACs in their shared jurisdiction. CMS required each claims administration contractor's plan to cover (1) the types of claims better reviewed by the claims administration contractor versus the RAC, (2) issues that the RACs could potentially review or known improper payment vulnerabilities that the RAC could help address, and (3) providers that could be referred to the RACs for review. CMS also required, and has received, regular reporting on the results of... View More
Department of Homeland Security	The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should ensure that requirements and cost estimates are well defined up front.	Closed – Implemented As of May 2021, DHS has taken steps to ensure that program requirements and cost estimates are well-defined prior to establishing the program's acquisition program baseline (APB). These steps address the intent of the action GAO suggested in March 2011, with which DHS agreed. DHS updated its acquisition policy in February 2019 and the supporting instruction in May 2019 that adjusted the acquisition life cycle and required programs to conduct key technical reviews of program requirements and develop cost estimates prior to establishing the program's APB. In February 2021, DHS updated its Systems Engineering Life Cycle Instruction (SELC), which guides the department's technical reviews. In... View More
Department of Homeland Security	The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should establish and measure performance against department-approved baselines for major acquisition programs.	Closed – Implemented DHS has addressed the need to establish and measure performance against department-approved baselines for major acquisition programs, as GAO suggested in March 2011. DHS has established an acquisition policy that reflects many key practices, requiring department-level approval of major acquisition programs' baselines prior to the development of a new capability. However, in the past, DHS did not consistently implement its policy. In April 2014, GAO reported that 21 of 46 major DHS acquisition programs lacked Acquisition Program Baselines approved by the department as required. To address the inconsistency, DHS began prioritizing and tracking the completion of baselines across its major... View More
Department of Homeland Security	"To better assess and prioritize its investments, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should ensure that its investment decisions are transparent and documented; budget decisions are informed by the results of acquisition reviews, including acquisition information, program alternatives, and cost estimates; sufficient management resources are identified and aligned, such as acquisition staff, to implement oversight reviews in a timely manner; and acquisition program requirements are reviewed and validated. In April 2018, GAO expanded this action to consolidate it with action 5, which had suggested that DHS should take actions to help decision makers better assess and prioritize investments, including possible program alternatives that could be more cost-effective. This consolidated action remains focused on ways DHS could better manage, assess, and prioritize its investments."	Closed – Implemented As of December 2019, DHS has taken steps to better assess and prioritize investments, meeting the intent of the actions GAO suggested in March 2011. Through its annual resource allocation process, DHS has taken steps to ensure that budget decisions are informed by the results of acquisition reviews and cost estimates and that sufficient resources are identified and aligned. Since April 2016, DHS has reported annual acquisition funding gaps in its annual funding report to Congress. Most recently, in April 2019, DHS added operations and sustainment information for major acquisition programs from all components. Over this period of time, DHS has also included a description of funding... View More
Department of Homeland Security	"The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could take further actions to improve its management of research and development (R&D) efforts and reduce costs in procuring and deploying programs that have not been fully tested, including rigorously testing devices using actual agency operational tactics before making decisions on acquisitions. GAO has revised this action to more clearly focus on DHS acquisition management rather than DHS R&D, which is addressed separately in GAO's April 2013 report, 2013 Annual Report: Actions Needed to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve Financial Benefits (GAO-13-279SP). Specifically, GAO suggests that DHS should ensure that testing of new technologies is completed and test results are addressed before making acquisition decisions."	Closed – Implemented As of December 2019, DHS has taken steps to ensure testing of new technologies is complete and test results are addressed before making acquisition decisions, meeting the intent of the actions GAO suggested in March 2011. DHS acquisition policy requires that programs establish quantifiable and consistent criteria in order to move through the acquisition process. However, in the past DHS did not consistently implement its policy--in March 2011, GAO found a number of instances where programs advanced through the acquisition process without addressing identified shortfalls. To address the inconsistency, DHS updated its acquisition policy to include that DHS's Director, Office of Test and... View More
Department of Defense	Opportunities exist for the Department of Defense to optimize business operations and systems.	Open – Partially Addressed DOD has taken steps to optimize its business operations and systems. For example, DOD has established tiered oversight processes for managing its portfolio of business systems. However, as of September 2023, updates to DOD's guidance and policy for its business systems are still needed. For example, in September 2023 DOD stated that they plan to issue updates to the investment management guidance that will contain requirements, procedures, and criteria to enable the DOD Chief Information Officer (CIO) to more effectively manage the department's portfolio of defense business systems. In addition, in September 2023, the department stated that DOD's CIO is creating a federated,... View More

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