Priority Open Recommendations: Department of the Interior

What GAO Found

In June 2024, GAO identified 11 priority recommendations for the Department of the Interior. Since then, Interior has implemented one of those recommendations.

In April 2025, GAO identified four additional priority recommendations for Interior, bringing the total number to 14. These recommendations involve the following areas:

• Improving oversight of offshore oil and gas activities,
• Resolving the ownership of submerged lands in Alaska,
• Conducting strategic workforce planning and oversight,
• Ensuring timely delivery of tribal real estate services,
• Managing liabilities associated with federal property, and
• Improving surveillance of human health risks posed by wildlife.

Interior's continued attention to these issues could lead to significant improvements in government operations.

Why GAO Did This Study

Priority open recommendations are GAO recommendations that warrant priority attention from heads of key departments or agencies because their implementation could save large amounts of money; improve congressional and/or executive branch decision-making on major issues; eliminate mismanagement, fraud, and abuse; or ensure that programs comply with laws and funds are legally spent, among other benefits. Since 2015, GAO has sent letters to selected agencies to highlight the importance of implementing open recommendations.

For more information, contact Mark Gaffigan at gaffiganm@gao.gov.