Chief Information Officer Open Recommendations: Department of Transportation

What GAO Found

In September 2025, GAO identified 34 open recommendations under the purview of the Department of Transportation's Chief Information Officer (CIO), including 14 that are sensitive and 14 that are relevant to a component-level CIO, from previously issued work. Each of these recommendations relates to a GAO High-Risk area: (1) Ensuring the Cybersecurity of the Nation and (2) Improving IT Acquisitions and Management.

In addition, GAO has designated two of the 34 as priority recommendations. For example, GAO previously recommended that the Department of Transportation develop a cybersecurity risk management strategy to protect the department against cyber threats.

GAO also recommended that the department develop a department-wide comprehensive policy for the management of software licenses to determine its most widely used software applications and opportunities for cost savings. The CIO's continued attention to these recommendations will help ensure the secure and effective use of IT at the department.

Why GAO Did This Study

CIO open recommendations are outstanding GAO recommendations that warrant the attention of agency CIOs because their implementation could significantly improve government IT operations by securing IT systems, identifying cost savings, improving major government programs, eliminating mismanagement of IT programs and processes, or ensuring that IT programs comply with laws, among others.

For more information, contact Nick Marinos at marinosn@gao.gov.