Priority Open Recommendations: U.S. Department of Agriculture

What GAO Found

In May 2025, GAO identified 5 priority recommendations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Since then, USDA has implemented two of those recommendations.

In June 2026, GAO identified an additional 3 priority recommendations, bringing the total to 6. GAO is highlighting the following three areas that warrant timely and focused attention:

• Improving IT modernization,
• Deterring SNAP retailer fraud, and
• Improving data sharing on foreign investment in U.S. agricultural land.

Addressing GAO's recommendations in these areas would (1) enhance USDA efforts to measure its IT performance, maximize efficiencies, and better meet the needs of farmers, ranchers, and foresters; (2) deter SNAP benefit trafficking and safeguard federal funds; and (3) help the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States reduce the likelihood of missing potential risks to national security. Taking action to implement all of GAO's open priority recommendations would help enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of operations across USDA.

Why GAO Did This Study

Priority open recommendations are the 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 make progress toward addressing a high risk or duplication issue, among other benefits. Since 2015, GAO has sent letters to selected agencies to highlight the importance of implementing such recommendations.

For more information, contact Allison Bawden at BawdenA@gao.gov.