Government Vehicles: Officials Now Rarely Receive Unauthorized Home-to-work Transportation
GGD-91-27
Published: Mar 15, 1991. Publicly Released: Apr 15, 1991.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on 16 federal agencies' compliance with statutory restrictions on high-level officials' use of government vehicles for home-to-work transportation.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Commerce | The Secretaries of Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should promptly notify Congress that they have determined that home-to-work transportation is appropriate for their designated principal deputies. |
Closed – Implemented
On July 18, 1991, Commerce notified the designated committees of Congress that the Deputy Secretary was authorized to receive home-to-work transportation.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretaries of Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should promptly notify Congress that they have determined that home-to-work transportation is appropriate for their designated principal deputies. |
Closed – Implemented
On November 26, 1990, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notified the designated committees of Congress that the Deputy Secretary was being provided home-to-work transportation.
|
| Department of Justice | The Secretaries of Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should promptly notify Congress that they have determined that home-to-work transportation is appropriate for their designated principal deputies. |
Closed – Implemented
Justice stated that its earlier notification, which did not include the name of the principal deputy, was sufficient to meet the requirement.
|
| Department of Labor | The Secretaries of Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should promptly notify Congress that they have determined that home-to-work transportation is appropriate for their designated principal deputies. |
Closed – Implemented
On June 28, 1991, Labor reported to Congress that the position of Deputy Secretary is authorized home-to-work transportation.
|
| Department of the Treasury | The Secretaries of Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should promptly notify Congress that they have determined that home-to-work transportation is appropriate for their designated principal deputies. |
Closed – Implemented
On June 19, 1991, Treasury notified the designated committees of Congress that the Deputy Secretary was authorized home-to-work transportation.
|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretaries of Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should promptly notify Congress that they have determined that home-to-work transportation is appropriate for their designated principal deputies. |
Closed – Implemented
On November 19, 1990, Veterans Affairs (VA) notified the designated committees of Congress that the Deputy Secretary was authorized to receive home-to-work transportation.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should ensure that notifications regarding home-to-work transportation for future principal deputies are promptly submitted to the designated congressional committees. |
Closed – Implemented
Agriculture responded that when a new Deputy Secretary is appointed, notifications identifying this individual will be promptly sent to the designated committees.
|
| Department of Commerce | The Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should ensure that notifications regarding home-to-work transportation for future principal deputies are promptly submitted to the designated congressional committees. |
Closed – Implemented
Commerce's response stated that notifications for future principal deputies will be transmitted promptly to the designated committees of Congress.
|
| Department of Energy | The Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should ensure that notifications regarding home-to-work transportation for future principal deputies are promptly submitted to the designated congressional committees. |
Closed – Implemented
Energy responded that actions will be taken to ensure that all future notifications regarding the authorization of a principal deputy are promptly submitted to the appropriate congressional committees.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should ensure that notifications regarding home-to-work transportation for future principal deputies are promptly submitted to the designated congressional committees. |
Closed – Implemented
HHS responded that notifications regarding future principal deputies will be promptly submitted.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should ensure that notifications regarding home-to-work transportation for future principal deputies are promptly submitted to the designated congressional committees. |
Closed – Implemented
Interior responded that it will ensure that notifications regarding home-to-work transportation for future principal deputies are promptly submitted to the designated committees.
|
| Department of Justice | The Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should ensure that notifications regarding home-to-work transportation for future principal deputies are promptly submitted to the designated congressional committees. |
Closed – Implemented
Justice believes that its June 29, 1988, notification remains in effect for subsequent deputy attorney generals and is sufficient to meet the notification requirements.
|
| Department of Labor | The Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should ensure that notifications regarding home-to-work transportation for future principal deputies are promptly submitted to the designated congressional committees. |
Closed – Implemented
Labor responded that Congress shall be promptly notified when the deputy position is filled and the incumbent is authorized home-to-work transportation.
|
| Department of the Treasury | The Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should ensure that notifications regarding home-to-work transportation for future principal deputies are promptly submitted to the designated congressional committees. |
Closed – Implemented
Treasury's notification to designated committees stated that it adopted GAO recommendations and, for each future Deputy Secretary, it will notify the designated committees.
|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should ensure that notifications regarding home-to-work transportation for future principal deputies are promptly submitted to the designated congressional committees. |
Closed – Implemented
The report got lost in the VA system. VA has received subsequent copies and will prepare its response when the report processes through its official system. VA has already submitted notifications to the designated committees.
|
| Department of State | The Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs and the Attorney General should ensure that notifications regarding home-to-work transportation for future principal deputies are promptly submitted to the designated congressional committees. |
Closed – Implemented
State responded that it had adopted controls to ensure that notifications regarding home-to-work transportation for future principal deputies are promptly submitted to the designated congressional committees.
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