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As of May 23, 2024, there are 5131 open recommendations that still need to be addressed. 412 of these are priority recommendations, those that we believe warrant priority attention. Learn more about our priority designation on our Recommendations page.

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221 - 240 of 412 Recommendations

Infectious Disease Modeling: Opportunities to Improve Coordination and Ensure Reproducibility

GAO-20-372
Timothy M. Persons
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2 Open Recommendations
2 Priority
Agency Recommendation Status
Department of Health and Human Services
Priority Rec.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services should develop a mechanism to routinely monitor, evaluate, and report on coordination efforts for infectious disease modeling across multiple agencies. (Recommendation 1)
Open

HHS agreed with and has begun taking steps to implement this recommendation. HHS stated that, as of February 2024, it is developing a process whereby it will coordinate its efforts in infectious disease modeling across its components, which will include monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on such coordination. To fully address this action, HHS needs to finish developing and implementing this process, and provide relevant documentation, while ensuring that the process routinely monitors, evaluates, and reports on coordination of infectious disease modeling efforts across multiple agencies
Department of Health and Human Services
Priority Rec.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct CDC to establish guidelines that ensure full reproducibility of CDC's research by sharing with the public all permissible and appropriate information needed to reproduce research results, including, but not limited to, model code. (Recommendation 2)
Open

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concurred with and has begun taking steps to implement this recommendation. As of February 2024, CDC stated it was making progress toward improving the speed, quality, and timeliness of its shared data. It stated it has worked to prioritize and drive high-impact, high quality science to better inform federal, state, and local decision-making efforts. Additionally, CDC stated it has implemented system efficiencies and process improvements to improve data clearance efficiency. To fully address this action, CDC needs to finish updating and provide

Hanford Waste Treatment Plant: DOE Is Pursuing Pretreatment Alternatives, but Its Strategy Is Unclear While Costs Continue to Rise

GAO-20-363
David Trimble
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1 Open Recommendations
1 Priority
Agency Recommendation Status
Department of Energy
Priority Rec.
The Secretary of Energy should direct the Assistant Secretary of Environmental Management to ensure that EM's final AOA for HLW pretreatment at the Hanford Site includes a definition of mission need and life-cycle cost estimates for the baseline or status quo alternative, as called for in the best practices for an AOA process we have identified and DOE guidance. (Recommendation 1)
Open

In January 2023, DOE released its AOA for HLW treatment. DOE also announced in 2023 that holistic negotiations with the state of Washington had concluded but has not yet announced details of the agreement. We will review this agreement once it is made public and assess whether the steps taken by DOE satisfy this recommendation.

Pedestrian Safety: NHTSA Needs to Decide Whether to Include Pedestrian Safety Tests in Its New Car Assessment Program

GAO-20-419
Andrew Von Ah
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2 Open Recommendations
2 Priority
Agency Recommendation Status
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Priority Rec.
The Administrator of NHTSA should document the overall process for making changes to NCAP, including established criteria and milestones for decisions, and share this process with external stakeholders. (Recommendation 2)
Open – Partially Addressed

As of March 2024, NHTSA has updated its website to identify four prerequisites NHTSA considers when determining whether to update the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Those prerequisites include criteria for decisions such as whether the proposed NCAP update would improve safety and whether an objective test procedure exists for the update. The revised webpage also describes NHTSA's process for requesting public comments on proposed changes through the Federal Register before issuing a final decision on NCAP changes. In addition, NHTSA previously requested public comments on proposed changes
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Priority Rec.
The Administrator of NHTSA should decide whether to include pedestrian safety tests in NCAP and NHTSA should communicate this decision and rationale to relevant stakeholders and the public. (Recommendation 3)
Open

As of March 2024, NHTSA has not made or communicated a decision on whether to include pedestrian safety tests in the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). NHTSA previously requested comments from the public on several proposed changes to NCAP, including a proposal to add a testing procedure to NCAP for a technology in many new vehicles that can stop a vehicle before a collision occurs . This technology is known as "pedestrian automatic emergency braking." NHTSA officials told GAO that they received more than 4,000 comments on the proposed changes that they are in the process of analyzing. NHTSA

K-12 Education: Education Needs to Address Significant Quality Issues with its Restraint and Seclusion Data

GAO-20-345
Jacqueline M. Nowicki
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1 Open Recommendations
1 Priority
Agency Recommendation Status
Office for Civil Rights for the Department of Education
Priority Rec.
The Assistant Secretary for the Office for Civil Rights should identify the factors that cause underreporting and misreporting of restraint and seclusion and take steps to help school districts overcome these issues. (Recommendation 5)
Open

Education agreed with this recommendation and stated that it would determine the best means to implement it. In February 2023, Education reported that its Office for Civil Rights is developing a plan to engage some districts in a series of listening sessions in order to help determine what is driving the under and misreporting . The listening sessions are to take place throughout 2023. In July 2023, Education reported that it intends to gather information from at least 9 voluntary school districts, due to limited resources and the OMB process required whenever an agency seeks the same

Cybersecurity: DOD Needs to Take Decisive Actions to Improve Cyber Hygiene

GAO-20-241
Joe Kirschbaum, Nick Marinos
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5 Open Recommendations
5 Priority
Agency Recommendation Status
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Priority Rec.
The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the DOD CIO takes appropriate steps to ensure implementation of the DC3I tasks. (Recommendation 1)
Open

DOD partially agreed with this recommendation. In its comments on our report, the department agreed that two of the seven tasks should be implemented but that the remaining five tasks were either implemented or have been overcome by events. However the department did not provide information demonstrating how tasks encouraging a cybersecurity culture had become overcome by events. Subsequently, between 2020 and 2023, the department issued three issuances that the DOD CIO's office believes implements one of the seven outstanding tasks-including DOD Directive 8140.01, DOD Instruction 8140.02, and
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Priority Rec.
The Secretary of Defense should ensure that DOD components develop plans with scheduled completion dates to implement the four remaining CDIP tasks overseen by DOD CIO. (Recommendation 2)
Open

In 2020, DOD partially agreed with this recommendation. However, in January 2023, DOD CIO officials stated that the office no longer agrees with the recommendation and does not intend on taking any further action to implement it. As we stated in our 2020 report, we believe DOD should be taking action to implement the four tasks, as doing so would better position DOD to meet the Deputy Secretary of Defense's goal of removing preventable vulnerabilities from DOD's network. Such vulnerabilities could allow adversaries to compromise information and information systems.
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Priority Rec.
The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Deputy Secretary of Defense identifies a DOD component to oversee the implementation of the seven CDIP tasks not overseen by DOD CIO and report on progress implementing them. (Recommendation 3)
Open

DOD did not agree with this recommendation when we issued our report, and the department reiterated this position in January 2023. We continue to believe that implementation of this recommendation is important, as several of these tasks are the same or similar to the cybersecurity standards that DOD plans to apply to certain defense contractors in future contract awards to protect DOD information that is stored or transits through their networks as a part of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification framework. To fully implement this recommendation, DOD should identify a DOD component to
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Priority Rec.
The Secretary of Defense should direct a component to monitor the extent to which practices are implemented to protect the department's network from key cyberattack techniques. (Recommendation 6)
Open

DOD did not agree with this recommendation in its comments on our report but subsequently revised its position in January 2023 to agreed with the recommendation. The office of the DOD CIO acknowledged that U.S. Cyber Command and one of its subordinate commands has operational responsibilities associated with DOD networks. We acknowledge that U.S. Cyber Command and its subordinate command have operational responsibilities (to include defensive cyber operations). We are also aware that the DOD CIO is responsible for all matters relating to cybersecurity. DOD CIO officials did not clarify whether
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Priority Rec.
The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the DOD CIO assesses the extent to which senior leaders' have more complete information to make risk-based decisions—and revise the recurring reports (or develop a new report) accordingly. Such information could include DOD's progress on implementing (a) cybersecurity practices identified in cyber hygiene initiatives and (b) cyber hygiene practices to protect DOD networks from key cyberattack techniques. (Recommendation 7)
Open

DOD partially agreed with this recommendation, but in January 2023, it did not report taking any further action to implement it. To provide an update for our 2023 priority recommendation letter, DOD reported that the services, agencies, field activities, and combatant commands are required to provide input to one scorecard that measures cybersecurity across the department. However, the CIO's office did not discuss any efforts to assess whether senior leaders receive information to make risk-based decisions about the cyber hygiene issues we reported in 2020. To implement this recommendation

Aviation: FAA Needs to Better Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Fraud and Abuse Risks in Aircraft Registration

GAO-20-164
Rebecca Shea
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2 Open Recommendations
2 Priority
Agency Recommendation Status
Office of the Administrator
Priority Rec.
The Administrator of FAA should verify aircraft registration applicants' and dealers' eligibility and information. (Recommendation 6)
Open

The agency agreed with this recommendation. In March 2021, FAA reported that it plans to include verification of eligibility for individuals and entities as part of the Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services (CARES) system. In March 2022, FAA reported that it is partnering with external government agencies to identify ways to share data and verify eligibility. In March 2023, FAA reported that CARES Aircraft system was released in December 2022, using third party service to verify applicant information. However, submitted data--beyond individual name, physical address, and citizenship
Office of the Administrator
Priority Rec.
The Administrator of FAA should increase aircraft registration and dealer fees to ensure the fees are sufficient to cover the costs of FAA efforts to collect and verify applicant information while keeping pace with inflation. (Recommendation 7)
Open

The agency agreed with this recommendation. In March 2021, FAA reported that the agency will need a minimum of six months of recordation data, from the time the Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services (CARES) system is live, to assess and inform new fee amounts. In March 2023, FAA reported that the agency deployed the CARES system in December 2022 with limited capabilities. In February 2024, FAA officials told us they created a registry fee cost model that would achieve full cost recovery and be sustainable with inflation. According to FAA, the cost model uses a formula-based approach to

Navy Shipbuilding: Increasing Focus on Sustainment Early in the Acquisition Process Could Save Billions

GAO-20-2
Shelby S. Oakley
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2 Open Recommendations
2 Priority
Agency Recommendation Status
Department of Defense
Priority Rec.
The Secretary of Defense should change its definition for setting operational availability for ships in its Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System policy by adding information that defines the operational availability requirement by mission area in addition to the ship level and includes all equipment failures that affect the ability of a ship to perform primary missions. (Recommendation 1)
Open – Partially Addressed

The Department of Defense (DOD) agreed with GAO's March 2020 recommendation, and in February 2024, officials said they planned to include revisions to the operational availability requirement in a forthcoming update to the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System policy, which is expected to be completed in 2024. In the meantime, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued interim guidance in January 2023 directing the Navy to rely on factors other than category 4 casualty reports when establishing the basis for shipbuilding programs' operational availability
Department of the Navy
Priority Rec.
The Secretary of the Navy should direct the ASN (RD&A) to ensure all shipbuilding programs develop and update LCSPs, in accordance with DOD policy, that demonstrate how a ship class can be affordably operated and maintained while meeting sustainment requirements, including associated business case analyses and identifying sustainment risk. (Recommendation 7)
Open – Partially Addressed

The Navy agreed with our recommendation and, in April 2022, updated its acquisition policy to reiterate that all large acquisition programs--such as shipbuilding programs--were required to develop and regularly update a life-cycle sustainment plan (LCSP). The updated policy also clarified which Navy officials were responsible for drafting and approving the LCSP. Additionally, according to existing DOD policy and guidance, LCSPs should include business case analyses and discussions of sustainment risks. Officials stated the Navy plans to update the LCSPs for all of its shipbuilding programs and

Information Management: Selected Agencies Need to Fully Address Federal Electronic Recordkeeping Requirements

GAO-20-59
Nick Marinos
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2 Open Recommendations
2 Priority
Agency Recommendation Status
Office of the Director
Priority Rec.
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget should establish a time frame to update its policies and procedures to include all of the required electronic information system functionalities for recordkeeping systems. (Recommendation 24)
Open

The Office of Management and Budget concurred with our recommendation. In March 2022, in response to our recommendation, OMB noted that the Executive Office of the President's Office of Administration is responsible for records management for all Executive Office components, which includes OMB, and now has procedures that incorporate electronic information system functionalities. However, as of March 2024, OMB has not provided a time frame for when or documentation that demonstrated that its policies and procedures were updated to include all of the required electronic information system
Office of the Director
Priority Rec.
The Director of the Office of Personnel Management should establish a time frame to develop a plan to manage permanent electronic records. (Recommendation 32)
Open

OPM agreed with this recommendation, which we elevated to priority status in 2022 to emphasize the importance of ensuring that agencies move from paper-based management to electronic management of records. In March 2024, OPM stated that it is in the process of procuring a contract to meet OMB's electronic recordkeeping requirements. Specifically, OPM reported that it has developed a procurement package which is being reviewed by the agency's Office of Procurement Operations before the agency publishes their Request for Quotes. OPM estimates an award date of July, 2024. To fully implement this

Coast Guard: Actions Needed to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Organizational Changes and Determine Workforce Needs

GAO-20-223
Nathan Anderson
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1 Open Recommendations
1 Priority
Agency Recommendation Status
United States Coast Guard
Priority Rec.
The Commandant of the Coast Guard should update its April 2018 Manpower Requirements Plan to include time frames and milestones for completing manpower requirements analyses and determinations for all positions and units. (Recommendation 5)
Open – Partially Addressed

The Coast Guard concurred with this recommendation and said it would update its Manpower Requirements Plan during the next required periodic report submission to Congress, in fiscal year 2022. The Coast Guard stated that this would be completed by March 31, 2022. In June 2022, it stated that it estimated submitting the updated plan to Congress by the end of December 2022. In March 2023, Coast Guard provided its Manpower Requirements Plan to Congress. However, the plan did not include milestones or timeframes for completing manpower requirements analysis and determinations for all positions and

Black Lung Benefits Program: Improved Oversight of Coal Mine Operator Insurance Is Needed

GAO-20-21
Cindy Brown Barnes, Alicia Puente Cackley
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2 Open Recommendations
2 Priority
Agency Recommendation Status
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
Priority Rec.
The Director of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs should develop and implement procedures for coal mine operator self-insurance renewal that clarifies how long an operator is authorized to self-insure; when an operator must submit its renewal application and supporting documentation; and the conditions under which an operator's self-insurance authority would not be renewed. (Recommendation 1)
Open – Partially Addressed

DOL agreed with this recommendation and said it is acting to implement it to achieve further improvements in ensuring the effective oversight of coal mine operator insurance. In December 2021, however, we reported that while DOL took initial steps to implement GAO's recommendation, its reform effort was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic and a review of the program by the current administration, according to DOL officials. After completing the review of the program, DOL officials published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register in January 2023 that proposed revisions to the
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
Priority Rec.
The Director of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs should develop and implement procedures for self-insured coal mine operator appeals that identify time lines for self-insured operators to submit documentation supporting their appeals and that identify a goal for how much time DOL should take to make appeals decisions. (Recommendation 2)
Open – Partially Addressed

DOL agreed with this recommendation and said it is acting to implement it to achieve further improvements in ensuring the effective oversight of coal mine operator insurance. In December 2021, however, we reported that while DOL took initial steps to implement GAO's recommendation its reform effort was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic and a review of the program by the current administration, according to DOL officials. After completing the review of the program, DOL published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register in January 2023 that proposed revisions to the process for
Note: the list of open recommendations for the last report may continue on the next page.

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