The Technology Assessment Design Handbook identifies tools and approaches GAO staff and others can consider in the design of robust and rigorous technology assessments (TAs). The handbook underscores the importance of TA design (Chapter 1), outlines the process of designing TAs (Chapter 2), and describes approaches for mitigating selected TA design and implementation challenges (Chapter 3). While

GAO's review of studies and interviews with employment and retirement experts identified 17 countries with aging populations and national pension systems similar to the Social Security program in the United States. These countries also have arrangements that allow workers to reduce their working hours as they transition into retirement, referred to as "phased retirement." Phased retirement arrang

Graduate PLUS Borrowers: As of June 30, 2017, the median borrower of Graduate PLUS (Grad PLUS) loans--federal loans made to graduate or professional students to pay for educational expenses not covered by other financial aid--had taken out over $140,000 in federal student loans (including Grad PLUS, undergraduate, and other graduate loans). This amount includes a total of nearly $27,000 in Grad P

GAO was asked to examine five areas related to the Trump-Pence Transition: Legal and organizational framework: The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (PTA), as amended, outlines the legal and organizational framework used during the Trump-Pence transition. The framework includes several mechanisms that guided this presidential transition. For example, a Federal Transition Coordinator was designa

The Capitol Police Board (Board) has wide-ranging responsibilities and according to experts with knowledge of law enforcement oversight bodies, like civilian oversight boards, the Board's scope is unique by comparison. For example, the Board has authority for security decisions, as well as certain human capital and personnel matters, including the approval of officer terminations. In 2013, the Bo

GAO found that recorded cash receipts of the Senate Stationery Room for fiscal year 2014 were accurate and supported by documentation approved by authorized management. In addition, GAO found that recorded cash disbursements for fiscal year 2014 were accurate, generally supported by documentation approved by authorized management, and consistent with the purpose of the Senate Stationery Room Revo

GAO found that recorded cash receipts and disbursements of the Senate Gift Shop Revolving Fund (Fund) for fiscal year 2014 were accurate and supported by documentation approved by authorized management. In addition, GAO found that cash disbursements for fiscal year 2014 were consistent with the purpose of the Fund. Specifically, GAO found that cash receipts were (1) accurately recorded in the dai

GAO found that the Senate Office of Public Records Revolving Fund's (Fund) total recorded cash receipts of $10,027 for fiscal year 2014 were accurate and supported by documentation. Specifically, GAO found that the receipts were sequentially numbered without gaps and applicable to fiscal year 2014. GAO also found that the Fund's total cash receipt activity for fiscal year 2014 reconciled to the S

On May 8, 2015, GAO performed agreed-upon procedures at the Senate Disbursing Office (SDO), consisting of (1) identifying and confirming the authorized and reported amount of cash accountability for the Secretary of the Senate, (2) counting all cash items that support the cash accountability level of the SDO, (3) counting all noncash items that support the cash accountability level of the SDO, an

For fiscal years 2011 and 2012, the Fund's recorded investment and operating transactions were authorized in advance, supported by documentation, accurately accounted for, and in compliance with the applicable laws that GAO deemed significant to the objectives of our audit. We also found that the Commission had operating and oversight practices for the Fund documented and in place for the receipt