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Recommendations Database

GAO’s recommendations database contains report recommendations that still need to be addressed. GAO’s priority recommendations are those that we believe warrant priority attention. We sent letters to the heads of key departments and agencies, urging them to continue focusing on these issues. Below you can search only priority recommendations, or search all recommendations.

Our recommendations help congressional and agency leaders prepare for appropriations and oversight activities, as well as help improve government operations. Moreover, when implemented, some of our priority recommendations can save large amounts of money, help Congress make decisions on major issues, and substantially improve or transform major government programs or agencies, among other benefits.

As of October 25, 2020, there are 4812 open recommendations, of which 473 are priority recommendations. Recommendations remain open until they are designated as Closed-implemented or Closed-not implemented.

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Results:

Subject Term: "Emergency planning"

2 publications with a total of 6 open recommendations
Download these results in CSV format or XLSX format.
Public Health Preparedness: HHS Should Take Actions to Ensure It Has an Adequate Number of Effectively Trained Emergency Responders
GAO-20-525, Jun 18, 2020
Director: Mary Denigan-Macauley
Phone: (202) 512-7114

5 open recommendations
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Recommendation: ASPR should develop an NDMS responder workforce target that aligns with the goals and objectives in ASPR's forthcoming strategic plan. (Recommendation 1)

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: ASPR should develop an NDMS responder workforce target that accounts for the critical skills and competencies that are needed to meet current and future programmatic results, such as a workforce target that considers (1) a nationwide event or multiple concurrent events, (2) the needs of at-risk individuals, and (3) the availability of other medical responders. (Recommendation 2)

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: ASPR should develop strategies to fill gaps to achieve its revised workforce target. (Recommendation 3)

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: ASPR should develop a process to evaluate the web-based and in-person training provided to NDMS responders using GAO-identified key practices for evaluating training. (Recommendation 4)

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: ASPR should develop a process or approach to prioritize various in-person training needs for its NDMS responders while taking into account budget constraints. (Recommendation 5)

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Critical Infrastructure Protection: DHS Should Take Actions to Measure Reduction in Chemical Facility Vulnerability and Share Information with First Responders
GAO-18-538, Aug 8, 2018
Director: Chris Currie
Phone: (404) 679-1875

1 open recommendations
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Recommendation: The Director of DHS's National Protection and Programs Directorate's Infrastructure Security Compliance Division (ISCD) should incorporate vulnerability into the CFATS site security scoring methodology to help measure the reduction in the vulnerability of high-risk facilities to a terrorist attack, and use that data in assessing the CFATS program's performance in lowering risk and enhancing national security. (Recommendation 1)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Status: Open

Comments: DHS concurred with this recommendation and has taken steps to implement and monitor two new performance metrics intended to better demonstrate the CFATS program's effectiveness in enhancing national security and reducing national risk. Specifically, according to DHS, these new performance metrics allow for the (1) evaluation of the progress individual facilities have made in enhancing their security while part of the CFATS program, and (2) comparison of the security measures employed by CFATS-covered chemical facilities upon first entering the program against the improved and enhanced security measures contained in their approved CFATS security plans. DHS began reporting the two measures, "Average score of approved Site Security Plans" and "Average score of initial Site Security Plans", for the first quarter of fiscal year 2019. DHS stated that these measures will be used to demonstrate the percent increase in security score of facilities' security plans, resulting in a representation of the increase in the security posture across the facility population, which will be used internally to assess progress. GAO continues to monitor the results of these two new performance metrics.