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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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  • For general information about recommendations, contact GAO's Audit Policy and Quality Assurance office at (202) 512-6100 or apqa@gao.gov.

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Results:

Federal Agency: "Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director"

4 publications with a total of 15 open recommendations including 1 priority recommendation
Download these results in CSV format or XLSX format.
Federal Management: Selected Reforms Could Be Strengthened By Following Additional Planning, Communication, and Leadership Practices
GAO-20-322, Apr 23, 2020
Director: Triana McNeil
Phone: (202) 512-6806

7 open recommendations
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Recommendation: The Director of OMB, working with DHS, should develop a government-wide communications strategy to inform and, as appropriate, involve Congress, employees, and other stakeholders in implementation of the reform proposal to solve the cybersecurity workforce shortage. (Recommendation 1)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: The Director of OMB, working with DHS, should establish a dedicated government-wide leadership team with responsibility for implementing the reform proposal to solve the cybersecurity workforce shortage. (Recommendation 2)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: The Director of OMB, working with DHS, should develop a government-wide implementation plan with goals, timelines, key milestones, and deliverables to track and communicate implementation progress of the reform proposal to solve the cybersecurity workforce shortage. (Recommendation 3)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: The Director of OMB, working with DHS, should provide additional information to describe how the projects and activities associated with the reform proposal to solve the cybersecurity workforce shortage will address our high-risk issues related to ensuring the cybersecurity of the nation. (Recommendation 4)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: The Director of OMB, working with DHS, should develop a government-wide workforce plan that assesses the effects of the reform proposal to solve the cybersecurity workforce shortage on the current and future federal workforce. (Recommendation 5)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: The Director of OMB should assess the costs and benefits of options for operating the GEAR Center. (Recommendation 6)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: The Director of OMB should develop an implementation plan that includes outcome-oriented goals, timelines, key milestones, and deliverables to track and communicate implementation progress of the reform proposal to establish the GEAR Center. (Recommendation 7)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Information Management: Selected Agencies Need to Fully Address Federal Electronic Recordkeeping Requirements
GAO-20-59, Feb 27, 2020
Director: Nick Marinos
Phone: (202) 512-9342

5 open recommendations
Display
Recommendation: The Director of the Office of Management and Budget should ensure, in conjunction with the Executive Office of the President's Office of Administration, that existing policies and procedures incorporate the management of electronic records into its overall records management program. (Recommendation 22)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: The Office of Management and Budget did not state whether or not it concurred with this recommendation. As of June 2020, we had not received information pertaining to planned actions for this recommendation. Once the office states that it has taken action, we plan to verify whether implementation has occurred.
Recommendation: The Director of the Office of Management and Budget should establish a time frame to develop an inventory of electronic information systems used to store agency records that includes all of the required elements. (Recommendation 23)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: The Office of Management and Budget did not state whether or not it concurred with this recommendation. As of June 2020, we had not received information pertaining to planned actions for this recommendation. Once the office states that it has taken action, we plan to verify whether implementation has occurred.
Recommendation: 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)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: The Office of Management and Budget did not state whether or not it concurred with this recommendation. As of June 2020, we had not received information pertaining to planned actions for this recommendation. Once the office states that it has taken action, we plan to verify whether implementation has occurred.
Recommendation: The Director of the Office of Management and Budget should establish a time frame to ensure, in conjunction with the Office of Administration, that policies and procedures include the (1) following records management controls required for electronic information systems: reliability, context, and structure and (2) required preservation mechanisms to ensure that records in its electronic recordkeeping system will be retrievable and useable. (Recommendation 25)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: The Office of Management and Budget did not state whether or not it concurred with this recommendation. As of June 2020, we had not received information pertaining to planned actions for this recommendation. Once the office states that it has taken action, we plan to verify whether implementation has occurred.
Recommendation: The Director of the Office of Management and Budget should ensure, in conjunction with the Office of Administration, that existing policies and procedures include the required retention and management requirements for email. (Recommendation 26)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: The Office of Management and Budget did not state whether or not it concurred with this recommendation. As of June 2020, we had not received information pertaining to planned actions for this recommendation. Once the office states that it has taken action, we plan to verify whether implementation has occurred.
Technology Modernization Fund: OMB and GSA Need to Improve Fee Collection and Clarify Cost Estimating Guidance for Awarded Projects
GAO-20-3, Dec 12, 2019
Director: Carol C. Harris
Phone: (202) 512-4456

2 open recommendations
Display
Recommendation: The Director of OMB should develop and implement a plan with GSA that outlines the actions needed to fully recover the TMF Program Management Office's operating expenses with administrative fee collection in a timely manner. (Recommendation 1)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not yet taken any actions to implement our recommendation. We will continue to monitor OMB's progress in implementing this recommendation.
Recommendation: The Director of OMB should work with GSA to clarify the requirement in the TMF guidance that agencies follow the cost estimating process outlined in Circular A-11 (that references GAO's cost estimating guidance discussed in this report), when developing the proposal cost estimate. (Recommendation 2)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open

Comments: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not yet taken any actions to implement our recommendation. We will continue to monitor OMB's progress in implementing this recommendation.
Cloud Computing Security: Agencies Increased Their Use of the Federal Authorization Program, but Improved Oversight and Implementation Are Needed
GAO-20-126, Dec 12, 2019
Director: Gregory C. Wilshusen
Phone: (202) 512-6244

1 open recommendations
including 1 priority recommendation
Display
Recommendation: The Director of OMB should establish a process for monitoring and holding agencies accountable for authorizing cloud services through FedRAMP. (Recommendation 1)

Agency: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget: Office of the Director
Status: Open
Priority recommendation

Comments: OMB neither agreed nor disagreed with this recommendation and as of September 2020, the office has not provided information on its actions to implement our recommendation. To fully implement this recommendation, OMB needs to collect data on the extent to which federal agencies are using cloud services authorized outside of FedRAMP and oversee agencies' compliance with using the program. According to an OMB Associate General Counsel, the agency does not have a mechanism for enforcing agencies' compliance with its guidance on FedRAMP. However, we believe that OMB can and should hold agencies accountable for complying with its policies. By implementing this recommendation, OMB could substantially improve participation in the FedRAMP program, which is intended to standardize security requirements for federal agencies' authorizations of cloud services. We will update the status of this recommendation when OMB provides information on its corrective actions.