Reports & Testimonies

  1. Share with Facebook 
  2. Share with Twitter 
  3. Share with LinkedIn 
  4. Share with mail 

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.

Browse or Search Open Recommendations

Search


Have a Question about a Recommendation?

  • For questions about a specific recommendation, contact the person or office listed with the recommendation.
  • For general information about recommendations, contact GAO's Audit Policy and Quality Assurance office at (202) 512-6100 or apqa@gao.gov.

« Back to Results List Sort by   

Results:

Subject Term: "Unemployment compensation programs"

2 publications with a total of 5 open recommendations including 2 priority recommendations
Download these results in CSV format or XLSX format.
Unemployment Insurance: Actions Needed to Ensure Consistent Reporting of Overpayments and Claimants' Compliance with Work Search Requirements
GAO-18-486, Aug 22, 2018
Director: Cindy Brown Barnes
Phone: (202) 512-7215

4 open recommendations
including 2 priority recommendations
Display
Recommendation: The Assistant Secretary of DOL's Employment and Training Administration should provide states with information about its determination that the use of state formal warning policies is no longer permissible under federal law. (Recommendation 1)

Agency: Department of Labor
Status: Open
Priority recommendation

Comments: DOL agreed with this recommendation. The agency stated that it would take action to provide states with information about its determination that the use of state formal warning policies is no longer permissible under federal law. As of December 2019, DOL reported that it is developing new guidance that states can no longer use formal warnings. We will consider closing this recommendation when the agency completes this effort.
Recommendation: The Assistant Secretary of DOL's Employment and Training Administration should monitor states' efforts to discontinue the use of formal warning policies. (Recommendation 2)

Agency: Department of Labor
Status: Open

Comments: DOL agreed with this recommendation and stated that it would monitor states' efforts to discontinue the use of formal warning policies. In December 2019, DOL reported that it has been developing new guidance that more explicitly informs states that formal warning policies are not permissible. We will consider closing this recommendation when the agency completes this effort and monitors states' compliance with the guidance.
Recommendation: The Assistant Secretary of DOL's Employment and Training Administration should clarify information on work search verification requirements in its revised Benefit Accuracy Measurement procedures. The revised procedures should include an explanation of what DOL considers to be sufficient verification of claimants' work search activities. (Recommendation 3)

Agency: Department of Labor
Status: Open
Priority recommendation

Comments: DOL agreed with this recommendation and stated that it would clarify information on work search verification requirements in its revised Benefit Accuracy Measurement procedures. In December 2019, DOL reported that it is developing new guidance with instructions to clarify work search verification requirements. To fully implement this recommendation, DOL should finalize and publish these instructions on verifying claimants' work search activities and provide the clear directions to states.
Recommendation: The Assistant Secretary of DOL's Employment and Training Administration should monitor states' compliance with the clarified work search verification requirements. (Recommendation 4)

Agency: Department of Labor
Status: Open

Comments: DOL agreed with this recommendation and stated that it would monitor states' compliance with clarified work search verification requirements. In December 2019, DOL reported that it is working with the Office of Management and Budget on its draft work search guidance that will more explicitly inform states that formal warning policies are not permissible. We will close this recommendation when DOL publishes these instructions, providing states with clear directions, and monitors their compliance with the guidance.
Military Personnel: Performance Measures Needed to Determine How Well DOD's Credentialing Program Helps Servicemembers [Reissued on October 21, 2016]
GAO-17-133, Oct 17, 2016
Director: Brenda S. Farrell
Phone: (202) 512-3604

1 open recommendations
Display
Recommendation: To improve the management of DOD's credentialing program and better determine whether the program is achieving its desired results, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to develop and implement program performance measures that include key attributes, such as a baseline and goals, that can be used to assess performance.

Agency: Department of Defense
Status: Open

Comments: DOD did not concur with our recommendation to develop and implement performance measures for its credentialing program. In its response to the recommendation, DOD stated that servicemembers are not required to earn credentials and more than half of the credentials earned by servicemembers are voluntary. Therefore, establishing criteria that might create an incentive to force servicemembers into earning voluntary credentials would be counterproductive. DOD also stated that a basic reporting system is in place that captures credential attainment and associated costs that provides basic information to gauge the program's performance. As of April 2020, the department still does not plan to develop performance measures for the program.