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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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Recommendation: To enable FEMA to and more effectively respond to disasters, the Secretary of Homeland Security should direct the FEMA Administrator to develop a workforce strategy to manage and improve retention that includes a process for systematically gathering attrition data and a plan to retain IMAT Cadre-of On-Call Response Employees.
Agency: Department of Homeland Security Status: Open
Comments: In August 2019, FEMA provided an update on the status of actions taken in response to our report. As of April 2019, FEMA stated that they are continuing to work on two actions. One, the development of a new organizational structure. FEMA is still refining and assessing the impact of the new IMAT structure. Two, in April 2019, FEMA delivered a new IMAT Program Orientation to nineteen new IMAT members. FEMA plans to analyze the impact of these changes along with attrition information. It plans to develop a high-level blueprint of the actions taken by FEMA to better manage the IMAT program and retain staff. Until completion of the action items, this recommendation will remain open. FEMA officials plan to provide a status update and finalize their efforts by September 2019. As of July 2020, FEMA officials have not completed steps to implement a revised IMAT structure. FEMA anticipates completing several actions by September 2020 and finalizing their plan by December 2020. However, due to COVID-19, the agency may face additional delays in doing so.
