Workplace sexual harassment is illegal. But how prevalent is it? And how costly are legal fees, lost productivity, and other consequences? We found few reliable nationwide estimates across workplaces. Experts say recurring national surveys would help answer these questions. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission collects data on sexual harassment claims but can't fully analyze the problem. Sp...

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which issue mortgage-backed securities, to ensure diversity in their workforce and include diverse businesses in their business activities. From 2011-2019, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac slightly increased the number of women and minorities on their boards of directors and in senior management and recruited diverse work...

Studies have noted that historical trauma, exposure to violence, and substance abuse make Native American youth susceptible to becoming involved with the justice system. Four federal departments administered at least 38 grant programs (and about $1.9 billion) that could help prevent or address delinquency among Native American youth between FYs 2015-2018. These departments incorporated several lea...

We testified about our recent report on sexual harassment at the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA has policies to prevent and address harassment, but some are inconsistent and incomplete. For example, the person who oversees personnel functions (e.g., hiring, promotions) is the same person who oversees the complaint process. This can create a conflict of interest. In addition, VA doesn't central...

In addition to their role in education, public schools serve as voting locations, emergency shelters, and more. But can people with disabilities access all public school buildings? Our national survey found two-thirds of school districts had facilities with physical barriers that may limit access. For example, steep ramps at school entrances can make it hard for people with disabilities to get in...

The U.S. Agency for International Development has tried to increase staff diversity. We reviewed how its workforce changed over 2002–2018. Overall, the proportion of racial or ethnic minorities in USAID’s full-time, permanent, career workforce rose from 33 to 37%, but proportions of some groups fell. Also, racial or ethnic minorities in the Civil Service were 31 to 41% less likely to be promo...

The State Department has expressed a commitment to building a workforce that reflects the diverse composition of the United States. We testified on State’s progress. Though State's workforce has grown more diverse, racial or ethnic minorities are still underrepresented, especially in the senior ranks. Racial or ethnic minorities in State’s Civil Service were 4% to 29% less likely to be promo...

We testified about our report on whether there are racial or ethnic disparities in the military justice system and responses to that report’s recommendations. Among other things, we found In all military services Blacks and Hispanics were more likely than Whites to be tried in a court-martial proceeding Race was not a statistically significant factor for a conviction The military services do...

A federal survey estimates that 22% of Veterans Affairs employees experienced workplace sexual harassment in 2014-2016. VA has policies to prevent and address harassment, but some are inconsistent and incomplete. For example, the person who oversees personnel functions (e.g., hiring, promotions) is the same person who oversees the complaint process. This can create a conflict of interest. In add...

We looked at federal agencies’ efforts to hire and retain individuals with disabilities. Agencies hired about 143,600 persons with disabilities from 2011-2015—exceeding the federal target of 100,000. Agencies made an additional 79,600 hires in 2016 and 2017. About 39% of those with disabilities hired in 2011-2017 stayed less than a year, compared to about 43% of those without disabilities. A...