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Open Recommendations

Army Corps of Engineers: Communication with Users on Water Storage Fees and Cost Estimates Could Be Improved
GAO-25-107242
Apr 17, 2025
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works should ensure the Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers develop a policy to help ensure effective communication of annual O&M fees to users. Such a policy could include provisions providing users information that explains, in plain language, what activities the fee pays for as well as providing users with a specific opportunity to discuss the fee. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works should ensure the Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers develop and implements an oversight mechanism to ensure that all non-federal users receive the legally required 5-year O&M cost estimates each year. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works should ensure the Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provide estimating instructions for the 5-year O&M cost estimates and consider including recapitalization costs in those estimates. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Debt Limit: Statutory Changes Could Avert the Risk of a Government Default and Its Potentially Severe Consequences
GAO-25-107089
Dec 11, 2024
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Congress Congress should consider immediately removing the debt limit and adopting an approach that better links decisions about the debt with decisions about spending and revenue at the time those decisions are made. (Matter for Consideration 1)
Open
After a debt limit suspension from June 2023 through January 2025, the debt limit was reinstated. As of February 2025, Treasury had begun taking extraordinary measures to avoid default, but no new legislation had been enacted to raise, suspend, or remove the debt limit, or to better link decisions about the debt limit with decisions about spending and revenue at the time those decisions are made. Without such legislation, the nation risks being unable to pay its bills and defaulting on its debt. GAO will continue monitoring legislative action responsive to this matter.

Defense Budget: Additional Information about Military Personnel Realignments Would Facilitate Congressional Oversight
GAO-24-106979
Sep 11, 2024
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5 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) revises the Financial Management Regulation to require the active and reserve components to provide a report to Congress that contains complete information on individual program-level realignments of MILPERS funds. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should ensure that its active and reserve components implement the revised Financial Management Regulation guidance and report realignments by individual program for MILPERS accounts in their annual budget materials. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy should ensure that Navy active and reserve components implement the revised Financial Management Regulation guidance and report realignments by individual program for MILPERS accounts in their annual budget materials. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy should ensure that Marine Corps active and reserve components implement the revised Financial Management Regulation guidance and report realignments by individual program for MILPERS accounts in their annual budget materials. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Air Force The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that its active and reserve components implement the revised Financial Management Regulation guidance and report realignments by individual program for MILPERS accounts in their annual budget materials. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Disaster Relief Fund: Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Could Improve FEMA's Estimates
GAO-24-106676
Jul 09, 2024
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should identify and document lessons learned related to estimating obligations for declared catastrophic disasters based on its experience with COVID-19. (Recommendation 1)
Open
FEMA did not concur with our recommendation; however, we maintain that it is warranted. In January 2025, FEMA told us it believes the analyses it has already conducted, including an analysis of COVID-19 expenditure drawdowns, are sufficient to meet the intent of the recommendation. We have requested documentation of this analysis and of any associated lessons learned related to cost estimation. We will continue to monitor FEMA's efforts and provide further information when we confirm any actions taken to address the recommendation.
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