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Open Recommendations

Workforce Innovation And Opportunity Act: Actions Needed to Ensure People with Disabilities Can Access DOL Job Programs

GAO-26-107473
Feb 20, 2026
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Labor The Secretary of Labor should take additional steps to collect more complete data on workforce program participants' disability types. These steps could include targeting technical assistance to states where these data are less complete. (Recommendation 1)
Open
DOL disagreed with this recommendation. In July 2026, DOL said it could take additional steps to increase the completeness of data on individual disability type but cannot commit to increasing data completeness, as individuals may exercise their right to either disclose or withhold this sensitive health information. We continue to believe our recommendation is warranted as DOL could take additional steps without requiring disclosure. To address this recommendation, DOL should take additional steps to collect more complete data, such as providing technical assistance to specific states where data are less complete.
Department of Labor The Secretary of Labor should develop a written procedure for routinely analyzing DOL's state monitoring reports, including associated reports on local workforce agencies, to identify any widespread issues with accessibility for people with disabilities and take appropriate action to address them. (Recommendation 2)
Open
DOL agreed with this recommendation. The agency stated that it will develop additional procedures on routinely analyzing monitoring reports in its next update to an employment and training order on grants management policies and responsibilities. In July 2026, DOL said the update will be completed by the end of fiscal year 2027. To address this recommendation, DOL should complete these additional procedures.
Department of Labor The Secretary of Labor should evaluate state and local workforce agencies' awareness and use of guidance, including its promising practices guide at such time as it is reposted to its website, and technical assistance on ensuring accessibility of its workforce programs for people with disabilities and take steps as needed to improve dissemination or promotion. (Recommendation 3)
Open
DOL agreed with this recommendation. The agency stated that it will identify methods and opportunities to increase dissemination of resources and technical assistance and assess state and local workforce agencies' awareness of them. In July 2026, DOL said it will use platforms, such as WorkforceGPS and will increase dissemination of both new and existing resources and materials. To address this recommendation, DOL will need to evaluate state and local workforce agencies' awareness and use of guidance and technical assistance, including its promising practices guide at such time as it is reposted to its website.

Coast Guard: Additional Actions Needed to Address Reports of Community Discrimination Against Service Members

GAO-26-107875
Feb 11, 2026
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Coast Guard The Commandant of the Coast Guard should ensure that the CRD reviews and clarifies the definition of a social climate incident and ensure that the term is defined the same way in all agency policies, including its Civil Rights Manual and Assignments Manual. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
United States Coast Guard The Commandant of the Coast Guard should ensure that the CRD develops and implements a standardized process for the collection and retention of required social climate incident documentation. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
United States Coast Guard The Commandant of the Coast Guard should ensure that the CRD consistently makes all commands aware of the CRD's social climate incident tools, including the incident reporting data provided through the internal SharePoint website. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Research Security: Agencies Should Assess Safeguards Against Discrimination

GAO-26-107544
Jan 22, 2026
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7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Science Foundation The Director of the NSF should ensure that the Office of the Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy, or the appropriate office within NSF, document an interim risk mitigation process for its TRUST pilot while continuing to develop a final process. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The Administrator of NASA should ensure that the appropriate office document how its interim process addresses risk assessment criteria, remediation steps, and due process rights for research institutions or individuals as it continues to develop its final research security process. (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 Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, or the appropriate office within DOD, assess the agency's research security processes to determine whether current safeguards provide reasonable assurance that discrimination will not occur and whether any additional safeguards would be practical and beneficial. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should ensure that the Research, Technology, and Economic Security Office, or the appropriate office within DOE, assess the agency's research security processes to determine whether current safeguards provide reasonable assurance that discrimination will not occur and whether any additional safeguards would be practical and beneficial. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The Administrator of NASA should ensure that the appropriate office assess the agency's research security processes to determine whether current safeguards provide reasonable assurance that discrimination will not occur and whether any additional safeguards would be practical and beneficial. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
National Institutes of Health The Director of NIH should ensure that the Office of Extramural Research, or the appropriate office within NIH, assess the agency's research security processes to determine whether current safeguards provide reasonable assurance that discrimination will not occur and whether any additional safeguards would be practical and beneficial. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Oversight and Prevent Instructor Sexual Misconduct

GAO-26-107524
Jan 20, 2026
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16 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, revises the standardized MOA with school districts to include all statutory requirements, including (1) a requirement for schools to notify the military service within 48 hours of all allegations of instructor misconduct, regardless of whether investigative or disciplinary actions are taken; (2) a requirement for schools to certify that they annually provide training to students on methods to prevent, respond to, and report sexual misconduct; and (3) a procedure for instructor certifications to expire after not more than 5 years. (Recommendation 1)
Open
DOD did not provide comments on this report and, as of February 2026, has not provided information on how it intends to address this recommendation. We will monitor DOD's actions to address this recommendation going forward.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and in consultation with the Department of Education, develops and publishes standardized Title IX compliance training for JROTC instructors. (Recommendation 2)
Open
DOD did not provide comments on this report and, as of February 2026, has not provided information on how it intends to address this recommendation. We will monitor DOD's actions to address this recommendation going forward.
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should, once the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness develops and publishes standardized Title IX compliance training for JROTC instructors, implement the standardized training by administering it to new and existing instructors on an annual basis. (Recommendation 3)
Open
DOD did not provide comments on this report and, as of February 2026, has not provided information on how it intends to address this recommendation. We will monitor DOD's actions to address this recommendation going forward.
Department of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy should, once the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness develops and publishes standardized Title IX compliance training for JROTC instructors, implement the standardized training by administering it to new and existing instructors on an annual basis. (Recommendation 4)
Open
DOD did not provide comments on this report and, as of February 2026, has not provided information on how it intends to address this recommendation. We will monitor DOD's actions to address this recommendation going forward.
Department of the Air Force The Secretary of the Air Force should, once the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness develops and publishes standardized Title IX compliance training for JROTC instructors, implement the standardized training by administering it to new and existing instructors on an annual basis. (Recommendation 5)
Open
DOD did not provide comments on this report and, as of February 2026, has not provided information on how it intends to address this recommendation. We will monitor DOD's actions to address this recommendation going forward.
Department of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy should ensure the Commandant of the Marine Corps, once the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness develops and publishes standardized Title IX compliance training for JROTC instructors, implements the standardized training by administering it to new and existing instructors on an annual basis. (Recommendation 6)
Open
DOD did not provide comments on this report and, as of February 2026, has not provided information on how it intends to address this recommendation. We will monitor DOD's actions to address this recommendation going forward.

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