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Open Recommendations

Public Health Preparedness: Action Needed to Address National and Biosecurity Risks Associated with Disposal of Federal Laboratory Equipment
GAO-26-107729
Oct 01, 2026
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4 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
General Services Administration The Administrator of GSA should develop a standard approach for agencies to indicate when laboratory equipment going through the GSA disposal process is on the Commerce Control List, such as adding a dedicated field to its property management system. (Recommendation 1)
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When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Health and Human Services The Secretary of HHS should implement plans to revise its policy to specify that staff are required to identify when laboratory equipment going through the GSA disposal process is on the Commerce Control List. (Recommendation 2)
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When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Health and Human Services The Secretary of HHS should, as part of the agency's overall risk management efforts, regularly assess the biosecurity risks associated with the disposal of laboratory equipment, such as the risk of nefarious actors acquiring the equipment to create a biological weapon or obtain sensitive information. HHS, in coordination with GSA, should take steps as appropriate to mitigate any identified risks based on the results of this assessment. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of USDA should, as part of the agency's overall risk management efforts, regularly assess the biosecurity risks associated with the disposal of laboratory equipment, such as the risk of nefarious actors acquiring the equipment to create a biological weapon or obtain sensitive information. USDA, in coordination with GSA, should take steps as appropriate to mitigate any identified risks based on the results of this assessment. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Tobacco Products: FDA Should Monitor Timeliness of Application Reviews
GAO-26-108195
Oct 01, 2026
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Food and Drug Administration The Commissioner of FDA should collect the data necessary to accurately monitor whether it is meeting its timeliness goals for the scientific review phase for all tobacco product application pathways and monitor whether it is meeting these goals. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

VA Health Care: Prevalence Information Needed to Better Understand and Address Harassment Involving Veterans
GAO-26-109183
Sep 30, 2026
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Veterans Affairs The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should take steps to periodically identify the prevalence of harassment-related behaviors—including harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual assault—involving veterans at VAMCs to better understand and address the systemwide occurrence of these behaviors. This could include, for example, steps to add scenario-based questions to an existing survey or developing a new representative survey. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

VA Health Care: Action Needed to Improve Fertility Care Communications and Eligibility Determination Process
GAO-26-108492
Sep 29, 2026
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Veterans Health Administration The Under Secretary for Health should direct the Office of Women's Health to implement key performance management practices to increase the effectiveness of its communications related to VHA fertility care and eligibility by (1) setting goals with quantitative targets and time frames, (2) collecting data to measure progress towards those goals, and (3) using these data to assess performance and make adjustments as needed. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Veterans Health Administration The Under Secretary for Health should determine whether the fertility eligibility determination process is working as intended, making adjustments as needed. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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