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Open Recommendations

Federal Workforce Data: Improvements Needed to Increase Transparency of Information on Senior Policy and Supporting Positions
GAO-26-108164
Feb 26, 2026
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7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Office of Personnel Management The Director of OPM should develop and implement a process that provides reasonable assurance that reportable positions are included in the PLUM data. This may include such actions as consulting with the White House Office of Presidential Personnel and reviewing other sources of information, such as prior Plum Books, Congress.gov, our Vacancies Database, or Congressional Research Service publications listing Presidential appointees requiring Senate confirmation. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Personnel Management The Director of OPM should implement appropriate technical changes to ESCS and the PLUM Reporting website to ensure each individual in the PLUM data is assigned one unique identifier number that is specific to that individual. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Personnel Management The Director of OPM should incorporate automated data validations or other controls into ESCS, such as spell-check functions which alert agencies to potential errors in their data submissions. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Personnel Management The Director of OPM should document a timeline and implement updates to the PLUM Reporting website and downloadable data file to ensure information on acting officials and officials performing the duties of a vacant position displayed on the PLUM Reporting website is also included in the downloadable data file. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Personnel Management The Director of OPM should document a timeline and implement updates to the PLUM Reporting website and downloadable data file to ensure that the unique identifier numbers displayed on the PLUM Reporting website are included with the downloadable data file. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Personnel Management The Director of OPM should develop a process for engaging with the public on ways to improve the usefulness of the PLUM Reporting website. The process could include providing the public with opportunities to request specific data and resources to help the public use the data and following through on its plans to add a link to the PLUM Reporting website on OPM's data inventory and the Federal Data Catalogue, as required under the OPEN Government Data Act. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Indian Affairs: Opportunities Exist to Address Bureau’s Strained Regional Workforce Capacity
GAO-26-107940
Feb 17, 2026
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should systematically identify and assess opportunities to streamline existing policies, processes, systems, and requirements; the agency should then develop and implement a comprehensive plan to create operational efficiencies. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should systematically assess Tribes' technical assistance needs to expand their use of self-determination contracts and self-governance compacts and formally assess the resources necessary to meet this demand as part of its tribal budget consultation and formulation process. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Service Member Absences: Actions Needed to Improve Response Process
GAO-26-107505
Feb 12, 2026
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12 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should update guidance for responding to service member absences to ensure that it fully addresses the role of mental health issues and potential safety concerns that may arise during the response process. (Recommendation 1)
Open
DOD concurred with this recommendation. We will update the status of this recommendation when we determine what actions DOD has taken.
Department of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy should ensure that the Chief of Naval Operations updates guidance for responding to service member absences to ensure that it designates time frames for the response process as well as recognizing the role of mental health issues and potential safety concerns that may arise during the response process. (Recommendation 2)
Open
DOD concurred with this recommendation. We will update the status of this recommendation when we determine what actions DOD has taken.
Department of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy should ensure that the Commandant of the Marine Corps develops guidance on responding to service member absences that includes designated time frames for the response process and addresses the role of mental health issues and potential safety concerns that may arise during the response process. (Recommendation 3)
Open
DOD concurred with this recommendation. We will update the status of this recommendation when we determine what actions DOD has taken.
Department of the Air Force The Secretary of the Air Force should update guidance for responding to service member absences to ensure that it designates time frames for the response process and addresses the role of mental health issues and potential safety concerns that may arise during the response process. (Recommendation 4)
Open
DOD concurred with this recommendation. We will update the status of this recommendation when we determine what actions DOD has taken.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness issues policy requiring the military services to issue guidance that commanders should presume a service member's absence indicates that they are potentially in danger and should presume absences are most likely involuntary after a specific time period unless available information indicates the absence should be considered voluntary. (Recommendation 5)
Open
DOD concurred with this recommendation. We will update the status of this recommendation when we determine what actions DOD has taken.
Department of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy should ensure that the Chief of Naval Operations updates guidance to be consistent with and implement DOD's revision to DOD-wide guidance, once completed, requiring that commanders should presume a service member's absence indicates that they are potentially in danger and that the commander should presume absences are most likely involuntary after a specific time period unless available information indicates the absence should be considered voluntary. (Recommendation 6)
Open
DOD concurred with this recommendation. We will update the status of this recommendation when we determine what actions DOD has taken.

Federal Telework: Social Security Administration Needs a Plan to Maintain a Workforce with the Skills Needed to Provide Timely Service
GAO-26-107645
Jan 23, 2026
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Social Security Administration The Commissioner of SSA should update SSA's human capital plan to ensure the agency can identify and retain mission-critical staff, given recent changes in its telework posture and efforts to reshape the organization. (Recommendation 1)
Open
SSA subsequently contacted us and stated the agency agreed with this recommendation. We will continue to monitor SSA's progress.
Social Security Administration The Commissioner of SSA should evaluate SSA's telework program so that the agency can identify problems or issues with the program and make appropriate adjustments, and assess the effects of telework on agency performance. (Recommendation 2)
Open
SSA subsequently contacted us and stated the agency agreed with this recommendation. We will continue to monitor SSA's progress.
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