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Open Recommendations

Installation Maintenance: Better Information on Risks and Challenges Needed to Improve Oversight of DOD Facility Conditions
GAO-26-107255
Aug 21, 2026
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13 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, in coordination with the secretaries of the military departments, fully determine the risks to missions and quality of life associated with funding facility sustainment below recommended levels through a risk assessment and communicates the results of this risk assessment to Congress and DOD leadership to help determine budget priorities. (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 Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, in coordination with the secretaries of the military departments, fully determine the risks to missions and quality of life associated with backlogs in military construction and facility repair projects through a risk assessment and communicates the results of this risk assessment and the extent of these backlogs to Congress and DOD leadership to help determine budget priorities. (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 Army The Secretary of the Army, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, should identify critical shortages in the maintenance workforce across Army installations and develop strategies to help installations address these shortages. (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, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, should identify critical shortages in the maintenance workforce across Navy installations and develop strategies to help installations address these shortages. (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 Navy The Secretary of the Navy, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, should identify critical shortages in the maintenance workforce across Marine Corps installations and develop strategies to help installations address these shortages. (Recommendation 5)
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, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, should identify critical shortages in the maintenance workforce across Air Force and Space Force installations and develop strategies to help installations address these shortages. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Law Enforcement: DOJ Should Improve Training and Misconduct Guidelines for Nonfederal Task Force Officers
GAO-26-108468
Aug 03, 2026
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7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives The Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives should update its policy to include a requirement for nonfederal task force officers to receive their initial training on federal legal authorities and policies before engaging in task force operations requiring their use of federal deputation authority. (Recommendation 1)
Open
DOJ agreed with the recommendation. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Drug Enforcement Administration The Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration should update its policy to include a requirement for nonfederal task force officers to receive their initial training on federal legal authorities and policies before engaging in task force operations requiring their use of federal deputation authority. (Recommendation 2)
Open
DOJ agreed with the recommendation. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Bureau of Investigation The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation should update its policy to include a requirement for nonfederal task force officers to receive their initial training on federal legal authorities and policies before engaging in task force operations requiring their use of federal deputation authority. (Recommendation 3)
Open
DOJ agreed with the recommendation. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives The Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, in consultation with the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, should develop guidelines to inform field management decisions when adjudicating allegations of nonfederal task force officer misconduct. (Recommendation 4)
Open
DOJ agreed with the recommendation. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Drug Enforcement Administration The Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, in consultation with the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, should develop guidelines to inform field management decisions when adjudicating allegations of nonfederal task force officer misconduct. (Recommendation 5)
Open
DOJ agreed with the recommendation. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Bureau of Investigation The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in consultation with the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, should develop guidelines to inform field management decisions when adjudicating allegations of nonfederal task force officer misconduct. (Recommendation 6)
Open
DOJ agreed with the recommendation. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

National Nuclear Security Administration: Additional Actions Needed to Plan for Science, Technology, and Engineering Facilities and Workforce Investments
GAO-26-107904
Jul 15, 2026
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Nuclear Security Administration The NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs should ensure completion of a comprehensive analysis of the workforce and programmatic investments needed to implement the ST&E facilities and capabilities described in the Integrated ST&E Plan. (Recommendation 1)
Open
On August 14, 2026, NNSA provided its 180-day letter describing the agency's planned response to our recommendations. According to NNSA, the agency plans to complete a comprehensive analysis of the workforce and program uplifts needed to successfully plan, design, build, and operate the ST&E capabilities necessary to achieve NNSA's mission. NNSA commits to completing this action by December 31, 2027. We will continue to monitor agency efforts to implement this recommendation
National Nuclear Security Administration The NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs should regularly update the integrated assessment of ST&E facility investment needs to reflect changing priorities. (Recommendation 2)
Open
On August 14, 2026, NNSA provided its 180-day letter describing the agency's planned response to our recommendations. According to NNSA, the agency plans to develop a process for regular, periodic updates to the integrated ST&E plan, as changes in the strategic environment and advances in technology or capabilities can require NNSA to adapt its ST&E strategy. NNSA commits to completing this action by December 31, 2026. We will continue to monitor agency efforts to implement this recommendation.

Space Force: Additional Actions Needed to Address Workforce Challenges
GAO-26-107868
Jul 14, 2026
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4 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Air Force The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Chief of Space Operations develops service-specific guidance that establishes a process to accurately determine personnel requirements. (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 Air Force The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Chief of Space Operations develops a standard process to accurately and consistently track the number of contractor personnel supporting the service, documents this process in guidance, and implements this process across the service. (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 Air Force The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Chief of Space Operations develops a comprehensive, strategic workforce plan that incorporates key principles, including determining the critical skills and competencies needed to achieve long-term goals and developing strategies that are tailored to address critical competency gaps, as part of the Space Force's long-term force design efforts. (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 Air Force The Secretary of the Air Force should ensure that the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Chief of Space Operations comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of the current arrangement for Air Force-provided base operating and other support functions for the Space Force and make any necessary revisions to the Air Force-Space Force Memorandum of Understanding resulting from the evaluation. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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