New High Risk Area: Improving the Delivery of Federal Disaster Assistance
Description
GAO's High-Risk List identifies government operations with serious vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, or in need of transformation. New to the list in 2025 is the delivery of federal disaster assistance.
In 2024, there were 27 disasters with at least $1 billion in economic damages. FEMA and other federal entities--including Congress--need to address the nation's fragmented federal approach to disaster recovery. Attention is also needed to improve processes for assisting survivors, invest in resilience, and strengthen FEMA's disaster workforce and capacity.
In 2024, there were 27 disasters with at least $1 billion in economic damages. FEMA and other federal entities--including Congress--need to address the nation's fragmented federal approach to disaster recovery. Attention is also needed to improve processes for assisting survivors, invest in resilience, and strengthen FEMA's disaster workforce and capacity.