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gao_GAO-18-358 | gao_GAO-18-358_0 | Background
TRICARE Regional Structure and Contracts
Under TRICARE, beneficiaries may obtain health care through DOD’s system of military hospitals and clinics, referred to as military treatment facilities (MTF), or from civilian providers. DHA uses managed care support contractors to develop networks of civilia... | Why GAO Did This Study
DOD offers health care services to approximately 9.4 million eligible beneficiaries through TRICARE, DOD's regionally structured health care program. In each of its regions, DOD uses contractors to manage health care delivery through civilian provider networks, among other tasks.
The NDAA 2017 m... |
gao_GAO-18-506T | gao_GAO-18-506T_0 | Background
Under the Homeland Security Act of 2002, responsibility for the apprehension, temporary detention, transfer, and repatriation of unaccompanied children is delegated to DHS; and responsibility for coordinating and implementing the care and placement of unaccompanied children is delegated HHS’s Office of... | Why GAO Did This Study
ORR is responsible for coordinating and implementing the care and placement of unaccompanied children—that is, children who enter the United States with no lawful immigration status. The number of these children taken into custody by DHS and placed in ORR's care rose from about 6,600 in fiscal y... |
gao_GAO-18-326 | gao_GAO-18-326_0 | Background
DOD’s organizational structure includes the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military departments, numerous defense agencies and field activities, and various unified combatant commands that contribute to the oversight of DOD’s acquisition programs. Prior to February 2... | Why GAO Did This Study
DOD's MAIS programs are intended to help the agency sustain its key operations. In April 2017, recognizing that MAIS programs met different mission needs, DOD categorized its MAIS programs into business and non-business systems.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 include... |
gao_GAO-19-214 | gao_GAO-19-214_0 | Background
The FMS program, which transfers defense articles and services to international partners and organizations, is essentially an acquisition process through which the U.S. government procures military equipment, training, and other services on behalf of foreign customers. Multiple organizations have a rol... | Why GAO Did This Study
DOD manages the procurement of billions of dollars in defense items and services on behalf of foreign customers through the FMS program. These sales help support the defense industrial base and are vital to U.S. foreign policy and national security interests.
The FMS process generally begins wit... |
gao_GAO-18-550 | gao_GAO-18-550_0 | Background
To help manage its multi-billion dollar acquisition investments across its components, DHS has established policies and organizations for requirements validation, acquisition management, and budgeting. The department uses these to monitor and guide delivery of the acquisition programs the components re... | Why GAO Did This Study
GAO has previously found that DHS's components had acquisition programs that did not meet requirements and that those requirements were, in some cases, poorly defined. Poorly defined requirements increase the risk that acquisitions will not meet the needs of users in the field—for example, borde... |
gao_GAO-18-99 | gao_GAO-18-99_0 | Background
NNSA’s strategic materials programs include a broad range of activities. The programs often include (1) building unique new facilities, (2) modifying and repairing existing facilities and equipment, and (3) developing and deploying new technologies for processing and producing strategic nuclear materia... | Why GAO Did This Study
NNSA is responsible for ensuring a sustainable supply of strategic materials critical to the nation's nuclear security missions, as well as the capability to process these materials. NNSA estimates that strategic materials management activities will cost about $7.7 billion over the next 5 years.... |
gao_GAO-18-354 | gao_GAO-18-354_0 | Background
DHS’s Homeland Security Grant Program
The federal government has provided financial assistance to public and private stakeholders for preparedness activities through various grant programs administered by DHS through its component agency, FEMA. Through these grant programs, DHS has sought to enhance ... | Why GAO Did This Study
FEMA, a component of DHS, provides preparedness grants to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to help prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate terrorist attacks or other disasters. SHSP grants fund the nation's 56 states and territories, while UA... |
gao_GAO-18-520T | gao_GAO-18-520T_0 | Background
Federal agencies and our nation’s critical infrastructures—such as energy, transportation systems, communications networks, and financial services—are dependent on computerized (cyber) information systems and electronic data to process, maintain, and report essential information, and to operate and con... | Why GAO Did This Study
The emergence of increasingly sophisticated threats and continuous reporting of cyber incidents underscores the continuing and urgent need for effective information security. GAO first designated information security as a government-wide high- risk area in 1997. GAO expanded the high-risk area t... |
gao_GAO-18-22 | gao_GAO-18-22_0 | Background
Statutory and Executive requirements assert broad principles and require agencies to consider alternative ways of regulating and preferred regulatory designs, such as performance standards rather than means- based design standards. Further, these requirements and directives urge agencies to consider alt... | Why GAO Did This Study
Within the limits of their statutory authority, agencies may design their regulations in different ways to achieve intended policy outcomes. Agencies also decide how they will promote compliance with their regulations and ensure that regulated entities are informed of regulatory requirements.
GA... |
gao_GAO-19-96 | gao_GAO-19-96_0 | Background
The Aviation and Transportation Security Act established TSA as the federal agency with primary responsibility for securing the nation’s civil aviation system, which includes acquiring technology to screen and secure travelers at the nation’s TSA-regulated airports. TSARA defines SRT as any technology ... | Why GAO Did This Study
Enacted in December 2014, TSARA introduced legislative reforms to promote greater transparency and accountability in TSA's SRT acquisitions.
TSARA contains a provision that GAO submit two reports to Congress on TSA's progress in implementing TSARA. In February 2016, GAO issued the first report t... |
gao_GAO-18-598T | gao_GAO-18-598T_0 | Background
Among health care programs, Medicaid is the largest as measured by enrollment (over 73 million in fiscal year 2017) and the second largest as measured by expenditures ($596 billion in fiscal year 2017), second only to Medicare. The CMS Office of the Actuary projected that Medicaid spending would grow a... | Why GAO Did This Study
Medicaid, a joint federal-state health care program overseen by CMS, is a significant component of federal and state budgets, with total estimated expenditures of $596 billion in fiscal year 2017.
Medicaid allows significant flexibility for states to design and implement program innovations base... |
gao_GAO-19-33 | gao_GAO-19-33_0 | Background
Personal property refers to a wide variety of property that may include commonly used items such as computers, office equipment and furniture, and vehicles, as well as more specialized property specific to agencies such as medical equipment for VA and medical helicopters for the Army. See figure 1.
The... | Why GAO Did This Study
According to the U.S. Treasury, the government owns about $1.3 trillion in “personal property” such as computers, furniture, and vehicles. Federal law authorizes agencies to exchange or sell personal property and retain the allowances or proceeds for replacing similar needed property. These are ... |
gao_GAO-19-20 | gao_GAO-19-20_0 | Background
Although less visible than other transportation modes and not as vast as they are, inland waterways allow shippers to transport goods, particularly bulk commodities, in a relatively cost-effective and environmentally friendly method between ports all along the waterways, and to coastal ports for transp... | Why GAO Did This Study
The Corps is primarily responsible for operating and maintaining the nation's inland waterways, including maintaining locks and dams as well as rehabilitating, modernizing, or constructing new infrastructure as needed. Persistent schedule delays and cost overruns for inland-waterways constructio... |
gao_GAO-19-117 | gao_GAO-19-117_0 | Background
CHIP-IN Act
According to VA officials and Omaha donor group representatives, two main factors coalesced to become the impetus for the CHIP-IN Act.
One factor was an Omaha donor group’s interest in constructing an ambulatory care center that could help address the needs of veterans in the area, given ... | Why GAO Did This Study
VA has pressing infrastructure needs. The Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 (CHIP-IN Act) authorized VA to accept donated real property—such as buildings or facility construction or improvements—through a pilot program. VA has initiated ... |
gao_GAO-18-654 | gao_GAO-18-654_0 | Background
Preventing Conflict and Seeking Stability Abroad Are U.S. Priorities
The National Security Strategy released in December 2017 states that the U.S. government has a national security interest in addressing conflict and instability in fragile and failing nations. The strategy commits to strengthening n... | Why GAO Did This Study
The United States has a national security interest in promoting stability in conflict-affected countries to prevent or mitigate the consequences of armed conflict, according to the 2017 National Security Strategy. State, USAID, and DOD have reported that a collaborative government approach is an... |
gao_GAO-18-16 | gao_GAO-18-16_0 | Background
There are three main types of U.S. commercial fishing vessels: catcher vessels that catch fish and deliver them to shore for processing; tender vessels that purchase and transport fish from catcher vessels and resupply fishers with food, fuel, and other necessities; and fish processing vessels that bot... | Why GAO Did This Study
Commercial fishing has one of the highest death rates of any industry in the United States. Fishing vessels that are at least 50 feet long and were built after 2013 are required by law to be built and maintained to rules developed by a classification society, a process known as classing. Congres... |
gao_GAO-17-802T | gao_GAO-17-802T_0 | FCC Has Not Evaluated Lifeline’s Performance in Meeting Program Goals but Has Taken Recent Steps toward Evaluation
FCC has not evaluated Lifeline’s performance in meeting program goals but, as we found in May 2017, has taken recent steps toward evaluation. According to GAO’s Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide, to... | Why GAO Did This Study
Created in the mid-1980s, FCC's Lifeline program provides discounts to eligible low-income households for home or wireless telephone and, as of December 2016, broadband service. Lifeline reimburses telephone companies that offer discounts through the USF, which in turn is generally supported by ... |
gao_GAO-18-367T | gao_GAO-18-367T_0 | Background
Under the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, a PTC system must be designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, derailments due to excessive speed, incursions into work zone limits, and the movement of a train through a switch left in the wrong position. Railroads may implement any PTC system that m... | Why GAO Did This Study
Forty-one railroads including 29 commuter railroads are required by statute to implement PTC. Commuter railroads unable to implement a PTC system by December 31, 2018, may receive a maximum 2-year extension if they meet certain statutory criteria.
GAO was asked to review commuter railroads' PTC ... |
gao_GAO-18-628 | gao_GAO-18-628_0 | Background
Individuals who have a limited ability to care for themselves due to physical, cognitive, or mental disabilities or conditions may require a range of LTSS that include hands-on assistance with, or supervision of, daily tasks. Individuals with LTSS needs range from young children to older adults, and th... | Why GAO Did This Study
The need for LTSS to assist individuals with limited abilities for self-care is expected to increase, in part due to the aging of the population. Medicaid is the nation's primary payer of LTSS, with spending estimated at $167 billion in 2016. State Medicaid programs are generally required to cov... |
gao_GAO-18-431T | gao_GAO-18-431T_0 | Executive Branch Agencies Have Made Progress Reforming the Security Clearance Process, but Long-Standing Key Initiatives Remain Incomplete
The PAC Has Made Progress Reforming the Personnel Security Clearance Process
The PAC has made progress in reforming the personnel security clearance process and implementing v... | Why GAO Did This Study
The government-wide personnel security clearance process was designated as a high-risk area in January 2018 because it represents one of the highest management risks in government.
This testimony focuses on, among other things, the extent to which executive branch agencies (1) made progress refo... |
gao_GAO-19-9 | gao_GAO-19-9_0 | Background
Federal and State Marijuana Laws
Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the cannabis plant, which contains the psychoactive or mind-altering chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as well as other related compounds. Marijuana is a controlled substance under federal... | Why GAO Did This Study
Marijuana is generally illegal under federal law. Nonetheless, an increasing number of states have legalized medical or recreational marijuana under state law. However, in these states, some marijuana-related activity may still be illegal under state law. Since 1981, DEA's DCE/SP has provided fi... |
gao_GAO-18-469T | gao_GAO-18-469T_0 | Experts and Stakeholders Have Proposed Restructuring EOIR’s Immigration Court System
As we reported in June 2017, some immigration court experts and stakeholders have recommended restructuring EOIR’s administrative review and appeals functions within the immigration court system— immigration courts and BIA—and the ... | Why GAO Did This Study
DOJ's EOIR is responsible for conducting immigration court proceedings, appellate reviews, and administrative hearings to fairly, expeditiously, and uniformly administer and interpret U.S. immigration laws and regulations.
This statement addresses (1) scenarios that experts and stakeholders have... |
gao_GAO-18-421 | gao_GAO-18-421_0 | Background
Under SBA’s 7(a) loan program, SBA guarantees loans made by commercial lenders to small businesses for working capital and other general business purposes. These lenders are mostly banks, but some are non-bank lenders, including small business lending companies— lenders whose lending activities are not... | Why GAO Did This Study
SBA's 7(a) program is required to serve creditworthy small business borrowers who cannot obtain credit through a conventional lender at reasonable terms. The Joint Explanatory Statement of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 includes a provision for GAO to review the 7(a) program.
This rep... |
gao_GAO-19-81 | gao_GAO-19-81_0 | Background
U.S. taxpayers who earn income abroad may be subject to U.S. taxes on that income. Firms incorporated in the United States can earn income from their own foreign activities or through their ownership of foreign subsidiaries. In such cases, income is subject to tax in both the country where it was earne... | Why GAO Did This Study
With increasing globalization, multinational corporations can take advantage of differences in countries' corporate tax systems to reduce their overall tax liabilities. However, globalization can also lead to disputes about the correct tax liability for U.S. MNCs in different countries. GAO was ... |
gao_GAO-18-222 | gao_GAO-18-222_0 | Background
FHWA and FTA fund and oversee highway and transit projects, respectively. FHWA funds highway projects through formula grants to state DOTs, provides technical expertise to state DOTs, and conducts oversight of highway projects through its division offices in each state. FTA funds a variety of transit p... | Why GAO Did This Study
Since 2005, over 30 provisions have been enacted in law to speed up the delivery of highway and transit projects, mainly by streamlining the NEPA review process. NEPA requires federal agencies to evaluate the potential environmental effects of proposed projects on the human environment. These pr... |
gao_GAO-19-164 | gao_GAO-19-164_0 | Background
FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters. It provides assistance to those affected by emergencies and disasters by supplying immediate needs (e.g., ice, water, food, and temporary housing) and providing financial assistance grants for damage to personal or public property. F... | Why GAO Did This Study
FEMA, a component of DHS, annually awards billions of dollars in grants to help communities prepare for, mitigate the effects of, and recover from major disasters. However, FEMA's complex IT environment supporting grants management consists of many disparate systems. In 2008, the agency attempte... |
gao_GAO-18-565 | gao_GAO-18-565_0 | Background
Considerations for Exchange Enrollment and Plan Selection
Qualified health plans sold through the exchanges must meet certain minimum requirements, including those related to benefits coverage. Beyond these requirements, many elements of plans can vary, including their cost and availability. Those wh... | Why GAO Did This Study
Since 2014, millions of consumers have purchased health insurance from the exchanges established by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Consumers can enroll in coverage during an annual open enrollment period. HHS and others conduct outreach during this period to encourage enrollment... |
gao_GAO-18-637 | gao_GAO-18-637_0 | Background
Credit Allocation and Cost Oversight
Each state receives an annual LIHTC allocation. Allocating agencies then evaluate developers’ proposals to use tax credits to help develop new or rehabilitate existing housing against their QAPs. The QAPs identify agencies’ priority housing needs and contain selec... | Why GAO Did This Study
LIHTCs encourage private investment in low-income rental housing and have financed about 50,000 housing units annually since 2010.The LIHTC program is administered by IRS and credit allocating agencies (state or local housing finance agencies). The program has come under increased scrutiny follo... |
gao_GAO-18-44 | gao_GAO-18-44_0 | Background
Health care practitioners prescribe opioid medications to treat pain and sometimes for other health problems, such as severe coughing. Opioid medications are available as immediate or extended release and in different forms, such as a pill, liquid, or a patch worn on the skin. Opioids slow down some pr... | Why GAO Did This Study
The misuse of prescription opioid pain relievers and illicit opioids, such as heroin, has contributed to increases in overdose deaths. According to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, in 2015 over 52,000 people died of drug overdose deaths, and about 63 percent of th... |
gao_GAO-18-161T | gao_GAO-18-161T_0 | Background
RPS are long-lived sources of spacecraft electrical power and heating that are rugged, compact, highly reliable, and relatively insensitive to radiation and other effects of the space environment, according to NASA documentation. Such systems can provide spacecraft power for more than a decade and can ... | Why GAO Did This Study
This testimony summarizes the information contained in GAO's September 2017 report, entitled Space Exploration: DOE Could Improve Planning and Communication Related to Plutonium-238 and Radioisotope Power Systems Production Challenges ( GAO-17-673 ).
What GAO Found
The National Aeronautics and... |
gao_GAO-18-602 | gao_GAO-18-602_0 | Background
Postal retiree health benefits are provided as part of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). FEHBP covers federal employees and retirees, including postal and nonpostal retirees, who receive health insurance from companies that contract with OPM. Retiree participation is voluntary; in ... | Why GAO Did This Study
USPS is required to prefund its share of health benefits costs for its retirees. To do so, USPS is required to make payments into the RHB Fund, which is administered by OPM. However, USPS has not made any payments to the fund since fiscal year 2010. At the end of fiscal year 2017, USPS had misse... |
gao_GAO-18-29 | gao_GAO-18-29_0 | Background
Personnel Security Clearances
Personnel security clearances are required for access to certain national security information. National security information may be classified at one of three levels: confidential, secret, or top secret. The level of classification denotes the degree of protection requi... | Why GAO Did This Study
A high-quality personnel security clearance process is necessary to minimize the risks of unauthorized disclosures of classified information and to help ensure that security-relevant information is identified and assessed. The passage of IRTPA initiated an effort to reform the security clearance... |
gao_GAO-19-226 | gao_GAO-19-226_0 | Background
K-12 Public School Choice
Public school choices typically include charter schools and magnet schools, as well as local-level options to transfer or choose among traditional public schools. CTE schools may provide an additional option for students seeking to develop or expand their employment opportu... | Why GAO Did This Study
Education refers to school choice as the opportunity for students and their families to create high-quality, personalized paths for learning that best meet the students' needs. For Indian students, school choice can be a means of accessing instructional programs that reflect and preserve their l... |
gao_GAO-19-115 | gao_GAO-19-115_0 | Background
Federal and State Roles in Addressing SNAP Fraud
The goal of SNAP, formerly known as the federal Food Stamp Program, is to help low-income individuals and households obtain a more nutritious diet by supplementing their income with benefits to purchase allowed food items. The federal government pays t... | Why GAO Did This Study
The federal government provided $64 billion in SNAP benefits in fiscal year 2017 to help approximately 42 million low-income individuals purchase food. SNAP is administered by FNS in partnership with states. To help reduce the risk of improper receipt or use of SNAP benefits, states use data ana... |
gao_GAO-18-231 | gao_GAO-18-231_0 | Background
BRAC 2005 Goals
The Secretary of Defense established goals for BRAC 2005 in a November 2002 memorandum issuing initial guidance for BRAC 2005 and again in a March 2004 report to Congress certifying the need for a BRAC round. Specifically, the Secretary reported that the BRAC 2005 round would be used... | Why GAO Did This Study
The 2005 BRAC round was the costliest and most complex BRAC round ever. In contrast to prior rounds, which focused on the goal of reducing excess infrastructure, DOD's goals for BRAC 2005 also included transforming the military and fostering joint activities.
GAO was asked to review DOD's perfor... |
gao_GAO-18-554 | gao_GAO-18-554_0 | Background
Federal statutes and a number of executive orders reflect the federal government’s policy to encourage the participation of small businesses, including those owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, in federal contracting. One key statute is the Small Business Act, w... | Why GAO Did This Study
The federal government spends close to $1 billion annually for advertising activities that, among other things, inform the public about programs and services. The government seeks to provide procurement opportunities for these services to businesses such as SDBs and those owned by minorities and... |
gao_GAO-18-230 | gao_GAO-18-230_0 | Background
The Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, as amended, has governed the BRAC process since 1990. The law established the procedures for making recommendations for base closures and realignments and originally required DOD to submit a 6-year force- structure plan and base its closure and reali... | Why GAO Did This Study
DOD has used the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process primarily to reduce excess infrastructure capacity, transform the force, and produce cost savings. DOD completed hundreds of base closures and realignments in previous BRAC rounds and intends to work with Congress to address remaining ... |
gao_GAO-18-172 | gao_GAO-18-172_0 | Background
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act which created TSA as the federal agency responsible for security in all modes of transportation, including civil aviation. Among its responsibilities, TSA must generally ensure that all p... | Why GAO Did This Study
TSA is responsible for securing the nation's transportation systems and uses security technologies to screen airline passengers and their luggage to prevent prohibited items from being carried on commercial aircraft. TSA has special authority for using OTAs, which are not subject to certain fede... |
gao_GAO-18-236 | gao_GAO-18-236_0 | Background
TSA Processes for Allocating TSOs across Airports
At TSA headquarters, the Office of Security Operations (OSO) has primary responsibility for operation of the RAP and allocation of TSOs across airports. Within OSO, the Staffing and Scheduling Division oversees the RAP. To allocate staff to the nearly... | Why GAO Did This Study
TSA employs about 43,000 TSOs who screen over 2 million passengers and their baggage each day at airports in the United States. TSA allocates TSOs to airports using both a computer-based staffing model and information from airports that are intended to provide each airport with the optimum numbe... |
gao_GAO-18-100 | gao_GAO-18-100_0 | Background
Medicare FFS Program
In 2016, Medicare spent about $380 billion on health care services for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare FFS, which consists of two separate parts: Medicare Part A, which primarily covers hospital services, and Medicare Part B, which primarily covers outpatient services. The maj... | Why GAO Did This Study
To address concerns with the current Medicare FFS cost-sharing design, various groups have proposed modernizing the design to make it simpler and include features found in private plans. These proposals have generally included a single deductible, modified cost-sharing requirements (e.g., a unif... |
gao_GAO-19-66 | gao_GAO-19-66_0 | Background
VA Suicide Prevention
VA has undertaken a number of initiatives to help prevent veteran suicide, including identifying suicide prevention as VA’s highest clinical priority in its strategic plan for fiscal years 2018 through 2024 (see fig. 2).
VA uses CDC’s research on risk factors and prevention techn... | Why GAO Did This Study
Veterans suffer a disproportionately higher rate of suicide than the civilian population. VA has estimated that an average of 20 veterans die by suicide per day, and in 2018, VA identified suicide prevention as its highest clinical priority. VHA's suicide prevention media outreach campaign—its c... |
gao_GAO-18-127 | gao_GAO-18-127_0 | Background
Safety defect vehicle recalls (auto recalls) are initiated when a defect in a vehicle or vehicle equipment creates an unreasonable safety risk, as determined by NHTSA or a manufacturer. After a recall is initiated, manufacturers are required to provide written notification to vehicle owners via First-C... | Why GAO Did This Study
The number of vehicles affected by safety defect recalls increased sharply in recent years—from nearly 13 million in 2011 to over 51 million in 2016. Once a defect is identified, auto manufacturers are required to send written notification to vehicle owners by mail. NHTSA also aims to enhance aw... |
gao_GAO-18-305 | gao_GAO-18-305_0 | Background
Coal accounted for 17 percent of energy production (30 percent of electricity production) in the United States in 2016. To generate this energy, approximately 730 million tons of coal were mined domestically in 2016, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, approximately 40 percent of w... | Why GAO Did This Study
Coal accounts for 17 percent of domestic energy production. SMCRA requires coal mine operators to reclaim lands that were disturbed during mining and to submit a financial assurance in an amount sufficient to ensure that adequate funds will be available to complete reclamation if the operator do... |
gao_GAO-18-375 | gao_GAO-18-375_0 | Background
Over the last decade, VHA has increasingly provided care on an outpatient basis, including primary care and mental health care services. VHA Handbook 1006.02, VHA Site Classifications and Definitions, defines classifications for outpatient sites of care including CBOCs. VHA’s Directive 1229, Planning a... | Why GAO Did This Study
In fiscal year 2016, VHA's 733 CBOCs provided care to more than 3 million veterans at a cost of $5.3 billion. Although most of these clinics are VHA-owned and -operated, 101 are operated through contracts with non-VHA organizations. VHA policy states that CBOCs, whether VHA-operated or contracte... |
gao_GAO-18-28 | gao_GAO-18-28_0 | Background
Human spaceflight at NASA began in the 1960s with the Mercury and Gemini programs leading up to the Apollo moon landings. After the last lunar landing, Apollo 17, in 1972, NASA shifted its attention to low earth orbit operations with human spaceflight efforts that included the Space Shuttle and Interna... | Why GAO Did This Study
NASA is undertaking a trio of closely related programs to continue human space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. All three programs (SLS, Orion, and EGS) are working toward a launch readiness date of no earlier than October 2019 for the first test flight. Each program is a complex technical an... |
gao_GAO-17-773 | gao_GAO-17-773_0 | Background
DNN Selected Subprograms
Within DNN, the work of the four selected subprograms—Nuclear Material Removal, HEU Reactor Conversion, Radiological Security, and International Nuclear Security—focuses on efforts to remove and dispose of excess nuclear material from civilian sites worldwide, convert civilia... | Why GAO Did This Study
The threat posed by the proliferation of nuclear and radiological weapons remains a pressing national security challenge. DNN implements nuclear nonproliferation programs worldwide. To carry out its mission, for fiscal year 2018 DNN requested an appropriation of about $1.5 billion for its 4 majo... |
gao_GAO-18-54 | gao_GAO-18-54_0 | Background
Check-off programs are designed to expand the market for a given agricultural commodity, such as eggs, pork, or highbush blueberries, through generic promotion, research, and consumer and industry information. A check-off program is meant to expand the demand for a commodity rather than for any particu... | Why GAO Did This Study
“Got milk?” and “Pork: The Other White Meat” are examples of advertising campaigns undertaken by 2 of the 22 federal agricultural research and promotion programs, commonly known as commodity check-off programs. These programs, funded by a fraction of the sale of each unit of a commodity, are led... |
gao_GAO-18-474 | gao_GAO-18-474_0 | Background
In providing health care services to veterans, clinicians at VAMCs use RME, such as endoscopes and surgical instruments, which must be reprocessed between uses. Reprocessing covers a wide range of instruments and has become increasingly complex. VHA has developed policies that VAMCs are required to fol... | Why GAO Did This Study
VHA operates one of the largest health care delivery systems in the nation, serving over 9 million enrolled veterans. In providing health care services to veterans, VAMCs use RME which must be reprocessed—that is, cleaned, disinfected, or sterilized—between uses. Improper reprocessing of RME can... |
gao_GAO-19-63 | gao_GAO-19-63_0 | Background
The federal government obligates tens of billions annually on IT. Prior IT expenditures, however, have too often produced failed projects—that is, projects with multimillion dollar cost overruns and schedule delays and with questionable mission-related achievements. In our 2017 high risk series update,... | Why GAO Did This Study
The federal government spends tens of billions of dollars each year on IT products and services. Competition is a key component to achieving the best return on investment for taxpayers. Federal acquisition regulations allow for noncompetitive contracts in certain circumstances. Some noncompetiti... |
gao_GAO-18-295 | gao_GAO-18-295_0 | Background
Acquiring Heavy Equipment
Agencies generally acquire equipment from commercial vendors and through GSA, which contracts for the equipment from commercial vendors. In acquiring heavy equipment from a commercial vendor or GSA, agencies can purchase or lease the equipment. Generally, agencies use the t... | Why GAO Did This Study
Federal agencies use heavy equipment such as cranes and forklifts to carry out their missions, but there is no government-wide data on federal agencies' acquisition or management of this equipment.
GAO was asked to review federal agencies' management of heavy equipment. This report, among other ... |
gao_GAO-18-221 | gao_GAO-18-221_0 | Background
Establishing Foreign Currency Budget Rates
As part of the annual budget formulation process for each fiscal year, DOD establishes for each of nine foreign currencies, a foreign currency budget rate (units of foreign currency per one United States (U.S.) Dollar) to use when developing O&M and MILPERS ... | Why GAO Did This Study
DOD requested about $60 billion for fiscal years 2009 - 2017 to purchase goods and services overseas and reimburse service-members for costs incurred while stationed abroad. DOD uses foreign currency exchange rates to budget and pay (that is, disburse amounts) for these expenses. It also manages... |
gao_GAO-19-125 | gao_GAO-19-125_0 | Background
VA’s mission is to promote the health, welfare, and dignity of all veterans in recognition of their service to the nation by ensuring that they receive medical care, benefits, social support, and lasting memorials. In carrying out this mission, the department manages one of the largest health care deli... | Why GAO Did This Study
VA provides health care services to approximately 9 million veterans and their families and relies on its health information system—VistA—to do so. However, the system is more than 30 years old, is costly to maintain, and does not fully support exchanging health data with DOD and private health ... |
gao_GAO-18-62 | gao_GAO-18-62_0 | Background
Presidential Directives Define DHS’s CI Security Mission
In February 2013, the White House released Presidential Policy Directive (PPD)-21, Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience, directing DHS to coordinate the overall federal effort to promote the security and resilience of the nation’s CI... | Why GAO Did This Study
The nation's critical infrastructure includes cyber and physical assets and systems across 16 different sectors whose security and resilience are vital to the nation. The majority of critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector. Multiple federal entities, including DHS, wo... |
gao_GAO-18-460T | gao_GAO-18-460T_0 | Background
According to the President’s budget, the federal government plans to invest more than $96 billion for IT in fiscal year 2018—the largest amount ever budgeted. However, as we have previously reported, investments in federal IT too often result in failed projects that incur cost overruns and schedule sli... | Why GAO Did This Study
The federal government plans to invest almost $96 billion in IT in fiscal year 2018. Historically, these investments have too often failed, incurred cost overruns and schedule slippages, or contributed little to mission-related outcomes. In December 2014, Congress and the President enacted FITAR... |
gao_GAO-18-69 | gao_GAO-18-69_0 | Background
Technology Sector
The technology sector has major employment hubs across the country, including the San Francisco Bay area, the greater New York City region, and the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria region (see fig. 1). In addition, technology workers are employed at companies outside the technology ... | Why GAO Did This Study
Technology companies are a major source of high-paying U.S. jobs, but some have questioned the sector's commitment to equal employment opportunity. EEOC provides federal oversight of nondiscrimination requirements by investigating charges of discrimination, and OFCCP enforces federal contractors... |
gao_GAO-18-534 | gao_GAO-18-534_0 | Background
DME Items Subject to Adjusted FFS Payment Rates
CMS used payment information from the CBP to adjust payment rates for 393 Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes (generally referred to as “items” in this report) in non-bid areas. Most of these items were included in at least one CBP r... | Why GAO Did This Study
To achieve Medicare DME savings, Congress required CMS to implement a CBP in certain geographic areas for certain DME items. Beginning in 2011, CMS began implementing the CBP in several phases. The agency estimates that the CBP will save the Medicare program $19.7 billion between 2013 and 2022.T... |
gao_GAO-18-564 | gao_GAO-18-564_0 | Background
State Expenditure Reporting
In order to receive federal matching funds, states report expenditures quarterly to CMS on the CMS-64. States are required to report their expenditures to CMS within 30 days of the end of each quarter, but may adjust their past reporting for up to 2 years after the expendi... | Why GAO Did This Study
Medicaid has grown by over 50 percent over the last decade, with about $370 billion in federal spending in fiscal year 2017. CMS is responsible for assuring that expenditures—reported quarterly by states—are consistent with Medicaid requirements and matched with the correct amount of federal fun... |
gao_GAO-19-91 | gao_GAO-19-91_0 | Background
FTZ Benefits
Example of Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Benefits The FTZ Board might authorize an automobile manufacturer that imports foreign-source components, such as engines and transmissions into an FTZ, to pay the customs duty rate on the value of the finished vehicles (2.5 percent) instead of ... | Why GAO Did This Study
FTZs allow companies to reduce, eliminate, or defer duty payments on foreign goods imported into FTZs for distribution or as components of other products before transferring the finished goods into U.S. commerce or exporting them overseas. The value of foreign and domestic goods admitted to FTZs... |
gao_GAO-18-386 | gao_GAO-18-386_0 | Background
Medical Record Requests
Patients may request copies of their medical records, or request that copies of their records be sent to a designated person or entity of their choice.
In a patient request, a patient or former patient requests access to or copies of some or all of her medical records, in eith... | Why GAO Did This Study
HIPAA and its implementing regulations, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, require health care providers to give patients, upon request, access to their medical records, which contain protected health information (i.e., diagnoses, billing inform... |
gao_GAO-18-30 | gao_GAO-18-30_0 | Background
FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program
Major disaster declarations can trigger a variety of federal response and recovery programs for government and nongovernmental entities, households, and individuals. FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery manages the PA grant program, providing funds to states, ... | Why GAO Did This Study
FEMA, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has obligated more than $36 billion in PA grants to state, local, and tribal governments to help communities recover and rebuild after major disasters since 2009. Further, costs are rising with disasters, such as Hurricanes Harvey, Ir... |
gao_GAO-18-409 | gao_GAO-18-409_0 | Background
Roughly two-thirds of domestic energy supplies are transported through over 2.6 million miles of pipelines throughout the United States. These pipelines carry hazardous liquids and natural gas from producing wells to end users (residences and businesses). Natural gas, which is combustible, accounts for... | Why GAO Did This Study
The nation's gas pipeline network moves about 74 billion cubic feet of combustible gas to homes and businesses daily. To alert the public of a gas leak before an explosion occurs, PHMSA has different requirements for odorizing gas. All gas transported by distribution pipelines throughout communi... |
gao_GAO-18-20 | gao_GAO-18-20_0 | Background
Viewed broadly, IDT refund fraud is comprised of two crimes: (1) stealing or compromising PII and (2) using stolen (or otherwise compromised) PII to file a fraudulent tax return and collect a fraudulent refund. Figure 1 presents an example of how fraudsters may use stolen PII and other information, rea... | Why GAO Did This Study
IRS estimates that fraudsters attempted at least $14.5 billion in IDT tax refund fraud in tax year 2015. Since 2015, GAO's High-Risk List has included IRS's efforts to address IDT refund fraud. Starting with its March 2015 Security Summit, IRS has partnered with state tax administrators and tax ... |
gao_GAO-18-693T | gao_GAO-18-693T_0 | Factors Affecting Federal Infrastructure Permitting
In our prior work, we identified a range of factors that can affect permitting timeliness and efficiency. For the purposes of this statement, we have categorized the factors into five broad categories: 1) coordination and communication, 2) human capital, 3) colle... | Why GAO Did This Study
Congress recognizes the harmful effects of permitting delays on infrastructure projects and has passed legislation to streamline project reviews and hold agencies accountable. For example, in 2015 Congress passed the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, which included provisions streamli... |
gao_GAO-19-90 | gao_GAO-19-90_0 | Background
EEOICPA, as amended, generally provides compensation to employees of Energy under Part B, and under Part E, to its contractors, involved in the production of U.S. nuclear weapons and who developed illnesses related to their exposure to radiation and other toxins at Energy facilities. During and shortly... | Why GAO Did This Study
For decades, Energy, its predecessor agencies, and contractors employed thousands of employees in hazardous work in nuclear weapons production, exposing many employees to toxic substances. The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program, administered by DOL, provides compensation ... |
gao_GAO-19-116 | gao_GAO-19-116_0 | Background
U.S. Missions in Afghanistan
Since 2001, the United States has made a commitment to building Afghanistan’s security and governance in order to prevent the country from once again becoming a sanctuary for terrorists. To achieve its security objectives, the United States currently has two missions in ... | Why GAO Did This Study
Developing independently capable ANDSF is a key component of U.S. and coalition efforts to create sustainable security and stability in Afghanistan under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-led Resolute Support mission. The United States is the largest contributor of funding and person... |
gao_GAO-18-11 | gao_GAO-18-11_0 | Background
CBP and Border Patrol Operations along the Southwest Border
Securing U.S. borders is the responsibility of DHS, in collaboration with other federal, state, local, and tribal entities. CBP, a component within DHS, is the lead agency for U.S. border security, and one of its top priorities is preventing... | Why GAO Did This Study
To secure the southwest border between ports of entry, Border Patrol uses approximately 5,200 miles of roads, most of which are owned by other entities, both private and public. CBP estimates spending $12.5 million in fiscal year 2016 to maintain and repair roads Border Patrol uses for its opera... |
gao_GAO-19-201 | gao_GAO-19-201_0 | Background
Economic, Security, and Illicit Drug Trafficking Challenges in the Caribbean
The countries of the Caribbean are diverse in size, culture, and level of development, and face various interrelated economic and security challenges. According to a recent International Monetary Fund report, Caribbean count... | Why GAO Did This Study
The Caribbean region, which shares geographic proximity and common interests with the United States, faces high rates of crime and violence. In 2010, the United States and Caribbean countries formally launched CBSI, which aims to increase citizen safety. GAO was asked to examine U.S. assistance ... |
gao_GAO-18-64 | gao_GAO-18-64_0 | Background
EEOC Data
EEOC data we obtained and analyzed showed that financial services firms employed more than 3.2 million people in 2015. EEOC requires employers to use the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) to classify their industry. Under this system, the financial services industry inc... | Why GAO Did This Study
The U.S. workforce force has become increasingly diverse and is projected to become even more diverse in the coming decades. As a result, many private sector organizations have recognized the importance of recruiting and retaining minorities and women for key positions to improve their business ... |
gao_GAO-19-221 | gao_GAO-19-221_0 | Background
The federal government receives funds from numerous sources in addition to tax revenues, including collections of user fees, fines, and penalties. According to the Budget of the U.S. Government, in fiscal year 2017, the U.S. government’s total receipts were $3.3 trillion and collections of fees, fines,... | Why GAO Did This Study
Congress has authorized federal agencies to collect hundreds of billions of dollars annually in fees, fines, and penalties. These collections can fund a variety of programs, including programs related to national security, and the protection of natural resources. Data on collections are importan... |
gao_GAO-18-518 | gao_GAO-18-518_0 | Background
FSA seeks to ensure that all eligible individuals enrolled in postsecondary education can benefit from federal financial aid for education. It is responsible for implementing and managing programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Specifically, Title IV of the act authorize... | Why GAO Did This Study
FSA administers billions of dollars in student financial aid, including loans and grants, to eligible college students. The processing of student aid is complex, and FSA relies on non-school partners to carry out various activities supporting the student aid process, such as loan repayment and c... |
gao_GAO-18-394 | gao_GAO-18-394_0 | Background
Federal Agencies and Key Regulations Related to Lead Paint Hazards
While HUD has primary responsibility for addressing lead paint hazards in federally-assisted housing, EPA also has responsibilities related to setting federal lead standards for housing. EPA sets federal standards for lead hazards in ... | Why GAO Did This Study
Lead paint in housing is the most common source of lead exposure for U.S. children. HUD awards grants to state and local governments to reduce lead paint hazards in housing and oversees compliance with lead paint regulations in its rental assistance programs. The 2017 Consolidated Appropriations... |
gao_GAO-18-349T | gao_GAO-18-349T_0 | Background
VA’s Disability Compensation Claims Process
VA’s process for deciding veterans’ eligibility for disability compensation begins when a veteran submits a claim to VA. The veteran submits his or her claim to one of VBA’s 56 regional offices, where staff members assist the veteran by gathering additional... | Why GAO Did This Study
VA's disability compensation program pays cash benefits to veterans with disabilities connected to their military service. In recent years, the number of appeals of VA's benefit decisions has been rising. For decisions made on appeal in fiscal year 2017, veterans waited an average of 3 years for... |
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