From the U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov Transcript for: High Risk: Programs That Serve Tribes and Their Members Description: As part of GAO's High Risk series, Melissa Emrey-Arras, a director in GAO's Education, Workforce, and Income Security team, describes why GAO put improving federal management of programs that serve tribes and their members on its list of programs at high risk for waste, fraud, abuse or mismanagement. Related GAO Work: GAO-17-317: High-Risk Series: Progress On Many High-Risk Areas, While Substantial Efforts Needed On Others Released: February 2017 [ Background Music ] [First Screen] GAO 2017 High Risk List Census 2020 [ Background Music ] >>[Photos of buildings and individuals] According to Congress, the United States has a unique trust responsibility to protect and support Indian tribes and Indians. [ Video of Melissa Emrey-Arras ] But for a decade, special commissions, Inspectors General, and GAO have all raised concerns that the federal government is ineffectively managing the programs that serve tribes and their members. Hi, I'm Melissa Emrey-Arras, a director in GAO's Education, Workforce, and Income Security team. [ Photos of government buildings ] We’ve identified a number of challenges facing the federal administration of Indian education and healthcare programs and federal mismanagement of energy resources on Indian land held in trust. [Photos of school, safety hazards] In the Bureau of Indian Education, challenges include health and safety hazards in Indian school facilities, misuse of federal funds, and inadequate administrative staffing. [ Photos of medical office ] At Indian Health Services, we have found a lack of oversight over wait times and quality of care in federal facilities. In addition, we found shortcomings in the program that funds health services provided by private hospitals and doctors. In 2012, we found that IHS had taken few steps to evaluate variations in the funds it allocates for this program and as a result, can’t equitably allocate funds to meet Indians’ health care needs. [ Photos of oil, wind, and solar facilities ] Before tribes and their members can develop oil and gas or renewable energy resources on Indian lands held in trust, the Bureau of Indian Affairs must review and approve related documents. Lengthy review and approval times are one of the many challenges we found. Taking too long to approve projects can lead to missed development opportunities, lost revenue, and uncertainty about whether the projects can go forward at all. [ Video of Melissa Emrey-Arras ] In light of these and other concerns, as well as the federal government’s unique trust responsibility to protect and support tribes and their members, GAO has added these programs to its 2017 High Risk List. [ Image: GAO logo]