Reports & Testimonies
GAO’s reports and testimonies give Congress, federal agencies, and the public timely, fact-based, non-partisan information that can improve government operations and save taxpayers billions of dollars.
Most Recent Reports
41 - 60 of 58101 Reports
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Economic Development: Additional Training Could Help Small Lenders Implement Technology
People in low- and moderate-income communities can't always access loans through traditional banks. Community Development Financial Institutions are organizations that provide financial services to fill this gap. Our survey of these institutions found that many small CDFIs don't have the technology to best serve their customers, manage operations, and conduct outreach. The Department of the Treasury receives funding to support CDFIs and has increased the...
Military Health Care: DOD Should Improve Its Process for Clinical Adverse Actions against Providers
The Defense Health Agency investigates concerns about the quality and safety of care that individual health care providers deliver in DOD medical facilities. If DHA finds evidence for those concerns, it can prohibit providers from DOD facilities or limit the services they can provide. DHA must also report the provider to a federal database that hospitals and others can use to screen providers. But DHA...
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Justice40: Additional Efforts Needed to Improve Tribal Applicants' Access to Federal Programs Under Environmental Justice Initiative
Underserved communities, such as Tribes, face barriers to accessing federal funding—like cost-share requirements that require participants to contribute some funding up front. The Justice40 Initiative aims to increase underserved communities' access to funding, with a goal of directing 40% of the benefits of covered federal programs to such communities. However, some Justice40 program requirements also create access barriers. For example, competitive grants can include significant...
Broadband Deployment: Agencies Should Take Steps to Better Meet Deadline for Processing Permits
The federal government is investing billions of dollars in expanding broadband access. Some new infrastructure—such as broadband towers—will be situated on federal lands. Federal agencies are required to process applications for such permits within 270 days. The Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service process most of these applications. Between 2018-2022, both agencies missed the deadline for some applications and for others couldn't determine...
Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request: U.S. Government Accountability Office
In fiscal year 2023, GAO's work yielded $70.4 billion in financial benefits. Our average return on investment for the past 6 years is $133 for every $1 invested in GAO. In this testimony before the House Subcommittee on Legislative Branch Appropriations, U.S. Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro discusses GAO's FY 2025 budget request. Our budget request will enable GAO to continue to meet key areas...
COVID-19 Relief: State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Spending as of September 30, 2023
The Department of the Treasury has awarded billions of dollars to state and local governments to help them cover COVID-19 recovery costs. In this Snapshot, we update our prior work on the status of this funding, including spent funds and more. As of September 30, 2023: States, including the District of Columbia, have reported spending $103.7 billion, or 53% of their awards Localities have reported...
Coast Guard Health Care: Information on Telehealth Usage
The Coast Guard began offering video and telephone telehealth appointments to its personnel in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Q&A, we reported that the benefits of the Coast Guard's telehealth program include increasing access to medical care for personnel located in remote locations. However, there are challenges. For instance, inconsistent internet connectivity aboard Coast Guard vessels could limit the use of telehealth while...
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IRS Direct File: Actions Needed during Pilot to Improve Information on Costs and Benefits
IRS is piloting Direct File during the 2024 tax filing season. It is a system that will guide certain taxpayers through preparing and filing their tax returns on IRS's website for free. IRS estimated that Direct File could cost $64-$249 million annually—depending on assumptions such as the number of taxpayers served. IRS estimated that participating taxpayers may save $21 million in tax preparation costs. However...
Higher Education: Employment Discrimination Case Referrals Between Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Could Be Improved
Despite recent increases in Black and Hispanic employees on higher education faculties, they're still underrepresented. Current or prospective higher education faculty can file complaints of employment discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They also file complaints with the Department of Education—which refers almost all of them to EEOC. About 90% of Education's referrals to EEOC are required to be sent within 30 days, but...
Aircraft Registrations: Risks Remain from Efforts to Obscure Ownership Information
This testimony discusses our prior work on the FAA's management of the U.S. registry for civil aircraft. Accurate registry information can, for example, facilitate aircraft purchases or help investigators combat drug trafficking or money laundering. But the FAA generally relies on self-certification and doesn't verify information such as applicant identity or ownership. Shell company or limited liability company ownership can also make it hard to...
Coast Guard: Aircraft Fleet and Aviation Workforce Assessments Needed
The Coast Guard protects and defends the U.S. coastline and inland waterways. It relies heavily on its fleet of about 200 aircraft to do so—especially for search and rescue missions. The Coast Guard is working to modernize its fleet. For example, it intends to consolidate its helicopters from 98 short-range and 48 medium-range helicopters to an all medium-range helicopter fleet. This would reduce the number...
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Indian Health Service: Opportunities Exist to Improve Clinician Screening Adherence and Oversight
The Indian Health Service provides health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives. To ensure that its patients are receiving quality care, IHS screens the clinicians it employs—e.g., doctors and nurse practitioners—to verify their professional qualifications. However, federal IHS facilities didn't always fully follow the requirements for verifying these qualifications. This is partly because IHS's guidance on how to do so is spread out across...
Federal Research: Key Practices for Scientific Program Managers
In fiscal year 2021, the federal government funded over $85 billion in basic research as well as early research directed toward a specific practical aim. Federal research spurs innovation and promotes national economic competitiveness, prosperity, and security. Scientific program managers at federal agencies that sponsor research play a crucial role in guiding and shaping the research. This report identifies key practices that program managers use...
Health Centers: Revenue, Grant Funding, and Methods for Meeting Certain Access-To-Care Requirements
Health centers provide primary care in places with a shortage of health care services. They served over 30 million people in 2022—regardless of their ability to pay. We reviewed health centers' revenue and more for 2018-2022. Annual revenue increased from $28.7 billion to $42.9 billion over this period. The Health Resources and Services Administration provided $34 billion in grants to support these centers over that...
Federal Home Loan Banks: Actions Related to the Spring 2023 Bank Failures
In this Q&A report, we continue our review of federal actions leading up to the bank failures between March 10 and May 1, 2023. Before they failed, Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank borrowed more money from their respective Federal Home Loan Banks than other banks their size. When there were runs on the banks—high volumes of withdrawals—the Federal Home Loan Banks...
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Vehicle Repair: Information on Evolving Vehicle Technologies and Consumer Choice [Reissued with revisions on Apr. 5, 2024]
"Right-to-repair" is the ability to repair your own vehicles or get repairs at auto dealerships or independent repair shops. In this Q&A report, we looked at the effects of changing technologies on the right-to-repair. For example, the use of technology to wirelessly transfer vehicle health and repair data with automakers could give dealerships an advantage. If independent repair shops don't have access to this data...
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Roadside Safety: DOT Should Update Public Awareness Materials on Move Over Laws
All states and the District of Columbia have "Move Over" laws—which require drivers to change lanes, slow down, or both, when approaching certain vehicles stopped on the roadside with flashing warning lights. States often use road signs and social media to inform the public of these laws. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration supports states' efforts via funding, research, and public awareness materials like videos...
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Army Modernization: Production Challenges for Stryker Upgrade Reinforce Need to Follow Acquisition Leading Practices in Future Efforts [Reissued with revisions on Apr. 3, 2024]
The Army's Stryker combat vehicle is an 8-wheeled armored vehicle that transports infantry into combat. To respond to increased competition from Russia, the Army tried to rapidly upgrade its existing Strykers to have increased firepower. But in doing so, the Army didn't fully analyze and address potential production risks. As a result, it had hardware and software issues with the upgraded Strykers. Our leading practices...
Gas Pipeline Safety: Better Data and Planning Would Improve Implementation of Regulatory Changes
About 300,000 miles of gas transmission pipelines cross the nation. Pipelines and related equipment failure can cause incidents of harm to people or property. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration recently issued rules to strengthen gas transmission safety regulations. Among other things, these rules require pipeline operators to assess more miles of pipeline than before and keep better records. Our Q&A report found that...
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Nuclear Power Plants: NRC Should Take Actions to Fully Consider the Potential Effects of Climate Change
Climate change is likely to exacerbate natural hazards—such as floods and drought. The risks to nuclear power plants from such hazards include damage to systems and equipment that ensure safe operation. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's oversight process includes addressing safety risks at these plants. However, NRC doesn't fully consider potential increases in risk from climate change. For example, NRC mostly uses historical data to identify...