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
21 - 40 of 58088 Reports
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Fraud Risk Management: 2018-2022 Data Show Federal Government Loses an Estimated $233 Billion to $521 Billion Annually to Fraud, Based on Various Risk Environments
No area of the federal government is immune to fraud. We estimated that the federal government could lose between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud. Given the scope of this problem, a government-wide approach is required to address it. The Office of Management and Budget, working with agencies and the oversight community, should develop guidance to improve fraud-related data—providing a more uniform approach...
Counternarcotics: DOD Should Improve Coordination and Assessment of Its Activities
According to the U.S. government, illicit drugs and the criminal organizations that produce and traffic them are a significant threat. DOD leads federal efforts to monitor the air and water transport of drugs like cocaine and fentanyl into the U.S. DOD set up a joint operation area including the western U.S. border and parts of Latin America. But 3 of DOD's regional components' areas of...
Homeland Security: DHS Internal Entities Facilitate Information Sharing in Key Areas and Collaborate as Needed
Nine formal groups within the Department of Homeland Security routinely share information to advise leaders, guide internal policies, and identify potential threats. We found no unnecessary duplication among the groups, but some of their purposes and activities had the potential for overlap. Agency officials said groups collaborate to avoid duplication. For example, the Homeland Security Intelligence Council—composed of less-senior staff than the Counter Threats Advisory...
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Prescription Drugs: Selected States' Regulation of Pharmacy Benefit Managers
Private health plans contract with pharmacy benefit managers—companies that help oversee prescription drug benefits and control costs. We studied 5 states that have laws to regulate these companies. We found, for example, that all 5 states regulated the companies' drug pricing and pharmacy payments—including by limiting companies' use of manufacturer rebates and their ability to pay pharmacies less than health plans are charged. State regulators...
F-35 Sustainment: Costs Continue to Rise While Planned Use and Availability Have Decreased
The F-35 aircraft is DOD's most advanced and costly weapon system. DOD currently has about 630 F-35s, plans to buy about 1,800 more, and intends to use them through 2088. We reported in this Q&A that DOD's projected costs to sustain the F-35 fleet keep increasing—from $1.1 trillion in 2018 to $1.58 trillion in 2023. Yet DOD plans to fly the F-35 less than originally...
Persistent Chemicals: Navy Efforts to Address PFAS at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
PFAS—a group of synthetic chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—are used in firefighting foams and other products. Some PFAS are linked to environmental contamination and human health problems. This Q&A covers our work on the Department of Defense's detection and treatment of PFAS contamination at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. In 2022, 1,300 gallons of firefighting foam was accidentally released there. As of February...
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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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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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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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...
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...
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...
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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...
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...