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Open Recommendations

Fishery Disaster Assistance: Process is Changing, but Challenges Remain to Improve Timeliness and Communication [Reissued with revisions on Jun. 25, 2025]
GAO-25-107076
Jun 25, 2025
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Marine Fisheries Service The Assistant Administrator for NMFS should provide access to the tracking system to staff working on the fishery resource disaster program and use information from this system to update the program website. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
National Marine Fisheries Service The Assistant Administrator for NMFS should provide more detailed information on NMFS' website about the fishery resource disaster process to clarify the requirements for documents submitted by requesters, such as requests for fishery resource disaster assistance and spend plans. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
National Marine Fisheries Service The Assistant Administrator for NMFS should assess whether staffing capacity is sufficient to administer the fishery resource disaster program. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Disaster Loan Program: Enhanced Procedures and Data Needed to Address Duplication of Benefits
GAO-25-107608
May 22, 2025
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Small Business Administration The Administrator of SBA should ensure that the Associate Administrator for the Office of Capital Access develops documented procedures for resolving cases of duplicative benefits after a disaster loan has begun disbursement. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Small Business Administration The Administrator of SBA should ensure that the Associate Administrator for the Office of Capital Access enhances the collection and accessibility of data on cases of duplication of benefits in disaster loans and their resolution. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Indian Affairs: Additional Actions Needed to Address Long-standing Challenges with Workforce Capacity
GAO-25-106825
Nov 13, 2024
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7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should, by March 2027, collect lessons learned regarding the use and sufficiency of funds for administrative costs associated with legislation that provides funds for Tribes outside of baseline appropriations and share these lessons with Interior and Congress. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should track vacancy data across Indian Affairs in a systematic and centralized manner. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should identify skills, knowledge, and competency gaps in mission-critical occupations across Indian Affairs. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should develop consolidated written guidance that clarifies what hiring authorities, recruitment incentives, and workforce flexibilities can be leveraged for recruitment and retention purposes. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should develop a proposal that identifies capacity-building opportunities and the resources necessary to pursue them and share the proposal with Interior for consideration. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should develop a proposal that identifies legislative opportunities to build capacity and the resources necessary to pursue them and share the proposal with Congress for consideration. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Abandoned Mine Land: Opportunities Exist to Improve Interior's Economic Revitalization Program for Coal Communities
GAO-24-106680
Jun 20, 2024
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement The Principal Deputy Director of OSMRE should regularly track reliable and complete information in a consistent and systematic way on how long it takes to review and approve project proposals and use this information to monitor processing time. (Recommendation 3)
Open
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) concurred with this recommendation. In December 2024, OSMRE stated that, as resources allow, OSMRE will develop a system, that tracks reliable and complete information regarding the timely review and approval of AMLER project proposals. OSMRE will also enhance policies and procedures to strengthen program monitoring, metrics, and associated data requirements. OSMRE stated that it would take these steps by December 31, 2026. When we confirm what actions OSMRE has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement The Principal Deputy Director of OSMRE should document the roles and responsibilities of OSMRE staff in headquarters, regional, and field offices, and seek opportunities to streamline the review process. (Recommendation 4)
Open
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) concurred with this recommendation. In December 2024, OSMRE stated that it will continue to evaluate the roles and responsibilities of staff in its headquarters, regional, and field offices implementing the AMLER program to ensure that AMLER funds produce on the ground results expeditiously and efficiently. When we confirm that OSMRE has taken steps to address this recommendation (e.g., documented the roles and responsibilities of staff in its headquarters, regional, and field offices), we will provide updated information.
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