Tag: GAO

GAO Reports of Interest (Feb 2012)

Reducing Duplication, Overlap and Fragmentation, Achieving Savings, and Enhancing Revenue
2012 Annual Report: GAO-12-342SP, February 28, Link
Follow-up on 2011 Report: GAO-12-453SP, February 28, Link
More Efficient and Effective Government Report: GAO-12-449T, February 28, Link
Tags: Government Operations

Department of Homeland Security: Additional Actions Needed to Strengthen Strategic Planning and Management Functions
GAO-12-382T, February 3, Link
Tags: Homeland Security

Maritime Security: Coast Guard Needs to Improve Use and Management of Interagency Operations Centers
GAO-12-202, February 13, Link
Tags: Homeland Security

Humanitarian and Development Assistance: Project Evaluations and Better Information Sharing Needed to Manage the Military’s Efforts
GAO-12-359, February 8, Link
Tags: Information Management, International Affairs

Cybersecurity: Challenges in Securing the Modernized Electricity Grid
GAO-12-507T, February 28, Link
Tags: Information Security

Information Technology: Departments of Defense and Energy Need to Address Potentially Duplicative Investments
GAO-12-241, February 17, Link
Tags: Information Technology

Information Technology: Potentially Duplicative Investments Exist at the Departments of Defense and Energy
GAO-12-462T, February 17, Link
Tags: Information Technology

Afghanistan: Improvements Needed to Strengthen Management of U.S. Civilian Presence
GAO-12-285, February 27, Link
Tags: International Affairs

Uncertain Political and Security Situation Challenges U.S. Efforts to Implement a Comprehensive Strategy in Yemen
GAO-12-432R, February 29, Link
Tags: International Affairs

Warfighter Support: DOD Needs Strategic Outcome-Related Goals and Visibility over Its Counter-IED Efforts
GAO-12-280, February 22, Link
Tags: National Defense

The Department of Energy’s Office of Science Uses a Multilayered Process for Prioritizing Research
GAO-12-410R, February 24, Link
Tags: Energy, Science and Technology

Emergency Communications: Various Challenges Likely to Slow Implementation of a Public Safety Broadband Network
GAO-12-343, February 22, Link
Tags: Telecommunications

GAO Reports of Interest (Jan 2012)

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education: Strategic Planning Needed to Better Manage Overlapping Programs across Multiple Agencies
GAO-12-108, January 20, Link
Tags: Education, Science and Technology

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education: Survey of Federal Programs (GAO-12-110SP, January 2012), an E-supplement to GAO-12-108
GAO-12-110SP, January 20, Link
Tags: Education, Science and Technology

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Risk Assessments: DHS Should Establish More Specific Guidance for Their Use
GAO-12-272, January 25, Link
Tags: Homeland Security

Critical Infrastructure Protection: Cybersecurity Guidance Is Available, but More Can Be Done to Promote Its Use
GAO-12-92, December 9, Link
Tags: Homeland Security, Information Security

Chemical Assessments: Challenges Remain with EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System Program
GAO-12-42, December 9, Link
Tags: Information Technology, Natural Resources and Environment

Defense Contracting: Improved Policies and Tools Could Help Increase Competition on DOD’s National Security Exception Procurements
GAO-12-263, January 13, Link
Tags: National Defense

Elections: Views on Implementing Federal Elections on a Weekend
GAO-12-69, January 12, Link
Tags: Government Operations

2011 Tax Filing: Processing Gains, but Taxpayer Assistance Could Be Enhanced by More Self-Service Tools
GAO-12-176, December 15, Link
Tags: Tax Policy and Administration

GAO Reports of Interest (Dec 2011)

IT Dashboard: Accuracy Has Improved, and Additional Efforts Are Under Way to Better Inform Decision Making
GAO-12-210, November 7, Link
 Tags: Information Technology

Managing for Results: Opportunities for Congress to Address Government Performance Issues
GAO-12-215R, December 9, Link
 Tags: Government Operations

Commercial Spectrum: Plans and Actions to Meet Future Needs, Including Continued Use of Auctions
GAO-12-118, November 23, Link
 Tags: Telecommunications

Postsecondary Education: Student Outcomes Vary at For-Profit, Nonprofit, and Public Schools
GAO-12-143, December 6, Link
 Tags: Education

Coast Guard: Security Risk Model Meets DHS Criteria, but More Training Could Enhance Its Use for Managing Programs and Operations
GAO-12-14, November 17, Link
Tags: Homeland Security

Homeland Defense and Weapons of Mass Destruction: Additional Steps Could Enhance the Effectiveness of the National Guard’s Life-Saving Response Forces
GAO-12-114, December 6, Link
 Tags: Homeland Security; National Defense

National Capital Region: 2010 Strategic Plan is Generally Consistent with Characteristics of Effective Strategies
GAO-12-276T, December 6, Link
 Tags: Economic Development; Government Operations; Homeland Security

Nuclear Nonproliferation: Action Needed to Address NNSA’s Program Management and Coordination Challenges
GAO-12-71, December 14, Link
 Tags: Energy

International Space Station: Approaches for Ensuring Utilization through 2020 Are Reasonable but Should Be Revisited as NASA Gains More Knowledge of On-Orbit Performance
GAO-12-162, December 15, Link
 Tags: Space

Transportation Security Infrastructure Modernization May Enhance DHS Screening Capabilities, but It Is Too Early to Assess Results
GAO-12-192R, December 8, Link
 Tags: Homeland Security; Transportation

Homelessness: To Improve Data and Programs, Agencies Have Taken Steps to Develop a Common Vocabulary
GAO-12-302T, December 15, Link
 Tags: Housing

GAO Reports of Interest (Nov 2011)

Biosurveillance: Nonfederal Capabilities Should Be Considered in Creating a National Biosurveillance Strategy
GAO-12-55, October 31 (101 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-55
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1255high.pdf
Tags: Health Care

Information Technology: Critical Factors Underlying Successful Major Acquisitions
GAO-12-7, October 21 (57 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-7
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d127high.pdf
Tags: Government Operations; Information Technology

DHS Research and Development: Science and Technology Directorate’s Test and Evaluation and Reorganization Efforts
GAO-12-239T, November 17 (14 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-239T
Tags: Homeland Security; Science and Technology

Cybersecurity Human Capital: Initiatives Need Better Planning and Coordination
GAO-12-8, November 29 (86 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-8
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d128high.pdf
Tags: Employment; Human Capital; Information Security

Nuclear Fuel Cycle Options: DOE Needs to Enhance Planning for Technology Assessment and Collaboration with Industry and Other Countries
GAO-12-70, October 17 (76 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-70
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1270high.pdf
Tags: Energy

Recovery Act: Status of Science-Related Funding
GAO-12-279T, November 30 (23 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-279T
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d12279thigh.pdf
Tags: Government Operations

Climate Change Adaptation: Federal Efforts to Provide Information Could Help Government Decision Making
GAO-12-238T, November 16 (13 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-238T
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d12238thigh.pdf
Tags: Natural Resources and Environment

Arizona Border Surveillance Technology: More Information on Plans and Costs Is Needed before Proceeding
GAO-12-22, November 4 (58 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-22
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1222high.pdf
Tags: Health Care; Homeland Security

Transportation Security Information Sharing: Results of GAO’s Survey of Stakeholder Satisfaction with TSA Products and Mechanisms
(GAO-12-67SP, November 2011), an E-supplement to GAO-12-44, GAO-12-67SP, November 21
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-67SP
Tags: Information Management; Transportation

Transportation Security Information Sharing: Stakeholders Generally Satisfied but TSA Could Improve Analysis, Awareness, and Accountability
GAO-12-44, November 21 (58 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-44
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1244high.pdf
Tags: Information Management; Transportation

GAO Reports of Interest (Oct 2011)

Through their goal of providing “timely information that is objective, fact-based, nonpartisan, nonideological, fair, and balanced”, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is one of the most important offices in government. As such, here are some of the latest reports I find particularly relevant and interesting, and at least worth a skim of the highlights and recommendations.

Information Sharing: Progress Made and Challenges Remaining in Sharing Terrorism-Related Information
GAO-12-144T, October 12 (23 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-144T
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d12144thigh.pdf
Tags: Homeland Security, Information Management

Federal Chief Information Officers: Opportunities Exist to Improve Role in Information Technology Management
GAO-11-634, September 15 (72 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-634
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11634high.pdf
Tags: Information Technology

Quadrennial Homeland Security Review: Enhanced Stakeholder Consultation and Use of Risk Information Could Strengthen Future Reviews
GAO-11-873, September 15 (69 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-873
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11873high.pdf
Tags: Homeland Security

Data Mining: DHS Needs to Improve Executive Oversight of Systems Supporting Counterterrorism
GAO-11-742, September 7 (75 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-742
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11742high.pdf
Tags: Information Management, Information Technology

Information Security: Additional Guidance Needed to Address Cloud Computing Concerns
GAO-12-130T, October 6 (17 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-130T
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d12130thigh.pdf
Tags: Information Security

Information Security: Weaknesses Continue Amid New Federal Efforts to Implement Requirements
GAO-12-137, October 3 (49 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-137
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d12137high.pdf
Tags: Information Security

Information Technology: OMB Needs to Improve Its Guidance on IT Investments
GAO-11-826, September 29 (58 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-826
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11826high.pdf
Tags: Information Technology

Aviation Safety: Enhanced Oversight and Improved Availability of Risk- Based Data Could Further Improve Safety
GAO-12-24, October 5 (65 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-24
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1224high.pdf
Tags: Transportation

Language and Culture Training: Opportunities Exist to Improve Visibility and Sustainment of Knowledge and Skills in Army and Marine Corps General Purpose Forces
GAO-12-50, October 31 (46 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-50
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1250high.pdf
Tags: National Defense

Warfighter Support: DOD Has Made Progress, but Supply and Distribution Challenges Remain in Afghanistan
GAO-12-138, October 7 (79 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-138
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d12138high.pdf
Tags: National Defense

National Preparedness: Improvements Needed for Acquiring Medical Countermeasures to Threats from Terrorism and Other Sources
GAO-12-121, October 26 (58 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-121
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d12121high.pdf
Tags: Health Care, Homeland Security

Income Security: The Effect of the 2007-2009 Recession on Older Adults
GAO-12-172T, October 18 (10 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-172T
Tags: Retirement Security

Federal Bureau of Investigation: Actions Taken to Address Most Procurement Recommendations
GAO-11-794, September 6 (39 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-794
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11794high.pdf
Tags: Government Operations, Information Technology

EPA Health Risk Assessments: Oversight and Sustained Management Key to Overcoming Challenges
GAO-12-148T, October 6 (12 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-148T
Tags: Health Care, Natural Resources and Environment

Health Care Price Transparency: Meaningful Price Information Is Difficult for Consumers to Obtain Prior to Receiving Care
GAO-11-791, September 23 (43 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-791
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11791high.pdf
Tags: Health Care

Federal Courthouses: Improved Collaboration Needed to Meet Demands of a Complex Security Environment
GAO-11-857, September 28 (51 pages)
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-857
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11857high.pdf
Tags: Homeland Security