GAO - OIG

Weapon System Sustainment: DOD Identified Operating and Support Cost Growth but Needs to Improve the Consistency and Completeness of Information to Congress

What GAO Found The Department of Defense (DOD) conducted sustainment reviews for 25 weapon systems for fiscal year 2022, including developing operating and support (O&S) cost estimates for the remainder of each system's life cycle. O&S costs are comprised of costs for repair parts, maintenance activities, contract services, and personnel. DOD assessed O&S cost growth for 16 systems but was unable to make cost growth determinations for the nine remaining systems, due to a lack of available information to conduct the comparison (see first figure). DOD identified critical cost growth for seven of the 16 systems and the reasons for that growth (see second figure). A statute defines critical O&S cost growth as at least 25 percent more than the estimate documented in the most recent independent cost estimate; or at least 50 percent more than the estimate documented in the original baseline cost estimate for the system. The other nine systems experienced O&S cost changes, but any growth identified did not meet the critical O&S cost growth criteria. Number of Weapon Systems Reviewed and Operating and Support (O&S) Cost Growth Identified by the Department of Defense (DOD) in Fiscal Year 2022 Causes of Critical Operating and Support (O&S) Cost Growth in Seven Systems DOD's Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation updated its guidance based on lessons learned from the most recent sustainment reviews. However, military departments vary in how they report the details of cost estimates. For example, they presented cost information differently in several areas, including the time frames for the estimate, the breakdown of information across cost categories, and the effects of inflation. Without the development and implementation of clear guidance on the presentation of such information, DOD stakeholders and Congress will not have consistent and complete information for effective decision making and oversight. Why GAO Did This Study DOD spends billions of dollars to sustain its weapon systems. O&S costs are about 70 percent of a system's total life-cycle cost. In response to a statutory provision, DOD is required to annually submit sustainment reviews that include O&S cost estimates and the reasons for any critical cost growth. The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 included a provision for GAO to review DOD's annual sustainment reviews and O&S cost estimates through 2025. GAO's report evaluates the extent to which DOD (1) developed sustainment reviews for fiscal year 2022 that identified critical O&S cost growth and related causes; and (2) identified and implemented any lessons learned for critical O&S cost growth from conducting the reviews. GAO reviewed and analyzed DOD guidance and documentation, the submitted fiscal year 2022 reviews, and the supporting independent cost estimates. GAO interviewed DOD officials who conducted the reviews. This is a public version of a sensitive report that GAO is issuing concurrently. GAO omitted information that DOD deemed sensitive.

Evictions: National Data Are Limited and Challenging to Collect

What GAO Found Limited information is available on the prevalence of evictions nationally. Local courts generally administer evictions, a process that generally begins with a property owner giving tenants a notice and then filing a lawsuit that may end with a judgement for or against the tenant. Tenants also may be forced to vacate a residence through an informal eviction, which occurs outside the legal process, such as when a property owner changes the locks. The most recent national eviction estimates are based primarily on two sources: Eviction court records. The Eviction Lab at Princeton University estimated 7.8 evictions were filed per 100 renting households nationally in 2018. This estimate was based on available court record data and statistical modeling. American Housing Survey. In 2017, the Census Bureau included survey questions designed to count forced moves due to evictions. Researchers estimated a national physical eviction rate of 5.3 percent based on the results of these questions. However, HUD officials and researchers noted the survey's small sample size may limit the accuracy of these estimates. Court record and survey data, which capture different aspects of evictions, both present challenges for collecting eviction data. Court record data capture whether an eviction has been filed in court, but they do not capture physical or informal evictions. Court records may vary in content and their availability to the public. Eviction case data also may not include the outcome of a filing, making it difficult to determine if a filing resulted in an eviction judgement. Surveys may capture physical moves by tenants, but may undercount evictions if the questions are not designed properly or response rates are low. Stakeholders GAO interviewed representing state and local jurisdictions, research organizations, and housing organizations identified two options to improve the collection of eviction data: (1) developing a national database of court record data or (2) strengthening national surveys. These stakeholders also identified several considerations for either option. GAO previously identified key practices applicable to such efforts. Examples of considerations and key practices include the following: Goals. Stakeholders stated that clearly defined goals could help plan collection efforts. Potential goals for using the data include helping target or assess federal efforts, such as those designed to reduce eviction and housing instability. The two options may have benefits and limitations in achieving different goals. Data quality. To ensure the reliability of evidence, stakeholders stressed the importance of establishing clear definitions and standards for terminology, given the differing definitions of eviction used across the country. Otherwise, both potential options run the risk of collecting incomplete or unreliable data, which could produce misleading results. Resources. Both options to improve collection of eviction data could involve substantial costs. Stakeholders noted that federal technical assistance and training for local court staff could help build capacity for data collection. Strengthening surveys could be the less costly option but would require additional resources to ensure they generated reliable results. Why GAO Did This Study Estimates suggest that eviction affects millions of renter households annually. Evictions can have consequences for a family's mental health and housing stability, be expensive for the parties involved, and increase court caseloads. Comprehensive eviction data collection could have potential benefits for evaluating the effectiveness of policy interventions or remedies. However, relatively little comprehensive data exist on evictions in the U.S. The Explanatory Statement for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 includes a provision for GAO to review any barriers to collecting, digitizing, and standardizing data from the eviction process. This report (1) describes existing information about evictions and its limitations, (2) examines the capabilities and constraints of using court data and surveys on evictions, and (3) examines potential goals and options for federal data collection on evictions. GAO conducted a literature review on efforts to collect and improve eviction data. GAO also reviewed data, documentation, and studies from federal and academic sources. GAO interviewed 22 stakeholders, including officials from a nongeneralizable sample of eight state and local jurisdictions (selected to obtain a mix of characteristics such as renter population and geographic dispersion), federal agency officials, researchers, and representatives from housing organizations. For more information, contact Jill Naamane at (202) 512-8678 or naamanej@gao.gov.

Justice40: Use of Leading Practices Would Strengthen Efforts to Guide Environmental Justice Initiative

What GAO Found The Justice40 Initiative's goal is for 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to flow to disadvantaged communities that have been historically marginalized and overburdened. To develop guidance and tools for implementing the initiative, the Executive Office of the President (EOP) took steps to collaborate with federal and nonfederal entities. EOP worked with the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council, an advisory council, 21 Justice40 pilot programs at nine agencies, and others to develop interim guidance, a tool to identify disadvantaged communities, and a scorecard to track progress. EOP's efforts partially reflected leading practices for collaboration. For example, EOP included relevant entities in its collaboration efforts but has not clarified the roles and responsibilities of the Interagency Council. Seven Investment Areas of the Justice40 Initiative Additionally, over half of the Justice40 pilot programs that GAO surveyed answered that the guidance and tools in place at the time were useful. However, some programs faced challenges, such as unclear guidance. According to GAO's analysis, EOP did not systematically gather feedback on programs' experience with the guidance and tools. By more fully incorporating leading practices for collaboration, such as by systematically gathering feedback and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the Interagency Council, EOP can better ensure that its guidance and tools provide an effective, timely, and consistent framework for Justice40 implementation. EOP took initial steps to collect some data on agencies' Justice40 actions and published the first annual scorecard. However, EOP has not established a process for assessing implementation of the Justice40 Initiative. By incorporating key practices for effectively managing and assessing the results of federal efforts as it establishes such a process, EOP can better ensure accountability, transparency, and progress toward achieving the goal of the initiative. Why GAO Did This Study In February 2021, Executive Order 14008 directed federal agencies to take action to address the disproportionately high and adverse human health, environmental, climate-related, and other cumulative impacts on disadvantaged communities. As part of this effort, the executive order established the Justice40 Initiative. The initiative is led by EOP, specifically the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Office of Management and Budget, and Climate Policy Office. It currently covers more than 500 federal programs at 19 agencies, which involve billions of taxpayer dollars. GAO was asked to review implementation of the Justice40 Initiative. This report examines the extent to which (1) EOP collaborated with federal and nonfederal entities to develop guidance and tools for implementing the initiative; (2) pilot programs found EOP's guidance and tools useful; and (3) EOP established a process for assessing federal efforts to achieve the goal of the initiative. GAO reviewed executive orders and EOP documents; interviewed EOP staff, agency officials, and nonfederal entities; analyzed survey responses from 20 of 21 Justice40 pilot programs; and compared EOP efforts with leading practices.

Countering Violent Extremism: FBI and DHS Need Strategies and Goals for Sharing Threat Information with Social Media and Gaming Companies

What GAO Found Domestic violent extremists use social media and gaming platforms for several purposes, including to reach wide audiences; to insert their extremist ideas into the mainstream; and to radicalize, recruit, and mobilize others, according to government reports and experts GAO spoke with (see figure). Experts noted that violent extremists generally use a variety of platforms for different purposes, depending on available features, audiences, and content moderation practices. Example of the Viral Nature of Domestic Violent Extremists' Use of Online Platforms According to social media and gaming companies GAO met with, they use various content moderation tools to identify and remove content they determine violates their platforms' policies related to domestic violent extremism on their platforms. For example, they report using machine learning tools to scan for content that violates their policies, as well as reviews by employees. However, companies and experts reported that several factors affect these moderation efforts, such as company financial considerations and diversity in standards of acceptable content. For example, content banned on one platform could be allowed on another. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have mechanisms to share and receive domestic violent extremism threat-related information with social media and gaming companies. However, neither agency has developed a strategy that articulates how it identifies and selects companies to engage with or the goals and desired outcomes of those engagements. Without a strategy or goals, the agencies may not be fully aware of how effective their communications are with companies, or how effectively their information-sharing mechanisms serve the agencies' overall missions. Why GAO Did This Study In recent years, content on social media and gaming platforms that promotes domestic violent extremism has influenced several high-profile attacks, according to experts and agency officials. As a result, some social media and gaming companies, as well as federal agencies, are making an effort to understand and address online content that promotes domestic violent extremism. GAO was asked to review domestic violent extremists' use of social media and gaming platforms. This report (1) describes the purposes for which domestic violent extremists use these platforms; (2) describes how selected companies report mitigating content promoting domestic violent extremism; and (3) assesses the extent to which the FBI and DHS have developed goals and strategies for sharing threat-related information with companies. GAO reviewed FBI and DHS documentation and interviewed officials. GAO obtained views from 16 subject matter experts identified by the National Academies of Sciences and prior work. GAO also interviewed representatives from a non-generalizable sample of five social media and gaming companies.

Autism Research and Support Services: Federal Interagency Coordination and Monitoring Efforts Could Be Further Strengthened

What GAO Found The National Institutes of Health (NIH), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), plays a key role in supporting the coordination of autism activities across 18 federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense and Education. For example, NIH manages the Interagency Autism Coordination Committee (IACC), a federal advisory committee composed of federal agencies and public members, through its Office of National Autism Coordination. GAO found that NIH, in support of the IACC and the National Autism Coordinator, generally followed six of eight key collaboration practices that GAO's prior work has shown can be effective in enhancing and sustaining interagency collaborative efforts among federal entities. For example, NIH has taken steps to bridge organizational cultures by convening meetings of the IACC. Assessment of the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Role in Supporting Coordination of Federal Autism Activities Compared with Leading Practices for Interagency Coordination GAO found NIH efforts to support interagency coordination partially followed the remaining two collaboration practices, including ensuring accountability. For example, although IACC strategic plans describe high-level progress made toward autism activities, they generally have not described how progress made relates to goals. NIH officials stated their progress tracking approach is driven by established processes, some of which are required by law. Establishing a clear process for tracking progress would help to determine progress toward IACC's goals and that interagency efforts are effective. NIH helps ensure federally funded autism activities are not unnecessarily duplicative through various activities, such as holding meetings and through data and information reviews. However, GAO found the processes used by NIH's Office of National Autism Coordination were not documented. For example, NIH does not have written procedures describing the steps these staff should follow when reviewing federal autism research information for potential duplication. Although NIH officials stated that they believe current monitoring processes are sufficient, documenting these procedures will help ensure they are properly designed and executed to provide reasonable assurance that duplication is not occurring. Why GAO Did This Study The federal government plays an important role supporting research, programs, and other activities to promote the health and well-being of people with autism. Multiple federal agencies are involved in autism activities. To help coordinate and monitor federal autism activities and to ensure activities are not unnecessarily duplicative, Congress directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the IACC and designate an official to facilitate coordination and implementation of autism activities, known as the National Autism Coordinator. GAO was asked to examine coordination and monitoring of federal autism activities. This report examines NIH efforts to (1) help coordinate federal autism activities and (2) monitor autism activities to ensure federal autism activities are not unnecessarily duplicative. GAO reviewed NIH documents and relevant federal laws; assessed NIH's role in supporting coordination of autism activities against key practices that GAO identified in prior work; and gathered information from 19 federal agencies that conduct autism activities.

Trusted Traveler Programs: DHS Has Enrollment Processes, but CBP Should Provide Additional Information on Reconsiderations

What GAO Found The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operate five distinct trusted traveler programs—(1) TSA PreCheck® and CBP's (2) Global Entry, (3) NEXUS, (4) Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), and (5) Free and Secure Trade (FAST). These programs allow for expedited screening or inspection of preapproved, low-risk travelers at certain domestic and international airports and at select land and sea ports of entry. TSA and CBP have enrolled millions of travelers to these programs through a multi-step process that generally includes an online application, traveler vetting, and an enrollment eligibility decision. In fiscal year 2020 through the second quarter of fiscal year 2023, TSA enrolled or renewed TSA PreCheck® memberships for over 99 percent of applications, and CBP enrolled or renewed membership for over 97 percent of applications across its four programs. NEXUS Lane at the U.S. Port of Entry in Blaine, Washington TSA and CBP have reconsideration processes for travelers denied or revoked from a trusted traveler program. TSA informs travelers of its decision in a letter that includes steps for pursuing reconsideration—known as a “correction of record”—if travelers believe TSA based its decision on incorrect or incomplete information. CBP also informs travelers of its decision via a letter that includes steps for pursuing reconsideration. The CBP Ombudsman has sole discretion to sustain or overturn denial or revocation decisions, based on the totality of circumstances and any new information that the traveler has provided. While CBP notifies travelers of denial and revocation decisions through letters posted to its online portal, it does not include instructions—required by regulation—for seeking additional information on the reason for its denial decision. According to CBP officials, the agency changed the format of its letters in 2018 when it updated its online portal and inadvertently removed these instructions. By providing these instructions, CBP could improve travelers' understanding of the specific reason for the decision, as appropriate, and could better ensure that travelers are able to directly address the reason for their denial or revocation when pursuing reconsideration. Why GAO Did This Study The summer of 2023 marked one of the busiest travel seasons on record. According to Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) data, each day approximately 2.5 million passengers boarded a commercial flight, and approximately 1.1 million travelers entered the U.S. through a port of entry during that period. Congress included a provision in statute for GAO to review the DHS trusted traveler programs and reconsideration process. This report addresses (1) DHS's trusted traveler programs and enrollments and (2) the extent to which DHS provides reconsideration for travelers it denied or revoked from its programs. GAO analyzed relevant regulations, policies, and program data from fiscal year 2020 through the second quarter of 2023; interviewed headquarters and field officials involved in the trusted traveler programs; and conducted in-person and virtual site visits to CBP enrollment centers that processed the highest volume of program applications in fiscal year 2022. While not generalizable, these visits provided program insights.

Head Start: Opportunities Exist to Better Align Resources with Child Poverty

What GAO Found Administered by the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Head Start (OHS), Head Start aims to promote school readiness for young children in poverty. However, Head Start availability varies widely across states and counties and does not closely align with child poverty. GAO found that the number of Head Start seats for every 100 young children in poverty ranged from nine in Nevada to 53 in Oregon in 2022. This high degree of variability persisted even when accounting for state and county child poverty rates. Further, the Head Start statutory formula, by which annual funding is provided to grant recipients, is not responsive to changes in child poverty. As a result, grant recipients in states with rising child poverty can generally serve a lower proportion of income-eligible children. Head Start Seats Available for Every 100 Young Children in Poverty, Fall 2022 Current statutory provisions do not support the alignment of Head Start resources with need. These provisions include the annual funding formula and those governing the distribution of expansion funding, which Congress periodically provides to expand Head Start's reach. GAO found that provisions intended to target additional expansion funding to states with relatively low access to Head Start services, if applied today, would result in nearly all states qualifying to receive this funding. Federal grants may be designed in a variety of ways, depending on the purpose Congress wishes to achieve. Congress has an opportunity to review these provisions to ensure Head Start resources are directed toward its highest priorities. Within the existing statutory provisions, OHS has authority to consider the distribution of Head Start services when competitive grant funding is available to award. However, OHS rarely uses this authority. Doing so—and leveraging agency data to inform its grantmaking decisions—would help OHS better achieve its goal of targeting services to places most in need. Why GAO Did This Study In 2021–2022, Head Start served nearly 790,000 young children, primarily from low-income families. However, HHS estimates that far more children are eligible than can be served due to limited resources, heightening the importance of targeting services effectively. House Report 117-96 includes a provision for GAO to review the nationwide distribution of Head Start resources and what could help better align funding with need. This report examines the extent to which (1) Head Start resources align geographically with child poverty; (2) statutory provisions support aligning resources with need; and (3) OHS uses its grantmaking authority to align resources with need. GAO analyzed Head Start enrollment data from 2022 and Head Start funding and Census child poverty data from 2006 and 2021 (most recent available comparable data), interviewed OHS officials and stakeholder organizations, such as the National Head Start Association; and reviewed relevant federal laws and agency documents.

DOD Fraud Risk Management: Enhanced Data Analytics Can Help Manage Fraud Risks

What GAO Found The Department of Defense (DOD) issued an updated fraud risk management strategy in August 2023. Contrary to leading practices, the strategy does not establish data analytics as a method for fraud risk management or provide the direction needed to conduct such data analytics. Data analytics are control activities that can be used to prevent and detect fraud. Data analytics can include a variety of techniques, such as data matching. Data matching can be used to verify key information to determine eligibility to receive federal contracts. For example, if an entity reports that it is a small business in order to receive federal contracts, DOD can use third-party data sources to verify that the entity actually meets requirements to qualify as a small business. DOD's strategy refers generally to data analytics but does not establish it as a specific fraud risk management control activity. Accordingly, the strategy does not identify which DOD entity has the authority to ensure that fraud-related data-analytics activities are planned and implemented. The strategy does not establish clear roles and responsibilities for all entities with data-analytics roles. It also does not provide timelines for designing and implementing data-analytics activities. As a result, DOD is missing an opportunity to provide direction in areas that are critical to achieving its data-analytics goals and managing fraud risks. GAO analyses demonstrate how information from investigative case data on alleged and adjudicated procurement fraud could help inform DOD's fraud risk management consistent with leading practices in GAO's Fraud Risk Framework, despite existing data limitations (see fig.). Examples of Data Collected by the Department of Defense That Could Help Inform Its Fraud Risk Management For example, Defense Criminal Investigative Organizations (DCIO) collect data that describe the extent of detected alleged fraud through the number and types of cases investigated. Using these data, GAO found that the number of alleged and adjudicated procurement fraud cases closed from fiscal years 2015 through 2021 ranged from 444 for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) to 1,165 for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, a component of the DOD Office of Inspector General (OIG) (see fig.). Such information could help DOD identify and assess risks as part of its fraud risk profile. Specifically, information on the number and types of cases investigated could help DOD (1) identify procurement fraud risks and the likelihood and impact of those risks and (2) prioritize the fraud risks. Information from Analyses of Investigative Data from Alleged and Adjudicated Procurement Fraud Cases Closed from Fiscal Years 2015 through 2021 DCIOs also collect data describing the number and types of investigated offenses and offenses for which remedies were pursued. For example, GAO found that the most prevalent investigated offense in the 444 NCIS cases identified was false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims. GAO also found that this was the most prevalent offense for which remedies were pursued in the NCIS cases. This information could help DOD take actions, such as enhancing its fraud-awareness trainings to provide details on how these frauds were detected, to aid in preventing similar future fraud. Information about adjudicated offenses can help DOD better understand the impact of procurement fraud risks, including the financial and reputation impacts. With this information, DOD would be better able to determine its fraud risk tolerance. GAO's analyses revealed that investigative data on alleged and adjudicated procurement fraud cases were not always complete and could not always be readily analyzed, for various reasons. For example, some investigative data lacked a structured data field identifying cases as involving alleged or adjudicated procurement fraud, requiring analysis of narrative fields. Being able to readily identify such cases would facilitate DOD's fraud risk management. DOD does not have plans to obtain and analyze relevant information from adjudicated procurement fraud cases. Without obtaining such information, DOD may not fully assess its fraud risks or design and implement data-analytics activities to prevent or detect these risks. Why GAO Did This Study DOD is the largest contracting agency in the federal government—with contract obligations of $414.5 billion in fiscal year 2022 for a wide range of goods and services. In 2021, GAO found that DOD had taken initial steps to combat fraud risks but had not implemented a comprehensive approach. GAO was asked to broadly review DOD's fraud risk management as related to contracting. This report examines (1) if DOD's fraud risk management strategy provides the needed direction for fraud-related data-analytics activities and (2) the extent to which analyses of DOD investigative data on alleged and adjudicated procurement fraud cases can help inform fraud risk management. GAO analyzed DOD's fraud risk management strategy against leading practices. GAO also analyzed investigative data for fiscal years 2015 through 2021 for closed, unsealed, unclassified cases. GAO compared DOD's practices related to the usability of investigative data for fraud risk management and the use of investigative information with federal internal control standards and leading practices for fraud risk management. GAO also selected a nongeneralizable sample of eight cases, two from each DCIO, for illustrative information regarding the cases investigated.

Aviation Security: Transportation Security Administration Could Further Improve Officer Engagement

What GAO Found Leadership of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has identified the need to improve employee engagement—their sense of purpose in their job—as central to the agency's security mission. According to the Office of Personnel Management, engaged employees are more innovative, productive, and committed in their jobs, and thus less likely to leave. GAO found that five key drivers affect the engagement of TSA's Transportation Security Officers (TSO), who comprise the majority of TSA employees.   TSA has taken actions to address all five key drivers. However, challenges related to each persist. For example, to address TSO concerns with managing and recognizing performance, TSA began requiring supervisors to take a 1-hour performance management course in 2018. In 2021, it set up two programs to reward top performance. However, these actions did not fully address the root causes of TSO dissatisfaction—namely, inconsistent management of TSOs' performance. By identifying and implementing actions that fully address the root causes of the driver, TSA will be better able to improve engagement. Further, TSA has not identified root causes of TSO dissatisfaction for three other drivers—career development, work-life balance, and communication. Without doing so, TSA will have difficulty implementing effective corrective actions that address the specific challenges for each of the drivers. Transportation Security Officers Gather for a Shift Briefing For the final driver—demonstrating responsiveness to input—TSA has solicited TSO input on the root causes of low engagement at airports through a survey and other initiatives. However, TSA has not tracked follow-through on these initiatives. By tracking and monitoring follow-through on planned steps, TSA would be better able to ensure implementation and realize the desired effect of improving TSO engagement. Why GAO Did This Study TSA employs almost 50,000 TSOs who screen passengers and their baggage at U.S. airports. TSA employees' engagement has historically ranked among the lowest within the Department of Homeland Security and across the federal government. GAO was asked to review the factors that affect TSO engagement and TSA's actions to improve it. This report examines (1) the key drivers that affect engagement and (2) the extent to which TSA has taken actions to address them. GAO analyzed the Office of Personnel Management's Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results from 2020 through 2023, reviewed agency guidance and documentation on TSA's actions to improve engagement, and interviewed human capital officials. GAO interviewed a nongeneralizable sample of TSOs, their supervisors, and senior leaders at five airports selected to capture variation in levels of employee engagement. GAO also interviewed five employee groups, including the union that represents TSOs.

Sexual Harassment: Actions Needed to Improve Prevention Training for Federal Civilian Employees

What GAO Found Selected Department of Defense (DOD) components and other federal agencies vary in the extent to which they have incorporated management practices to enhance the effectiveness of the sexual harassment prevention training they require their federal civilian employees to complete. All seven DOD components and six other federal agencies in this review require their employees to complete some sexual harassment prevention training. However, none of them have fully incorporated GAO and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission management practices to enhance the effectiveness of their training content and the implementation of such training (see figure). They also do not know if their training needs improvements because they have not developed and implemented plans to evaluate its effectiveness. Without training evaluation plans to identify needed improvements, they may be missing opportunities to foster a climate free from harassment. Number of Management Practices Selected DOD Components and Federal Agencies Incorporated to Enhance Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Implementation as of October 2023 DOD conducts limited oversight of required sexual harassment prevention training for federal civilian employees. For example, DOD's Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion requested that components self-assess their compliance with anti-harassment training programs. However, it does not routinely review civilian sexual harassment prevention training, as required by DOD policy, or have plans to do so. Developing and implementing a plan to oversee sexual harassment prevention training could help DOD to better ensure that it is consistent with DOD's requirements. Why GAO Did This Study Safety from sexual harassment and other harmful behaviors such as sexual assault helps ensure the effectiveness, retention, and morale of the federal workforce, according to federal government research. DOD and other federal agencies have taken steps to address such behaviors, but data show that sexual harassment persists and is underreported. The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 includes a provision for GAO to review sexual harassment prevention training at DOD and other federal agencies. This report examines (1) the extent to which selected DOD components and federal agencies have incorporated management practices to enhance the effectiveness of their required sexual harassment prevention training for federal civilian employees, and (2) the extent to which DOD conducted oversight of such training. GAO selected seven DOD components and six federal agencies and assessed their training, reviewed guidance, and interviewed relevant officials.

Financial Audit: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Funds' 2023 and 2022 Financial Statements

What GAO Found GAO found (1) the financial statements of the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) and of the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC) Resolution Fund (FRF) as of and for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, are presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; (2) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting relevant to the DIF and to the FRF as of December 31, 2023; and (3) with respect to the DIF and to the FRF, no reportable instances of noncompliance for 2023 with provisions of applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements GAO tested. FDIC made progress during 2023 in addressing a significant deficiency that GAO reported in its prior year audits. Specifically, FDIC sufficiently addressed the deficiencies in contract documentation and payment review process controls such that GAO no longer considers the remaining control deficiencies in this area, individually or collectively, to represent a significant deficiency as of December 31, 2023. In commenting on a draft of this report, FDIC stated that it was pleased to receive unmodified opinions for the 32nd consecutive year on the DIF's and the FRF's financial statements, and noted that GAO reported that FDIC had effective internal control over financial reporting and that there was no reportable noncompliance with tested provisions of applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements. FDIC also stated that it was pleased to report that it effectively remediated a significant deficiency in internal control over contract documentation and contract payment review processes. FDIC stated that while its controls have improved, FDIC reiterated its commitment to sound financial management and will continue to look for opportunities to improve. Why GAO Did This Study Section 17 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended, requires GAO to audit the financial statements of the DIF and of the FRF annually. In addition, the Government Corporation Control Act requires that FDIC annually prepare and submit audited financial statements to Congress and authorizes GAO to audit the statements. This report responds to these requirements. For more information, contact M. Hannah Padilla at (202) 512-5683 or padillah@gao.gov.

Small Business Administration: Targeted Outreach about Disaster Assistance Could Benefit Rural Communities

What GAO Found The Small Business Administration's (SBA) Disaster Loan Program is available to rural and urban communities to cover qualified losses after a declared disaster. Disaster loans are intended to help homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofits repair, rebuild, and recover from physical and economic losses. For fiscal years 2017–2022, applications for disaster loans from rural and urban areas were approved and declined at comparable rates. Across both types of areas, SBA approved about 40 percent and declined about 40 percent of applications that met minimum qualifications for acceptance. The remaining applications were withdrawn (18.5 percent) or were still being reviewed by SBA as of June 2023 (1.7 percent). Outcomes of SBA Disaster Loan Applications SBA Accepted by Geographic Area, Fiscal Years 2017–2022, as of June 2023 Note: This analysis includes applications that met SBA’s minimum acceptance qualifications and excludes 20,882 applications that were duplicates or could not be classified as rural or urban. GAO found that rural communities may have characteristics that can make recovering from a disaster difficult. For instance, they are more likely to have limited telecommunication services (broadband and cellular) because of geographic barriers, such as mountains, or limited demand due to smaller and sparser populations. A lack of reliable communications can hamper outreach to disaster survivors and can make it harder for survivors to apply for disaster assistance. Also, rural communities often do not have the capacity and resources to support recovery activities. Stakeholders also identified challenges to obtaining assistance from SBA. For example, stakeholders noted that rural communities may not be aware of SBA disaster assistance and may not know that SBA aids homeowners as well as businesses. SBA has introduced new outreach approaches in recent years, such as portable outreach centers that can be established after a disaster in hard-to-reach areas, including rural communities. However, SBA's outreach policies and procedures do not distinguish between rural and urban communities, and SBA does not tailor its outreach to address the specific needs of rural communities. Developing outreach plans with specific methods to address challenges rural communities face after disasters could help improve their access to SBA's Disaster Loan Program. Why GAO Did This Study GAO previously reported that the number and cost of weather and climate disasters, such as tornadoes and wildfires, are increasing in the United States. The Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act enabled the SBA Administrator to declare disasters in rural areas if certain conditions are met and included a provision for GAO to examine the unique challenges rural areas face when seeking disaster assistance from SBA. This report examines disaster loan trends in rural and urban areas for fiscal years 2017–2022, challenges rural communities may face after disasters, and SBA's actions that may address these challenges. GAO analyzed and geocoded SBA disaster loan application data for fiscal years 2017–2022 to show trends for approved, accepted, and declined loan applications for rural and urban areas. GAO also interviewed officials from SBA, four regional nonprofit organizations, and 18 state and local entities from three site visits. GAO further reviewed literature and key agency documents related to outreach, marketing, equity, and implementation of the new rural disaster declaration.

Ridesharing and Taxi Safety: Information on Assaults against Drivers and Passengers

What GAO Found Ridesourcing (also referred to as ridesharing) and taxi services help meet the transportation needs of many people in the U.S. Taxi and Ridesourcing Transportation Services There is no federal requirement to collect data specifically on assaults against drivers and passengers of ridesourcing vehicles and taxis. Some federal and non-federal sources collect data on such assaults, but the available data cannot fully describe the extent of assaults in these industries. Several factors result in the data not being comparable or complete for this purpose. These factors include the varied intended uses of the collected data, the use of different definitions and codes, and underreporting of assaults. More specifically: Six federal databases contain some information on assaults in the ridesourcing and taxi industries. These databases contain more data about assaults against drivers than against passengers. Although limitations exist with these data, a few databases provide some data that can be used to report on assaults against drivers for 2019 and 2020. For example, a census of occupational fatalities reported 19 fatal injuries or illnesses of workers in the ridesourcing and taxi industries in 2019 related to assaults (i.e., intentional injuries by another person). Data for 2020 were not published because they did not meet publication criteria. Three ridesourcing companies whose representatives GAO interviewed collect data on assaults against their drivers and passengers, and they voluntarily issue reports with information on the extent of the most serious types of assault. The companies report data on fatal physical assaults and use the same definitions to categorize the five most serious types of sexual assault. The three ridesourcing companies reported that about 4,600 incidents of the five most serious types of sexual assault occurred related to trips arranged through their digital applications (app) in 2019, the only year for which all three companies publicly reported data. The five taxi companies whose representatives GAO spoke with collect complaint and incident data, which can include assault data. The five taxi companies' representatives said these data are largely for internal purposes and are not reported publicly. Representatives from the five companies said that they have experienced few or no assaults in 2019 and 2020. Why GAO Did This Study Ridesourcing and taxi companies offer similar transportation services to the public. Ridesourcing companies connect passengers and drivers by offering pre-arranged trips through an app. Taxi companies can conduct either pre-arranged or street-hail trips. Media outlets, advocacy organizations, and others have raised questions about the safety of drivers and passengers of ridesourcing vehicles and taxis. Sami's Law, enacted in January 2023, includes a provision for GAO to conduct a study including the incidence of physical and sexual assaults against ridesourcing and taxi drivers and passengers in calendar years 2019 and 2020. This report describes the extent to which data on such assaults are collected and available. To conduct this work, GAO reviewed federal database documents, such as data dictionaries, and interviewed officials from federal agencies including the Departments of Justice, Labor, and Health and Human Services. GAO also examined laws, regulations, and documents on ridesourcing and taxi oversight for five states and five localities, selected based on whether they collected data and to vary in location, among other factors. In addition, GAO reviewed documents and websites for selected ridesourcing companies and selected taxi companies. GAO also interviewed representatives from three ridesourcing and five taxi companies. GAO selected these companies to ensure variation in size (e.g., revenue, number of trips) and location. For more information, contact Elizabeth Repko at (202) 512-2834 or repkoe@gao.gov and Derrick Collins at (202) 512-8777 or collinsd@gao.gov.

DHS Annual Assessment: Most Programs Are Meeting Current Goals, but Some Continue to Face Cost and Schedule Challenges

What GAO Found DHS invests billions of dollars annually to acquire systems that help secure the border, increase marine safety, screen travelers, enhance cybersecurity, and execute a wide variety of other operations. Cost and schedule status. Of the 26 DHS acquisition programs that GAO selected to review, 16 had department-approved acquisition program baselines—a summary of measurable goals indicating how the system will perform, when it will be delivered, and what it will cost. Fifteen of the 16 programs met their current cost and schedule goals, while one program was in breach status in fiscal year 2023. The Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology program breached its schedule due to continued technical challenges and contributing financial constraints associated with increment 1 development. Further, some programs experienced ongoing challenges, while two of DHS's costliest programs reported significant cost growth and delays. The Offshore Patrol Cutter continues to face significant cost and schedule challenges despite a program restructure in 2020. The program has incurred cost growth of $6 billion since 2012 and it faces delays of almost 1.5 years for delivery of the first four cutters. The Polar Security Cutter program increased its cost baseline by $3.5 billion and its lead ship delivery goal has been delayed by more than 2 years as the program faces continued challenges with achieving a stable design. Thirteen of the 16 programs we reviewed have rebaselined—established new cost, schedule, or performance goals—at least once since their initial baselines were established. Some have rebaselined due to scope changes like increasing quantity, while others have rebaselined due to insufficient understanding of requirements and complexity of the work to be accomplished. In addition, five programs requested schedule adjustments to address COVID-19 effects. Performance status. All seven of the 16 programs GAO reviewed that completed testing in 2023, met their current performance goals. These programs completed operational test and evaluation for at least one increment or segment in operationally realistic conditions, which determines whether a system can perform as required. The remaining nine programs have either not yet started operational test and evaluation or testing is ongoing. Why GAO Did This Study To help execute its many critical missions, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to spend more than $4 billion on its portfolio of major acquisition programs—those with life-cycle costs generally over $300 million—in fiscal year 2024. DHS acquisition management was removed from GAO's High-Risk Series in 2023. The Explanatory Statement accompanying the DHS Appropriations Act, 2015, included a provision for GAO to review DHS's major acquisitions on an ongoing basis. This report, GAO's ninth review, assesses the extent to which selected DHS major acquisition programs are meeting their baseline cost, schedule, and performance goals. GAO selected and reviewed 26 of DHS's largest acquisition programs, including those that GAO identified as at risk of poor outcomes, to determine program status as of September 30, 2023. To conduct this work, GAO reviewed key acquisition documents; collected cost, schedule, and performance information; and interviewed DHS officials. For more information, contact Travis J. Masters at (202) 512-4841 or masterst@gao.gov.

GAO's Protocols for Legal Decisions and Opinions

This document supersedes GAO-06-1064SP, Procedures and Practices for Legal Decisions and Opinions, September 2006. It contains the updated protocols governing the U.S. Government Accountability Office's (GAO) legal decisions and opinions. These protocols explain GAO's approach to rendering decisions and opinions, including how the Congress or federal agencies may request them and how GAO will develop the legal and factual record upon which they rely. Importantly, these protocols provide a consistent framework and transparent policies for issuing legal decisions and opinions. The resulting decisions and opinions, in turn, support the Congress's constitutional power of the purse and further congressional oversight.

Commercial Space Transportation: FAA's Oversight of Human Spaceflight

What GAO Found The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversees commercial space operations with humans onboard under its broader licensing framework. FAA requires commercial launch operators to obtain a license before conducting any operation within U.S. borders—whether they carry humans or payloads, such as satellites. To obtain a license, operators must demonstrate that they can conduct the operation without jeopardizing the safety of the people and property not involved in the operation. FAA has additional licensing requirements for operations with humans onboard, such as crew training and the ability to suppress cabin fire. These requirements are intended to address risk to the uninvolved public. FAA is currently prohibited from issuing regulations directed at protecting the safety of humans onboard, with some exceptions, due to a moratorium that Congress established in 2004 to limit certain regulatory burdens on an emerging industry. This moratorium is set to expire on March 8, 2024. Number of U.S. Commercial Space Operations, 2018 – 2023 FAA is preparing for expanded oversight of human spaceflight—if the moratorium were to expire—by working with industry to develop future regulations and building FAA's workforce capacity. For example, FAA: chartered a rulemaking committee in April 2023 to solicit industry's input on a future regulatory framework aimed at protecting the safety of humans onboard, and is leveraging the expertise of current staff and recruiting new staff to support human spaceflight safety efforts. However, FAA has ongoing hiring challenges and workforce constraints, which have affected these efforts. For example, FAA reported it did not receive an adequate candidate pool for four of the 10 human spaceflight-related positions for which it has been actively recruiting. To help address this challenge, officials said in February 2024 that they are devising a new recruitment strategy for these positions. Why GAO Did This Study The number of commercial launch and reentry operations carrying humans is a small proportion of the overall number of commercial space operations—about 10 percent in 2023—but it is growing. This growth has been driven both by space tourism and by government missions conducted by commercial launch and reentry operators. This includes transporting National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts to and from the International Space Station. FAA forecasts that the number of commercial operations with humans onboard will continue to increase over the next several years. GAO was asked to review issues related to FAA's oversight of commercial launch and reentry operations with humans. This report describes how FAA (1) oversees the safety of commercial operations with humans onboard, and (2) is preparing for expanded oversight of human spaceflight, which may include regulations directed at protecting the health and safety of humans onboard. GAO reviewed relevant statutes, regulations, and FAA and industry documentation. GAO interviewed FAA officials and conducted semi-structured interviews with all seven launch operators that, as of December 2022 (during GAO's review), had conducted or planned to conduct operations with humans before 2026. For more information, contact Heather Krause at (202) 512-2834 or KrauseH@gao.gov.

Maternal Health: HHS Should Improve Assessment of Efforts to Address Worsening Outcomes

What GAO Found Maternal mortality and other adverse outcomes associated with pregnancy or childbirth worsened significantly in 2020 and 2021, as compared with 2018 and 2019, according to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) data. Disparities in maternal health outcomes persisted during the pandemic for certain groups. For example, the maternal mortality rate among non-Hispanic, Black or African American women was about 2.5 times greater than non-Hispanic, White women during these years, according to GAO's analysis of HHS data. Maternal Mortality by Race and Ethnicity, 2018 – 2022 Notes: A maternal death is the death of a woman that occurs during or within 42 days of pregnancy from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management. All racial groups are not Hispanic or Latina; Hispanic or Latina women may be of any race. The White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis was released in June 2022 in response to worsening outcomes and disparities. It highlights specific federal actions and outlines long-term goals for improving maternal health. HHS offices intend to develop a strategy for assessing the performance of these long-term goals. However, as of September 2023, HHS had not indicated whether the strategy will include key practices, such as establishing near-term goals and performance measures, to track the performance of their efforts . Doing so would allow HHS to better assess its efforts to improve maternal health. The blueprint also identifies key maternal health efforts, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Perinatal Quality Collaborative program, which supports multidisciplinary teams implementing maternal health quality improvement initiatives. The CDC program has both long- and near-term goals, but the near-term goals lack quantitative targets, such as targets specifying the anticipated number of facilities participating in the Perinatal Quality Collaborative program. Establishing such targets would allow CDC to assess the program's progress to help improve maternal health outcomes. Why GAO Did This Study The U.S. is experiencing a maternal health crisis: it has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among high-income nations; increasing rates of complications from pregnancy or childbirth; and persistent disparities in such outcomes, according to HHS. GAO previously reported that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated maternal health outcomes and highlighted racial disparities. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO to report on its COVID-19 pandemic oversight efforts. GAO was also asked to review maternal health during the pandemic. Among other things, this report describes what available HHS data show about maternal health during COVID-19, and examines the extent to which HHS agencies have incorporated key practices to assess the performance of selected HHS maternal health efforts. GAO selected efforts based on factors such as the number of states in which teams implement the efforts. GAO reviewed HHS data for various years from 2016 through 2022 (based on availability), reviewed agency documentation, compared efforts against key practices, and interviewed HHS officials and stakeholders.

401(k) Plans: Additional Federal Actions Would Help Participants Track and Consolidate Their Retirement Savings

What GAO Found The CARES Act temporarily expanded access to 401(k) retirement savings for plan participants who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. GAO surveyed 14 selected companies that manage participant account data and transactions for 401(k) plans. GAO found that less than one-third of the plans covered by the surveyed companies offered the CARES Act options. Industry stakeholders GAO interviewed said larger plans and plans in industries subject to furloughs at the beginning of the pandemic, such as airlines and hospitality, were more likely to offer the CARES Act options to participants. The CARES Act options generally allowed participants to access their 401(k) plan savings in two ways in 2020: Participants younger than 59½ could withdraw up to $100,000 from their plan savings without facing an additional 10 percent tax for early withdrawals; they could also choose to repay the amount within 3 years. Between March 27 and September 22, participants could borrow up to $100,000 from their savings as a loan and delay some payments a year. The 401(k) plans covered by the 14 companies GAO surveyed represented about 64 percent of all active 401(k) participants. Of those represented participants, GAO found that about 80 percent of them had access to the CARES Act options through their plan. Of these participants with access, 6 percent took a Coronavirus-Related Distribution and less than 1 percent took a CARES Act loan. Based on GAO's survey, the amounts of withdrawals and loans were higher during the pandemic in 2020 as compared with 2019 (see table). Industry stakeholders pointed out that workers with the greatest need for emergency funds during the pandemic in 2020—such as lower and middle-income workers—likely did not have a 401(k) plan and, thus, could not take advantage of the CARES Act options. Comparison of Average and Median Hardship Withdrawals and Plan Loans in 2019 with CARES Act Options in 2020   2019 Hardship Withdrawals 2020 Coronavirus-Related Distributions 2019 Plan Loans 2020 CARES Act Loans Average Amount $6,913 $18,344 $9,564 $33,793 Median Amount $3,144 $9,000 $5,097 $11,998 Source: GAO survey of 14 selected 401(k) plan record keepers. | GAO-24-103577 GAO also examined how six selected countries—Australia, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden—help retirement plan participants manage their savings. GAO found that all six countries use pension dashboards and other approaches to help plan participants track, manage, and consolidate their plan savings and reduce fees. For example, all six countries established a centralized pension dashboard that allows participants to view their retirement savings securely online and at no charge. According to experts from the countries, the dashboards help participants keep track of their various workplace retirement accounts as they change jobs. Pension Dashboards Allow Participants to Track Their Plan Savings in One Place To increase the likelihood that participants' savings will be consolidated after a job change, three of the six selected countries allow automatic savings transfers, according to experts GAO interviewed. For example, Australia, Norway, and the Netherlands allow a participant's inactive retirement plan savings from older workplace plans, to be transferred to the participant's current, active plan without the participant's consent. In Australia, plan providers must transfer savings from small inactive accounts to a government agency. The agency then holds the savings until the participant claims them, the agency transfers them to an active account, or the participant is eligible to receive the savings. Australian officials said close to 4.7 million accounts valued at $7.11 billion AUD (about $4.61 billion USD) have been reunited with participants between late 2019 and the end of 2022, helping them consolidate savings into their active accounts. In the U.S., 401(k) participants face challenges tracking and consolidating their accounts. However, federal action could mitigate these challenges. Federal data show that more than 92 million Americans participate in and have saved more than $7 trillion in 401(k) plans. Yet, GAO's nationally-representative survey of 401(k) participants found that participants continue to encounter challenges in managing and tracking their accounts as they move from one job to another. According to GAO's survey, two-thirds of 401(k) participants would find a comprehensive pension dashboard, where they can see all of their current and old plan savings in one place, to be a useful resource. However, no federal agency has statutory authority to establish a pension dashboard. GAO's survey also found that 401(k) participants who recently completed a plan-to-plan rollover faced challenges understanding and complying with their plans' requirements. For example, 25 percent of participants indicated that there were too many steps to follow in the process and 22 percent said they were unclear about questions or information in the rollover form. Allowing plans to automatically roll over participants' savings to their new plan after they change jobs can be beneficial for participants—particularly those unengaged with their plan—because they can benefit from account consolidation without navigating a challenging manual process. However, no federal agency has the statutory authority to establish a system to facilitate automatic plan-to-plan rollovers. Why GAO Did This Study Investing in employer-sponsored 401(k) plans has become the most common way for American workers to save for retirement. But plan participants can face challenges when they change jobs and with tracking their accounts. 401(k) savings can sometimes be accessed in emergencies. The CARES Act created additional options for participants to temporarily access their plan savings. GAO was asked to review access to 401(k) plan savings during the pandemic in 2020 and challenges participants have rolling over their retirement savings from one plan to another, both abroad and in the U.S. This report examines: (1) access to and use of the CARES Act 401(k) plan options; (2) approaches other countries use to help workers track, manage, and consolidate their plan savings; and (3) challenges with 401(k) plan-to-plan rollovers and federal actions that can improve the process. GAO's review included a non-representative survey of 401(k) companies and interviews with stakeholders representing different roles in the retirement industry about the CARES Act access options; interviews with experts from six selected countries that have: (1) a pension dashboard, (2) portable workplace retirement savings, and (3) other approaches to help workers track and consolidate their retirement savings; and a nationally-representative survey of 401(k) participants about their recent experience with plan-to-plan rollovers.

Oil and Gas Pipelines: Agencies Should Improve Oversight of Decommissioning

What GAO Found Gathering pipelines carry natural gas, crude oil, and other hazardous liquids from production wells to processing facilities, refineries, and transmission pipelines. Pipeline operators should decommission gathering lines after oil and gas production has ended to ensure any remaining gathering lines are safe and to restore the land to its natural state. If operators do not decommission gathering lines properly or in a timely manner, they could pose various safety and environmental risks, including spills, emissions, and explosions. For example, in 2017, homeowners accidentally struck an improperly decommissioned gathering line on their property, causing an explosion that killed two people and injured two others. Examples of Gathering Lines and Associated Infrastructure Agency efforts to ensure proper decommissioning may be hindered by insufficient bonding, data limitations, and ambiguous requirements. For example, the Bureau of Land Management has detailed data for the more than 95,000 wells on federal leases, but its databases do not include any data for the gathering lines associated with those wells. While agencies have taken steps to improve the data they have on gathering lines, those steps have been ad hoc. None of the agencies has a documented plan to ensure they are collecting and maintaining the data needed to oversee decommissioning activities. Developing a plan with a timeline for implementing data improvement efforts would provide management the assurance that officials are collecting and maintaining the data needed to oversee decommissioning. Specifically, a documented plan would identify what data are needed, potential sources for the data, timelines to collect or acquire the data, and how best to maintain the data over time, ensuring that they remain current and accessible. The federal government has previously stepped in to decommission orphaned gathering lines—lines without an identifiable responsible party. However, agencies have limited resources. While the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided additional funding, agencies told us that the act's funding will not be sufficient to decommission all orphaned infrastructure. For example, Forest Service officials said that even if all of the $250 million in the act were provided solely to Forest Service, those funds would allow for decommissioning of only 5 percent to 10 percent of the known and expected orphaned infrastructure on Forest Service lands. Agencies need to analyze the risks associated with gathering lines they oversee. For the four agencies, we found that only the National Park Service has assessed the potential risks of gathering lines it oversees. Assessing risks would allow agencies to adequately prioritize those gathering lines that pose the greatest safety, environmental, or fiscal risks for either oversight attention if lines are active, or decommissioning if lines are orphaned. Why GAO Did This Study Oil and gas pipeline operators have installed at least 384,000 miles of onshore gathering lines across the United States. We were asked to review issues related to decommissioning oil and gas gathering lines on federal lands. This report examines the risks associated with gathering lines that are not decommissioned properly or in a timely manner and how agencies oversee decommissioning of gathering lines on federal lands. We reviewed relevant laws, regulations, policies, and guidance related to overseeing decommissioning pipelines. We also conducted a literature search to assess risks associated with improper decommissioning. We interviewed agency headquarters and field office officials, as well as state agency officials, representatives from the oil and gas industry, environmental advocacy groups, and pipeline safety organizations.

Coast Guard: Enhanced Safety Oversight Needed for Fish Tender Vessels

What GAO Found Under U.S. law, certain fish tender vessels are subject to load line and stability requirements to ensure their safety in different waters, including by reducing their likelihood of capsizing. A fish tender vessel supplies and transports fish from a catcher vessel to a processing facility. A load line ensures a vessel's overall seaworthiness and includes maintaining certain structural features such as watertight closures. Example of Load Line Markings on a Fish Tender Vessel The Coast Guard's data system captures information on the activities of commercial fishing industry vessels but does not capture data on vessels engaging in multiple service types, such as both catching and tendering fish. As a result, the Coast Guard is unable to generate a reliable list of fish tender vessels to identify which vessels are subject to load line requirements and the extent they have been in accidents. By assessing the feasibility of updating its system to capture multiple service types, the Coast Guard will be better positioned to oversee fish tender vessels. In 2015, the Coast Guard recognized that some vessels that were operating as part-time fish tender vessels were not in compliance with load line requirements. In August 2019, the Coast Guard created a task force that proposed an alternative compliance program that would exempt certain fish tender vessels from load line requirements while still providing an appropriate level of oversight. The task force paused its work after May 2022 without (1) fully assessing the safety risks posed to vessels participating in such a program, and (2) clearly identifying the proposed program's legal basis. Should the Coast Guard pursue implementation of a program, fully assessing the safety risks posed to fish tender vessels without a load line can help it ensure that any proposed alternative compliance program maximizes vessel safety within existing resource limitations. By clearly identifying a legal basis for the program, the Coast Guard can better ensure that any proposed program is consistent with its legal authorities. Why GAO Did This Study Commercial fishing is an important part of the economy, yet one of the most hazardous occupations in the U.S. The U.S. Coast Guard is the primary federal agency responsible for marine safety, which includes enforcing safety requirements for fish tender vessels. The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 includes a provision for GAO to review issues related to load line requirements for fish tender vessels. This report addresses: (1) the load line and stability requirements for fish tender vessels; and the extent the Coast Guard (2) collected data on the activities of commercial fishing industry vessels in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest as they pertain to tendering and what its data show, and (3) addressed fish tender vessel noncompliance with load line requirements. GAO assessed relevant statutes, regulations, and Coast Guard documentation and data; and interviewed officials from the Coast Guard and commercial fishing industry (such as seafood companies and industry associations).

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