GAO Reports

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week GAO investigated IRS information security weaknesses, media programming, environmental health threats to children, and other topics. If you would like to know more about GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

Information Security: IRS Needs to Continue to Address Significant Weaknesses. GAO-10-355, March 19.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-355
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10355high.pdf

Joint Strike Fighter: Additional Costs and Delays Risk Not Meeting Warfighter Requirements on Time. GAO-10-382, March 19.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-382
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10382high.pdf

Media Programming: Factors Influencing the Availability of Independent Programming in Television and Programming Decisions in Radio. GAO-10-369, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-369
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10369high.pdf

U.S. Insular Areas: Opportunities Exist to Improve Interior's Grant Oversight and Reduce the Potential for Mismanagement. GAO-10-347, March 16.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-347
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10347high.pdf

Defense Acquisitions: Opportunities Exist to Position Army's Ground Force Modernization Efforts for Success. GAO-10-406, March 15.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-406
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10406high.pdf

Secure Border Initiative: DHS Needs to Address Testing and Performance Limitations That Place Key Technology Program at Risk. GAO-10-158, January 29.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-158
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10158high.pdf

Environmental Health: High-level Strategy and Leadership Needed to Continue Progress toward Protecting Children from Environmental Threats. GAO-10-205, January 28.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-205
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10205high.pdf


Correspondence

Food Irradiation: FDA Could Improve Its Documentation and Communication of Key Decisions on Food Irradiation Petitions. GAO-10-309R, February 16.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-309R


Testimonies

Climate Change: Preliminary Observations on Geoengineering Science, Federal Efforts, and Governance Issues, by Franklin Rusco, director, natural resources and environment, before the House Committee on Science and Technology. GAO-10-546T, March 18.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-546T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10546thigh.pdf

Freedom of Information Act: Requirements and Implementation Continue to Evolve, by Valerie C. Melvin, director, information management and human capital issues, before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-10-537T, March 18.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-537T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10537thigh.pdf

Secure Border Initiative: Testing and Problem Resolution Challenges Put Delivery of Technology Program at Risk, by Randolph C. Hite, director, information technology architecture and system issues, before a joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism, and the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-10-511T, March 18.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-511T

U.S. Postal Service: Financial Crisis Demands Aggressive Action, by Phillip Herr, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Senate Committee on Appropriations. GAO-10-538T, March 18.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-538T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10538thigh.pdf

Aviation Security: TSA Is Increasing Procurement and Deployment of Advanced Imaging Technology, but Challenges to This Effort and Other Areas of Aviation Security Remain, by Stephen Lord, before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-10-484T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-484T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10484thigh.pdf

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance: Overarching Guidance Is Needed to Advance Information Sharing, by Davi M. D'Agostino, director, defense capabilities and management, before a joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces and the Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces, House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-10-500T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-500T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10500thigh.pdf

Medicare Part D: Spending, Beneficiary Out-of-Pocket Costs, and Efforts to Obtain Price Concessions for Certain High-Cost Drugs, by John E. Dicken, director, health care, before the Senate Special Committee on Aging. GAO-10-529T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-529T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10529thigh.pdf

Warfighter Support: Continued Actions Needed by DOD to Improve and Institutionalize Contractor Support in Contingency Operations, by William M. Solis, director, defense capabilities and management, before the Subcommittee on Defense, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-10-551T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-551T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10551thigh.pdf

Environmental Health: Opportunities for Greater Focus, Direction, and Top-Level Commitment to Children's Health at EPA, by John B. Stephenson, director, natural resources and environment, before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. GAO-10-545T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-545T

Environmental Contamination: Information on the Funding and Cleanup Status of Defense Sites, by Anu Mittal, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans' Affairs, and Related Agencies, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-10-547T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-547T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10547thigh.pdf

Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Request: U.S. Government Accountability Office, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, before the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-10-451T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-451T

Homeland Security: Ongoing Challenges Impact the Federal Protective Service's Ability to Protect Federal Facilities, by Mark L. Goldstein, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-10-506T, March 16.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-506T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10506thigh.pdf


Reissued Product

Federal Law Enforcement Retirement: Information on Enhanced Retirement Benefits for Law Enforcement Personnel. GAO-09-727, July 30, 2009.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-727
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09727high.pdf