Among those unchanged was management of federal real property, where GAO said agencies have long struggled with excess and underutilized space. Image: DCStockPhotography/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffGAO’s latest list of federal programs at high risk of fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, or in need of transformation, has a largely familiar look, with two removed and three added since the prior list in 2021, bringing the total to 37.
Of the 34 continuing on the list since 2021, GAO said there was improvement in 16—including strategic human capital management (see related story on skills gaps)—which it called the most improvement since it started evaluating progress in that way eight years ago. DoD business systems modernization declined while the rest stayed level.
Among the areas of improvement was the financial condition of the USPS, due in part to passage last year of a wide-ranging law that among other things relieved the agency of an obligation to pre-fund future costs of health insurance for its retirees. However, the GAO cautioned that the USPS “still cannot fully fund its current level of services and financial obligations” amid continuing declines in first-class mail revenue, competition from the private sector for package delivery, and growing employee compensation costs.
Among those unchanged was management of federal real property, where GAO said agencies “have long struggled with excess and underutilized space, which costs millions of dollars. The amount of space identified as excess is likely to increase as agencies re-evaluate their space needs after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the process for disposing of federal assets remains complex.”
Also unchanged was the government-wide security clearance process. “While the ongoing reforms in this area are promising, challenges remain regarding the timely processing of clearances, a lack of performance measures to assess quality at all stages of the process, and addressing IT system challenges,” it said.
One new addition, management of the Bureau of Prisons, was related to “longstanding challenges managing staff and resources, and planning and evaluating programs that help incarcerated people have a successful return to the community.” Two others had been added since the most recent report, HHS coordination of public health emergencies and the unemployment insurance program.
The PBGC insurance programs area was removed because Congress provided funding to troubled multiemployer pension plans and the financial position of the PBGC single-employer insurance program has improved, GAO said. The 2020 Census also was removed; GAO said the Census Bureau made progress in addressing data quality concerns and carried out priority recommendations.
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