Priority Open Recommendations: U.S. Department of Agriculture
| Report Type |
Reports and Testimonies |
| Report Date |
July 8, 2021 |
| Release Date |
July 8, 2021 |
| Report No. |
GAO-21-590PR |
Summary:
What GAO Found
In April 2020, GAO identified 12 priority recommendations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Since then, USDA has implemented two of those recommendations. The department publicized information on state agencies’ use of data matching to reduce recipient fraud. USDA also ensured its workforce data are more reliable.
In July 2021, GAO identified one additional priority recommendation for USDA, bringing the total number to 11. These recommendations involve the following areas:
protecting the safety of the food supply.
reducing improper payments.
strengthening protections for wage earners.
improving oversight of federal assistance and awards.
improving cybersecurity.
USDA’s continued attention to these issues could lead to significant improvements in government operations.
Why GAO Did This Study
Priority open recommendations are the GAO recommendations that warrant priority attention from heads of key departments or agencies because their implementation could save large amounts of money; improve congressional and/or executive branch decision-making on major issues; eliminate mismanagement, fraud, and abuse; or ensure that programs comply with laws and funds are legally spent, among other benefits. Since 2015, GAO has sent letters to selected agencies to highlight the importance of implementing such recommendations.
For more information, contact Mark Gaffigan at (202) 512-3841 or gaffiganm@gao.gov.
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