The Government Accountability Office released a report Wednesday stating that 35 areas in its 2019 High-Risk List of federal programs and operations remain unchanged while others were removed when improvements were demonstrated.
The government watchdog selects initiatives for inclusion based on leadership commitment, agency capacity, action plans, monitoring efforts and demonstrated progress. The list is issued biannually and identifies government operations and programs that may be vulnerable to fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement.
GAO removed the Department of Defense’s supply chain management and the “mitigating gaps in weather satellite data†areas because of their progress and improved ratings. The Pentagon improved visibility, processing, tracking and transport operations resulting in millions of dollars in savings, according to the report.
GAO removed the satellite data area in response to efforts such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NOAA-20 satellite launch in 2017 and the DoD Weather System Follow-on–Microwave satellite slated for launching in 2022.
Two new areas in the list include the government-wide personnel security clearance process added in 2018 and the Department of Veterans Affairs acquisition management added in 2019. GAO said the VA faces challenges such as outdated regulations, inadequate acquisition training and a lack of medical supplies and procurement strategy. The watchdog also selected nine areas that “need especially focused executive and congressional attention.â€Â