GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

United States Government Accountability Office

Washington, DC 20548 

August 10, 2007 

The Honorable Henry A. Waxman 

Chairman 

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

House of Representatives 

Subject: Social Security: Costs Associated with the Administration’s Efforts to 

Promote Program Reforms 

Dear Mr. Chairman: 

You requested that we identify the official Social Security reform public speaking 

events and other promotion initiatives involving administration officials, and their 

costs to the federal government, since January 2005. As you know, the Social 

Security1

 Board of Trustees is projecting in its 2007 report that as early as 2017 Social 

Security benefit payments will exceed tax revenues. After that time, the gap between 

costs and tax revenues grows continuously, and unless action is taken to close this 

gap, it is currently estimated that the Social Security trust funds will be depleted by 

2041. In his 2005 State of the Union Address, the President emphasized the need to 

reform Social Security, and he announced his intention to work with the Congress to 

achieve reforms. On March 2, 2005, the Secretary of the Treasury announced the “60 

Stops in 60 Days” tour2

 in which the President and other administration officials 

would speak to the public about the need for reform in a series of town hall meetings 

across the country in an attempt to gain popular support for program reforms. Your 

request asked us to include events such as those associated with the “60 Stops in 60 

Days” tour and initiatives such as the Social Security Information Center (SSIC) 

established at the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) to provide a focal point for 

the administration’s Social Security reform activities. 

To answer your question about the list of public speaking events and other promotion 

initiatives, we relied upon information supplied by the Social Security Administration 

(SSA), Treasury, and the Executive Office of the President (EOP), including 

information posted to Treasury’s and the White House’s Web sites.3

 To answer your 

question about the cost of the public speaking events and other promotion initiatives, 

we focused our work on the activities of SSA, Treasury, and EOP, which accounted 

 

1

Officially, Social Security is called the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program. 

2

This is the name given to the administration’s plan to schedule at least 60 events across the country 

over a 60-day period to promote Social Security reform. 

3

www.strengtheningsocialsecurity.gov, www.treas.gov, and www.whitehouse.gov
Page 2 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

 

for approximately 75 percent of the public speaking events. In addition to data 

obtained from SSA, Treasury, and EOP, we received information pertaining to EOP 

activities from the United States Air Force (Air Force), and the Departments of Labor 

(Labor) and Health and Human Services (HHS). We specifically asked the Air Force 

to provide cost data related to the President’s and Vice President’s use of Air Force 

One and Air Force Two in traveling to promote Social Security reform. We asked 

Labor and HHS to confirm the costs reported by EOP as being reimbursed by Labor 

and HHS through interagency agreements supporting the President’s and Vice 

President’s public speaking events. As agreed with your office, we did not ask the 

agencies that participated in a minimal number of public speaking events to verify 

their events or to provide us with costs related to those agencies’ speaking events. 

Also, we did not determine Secret Service and other security costs or the salaries of 

the government officials, such as the President and Vice President, who participated 

in the Social Security reform events within the context of performing their larger 

duties, which we view as fixed costs.4

 We obtained and reviewed interagency 

agreement data from EOP, Treasury, Labor, and HHS supporting presidential and vice 

presidential public speaking events; travel data related to public speaking events 

from SSA, Treasury, EOP, and the Air Force; and activity and cost data related to 

other promotion initiatives from Treasury. 

Except for the records access limitation discussed below, we performed our work in 

accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards from June 2005 

through June 2007 in Washington, D.C., and are reporting the information obtained 

from Treasury, SSA, EOP, the Air Force, Labor, and HHS. Although we cannot 

provide reasonable assurance that the costs are complete and fully supported, we 

found that the data provided by these agencies were sufficiently reliable to 

substantially meet our objectives. 

While EOP provided certain cost information, it withheld from us the detailed source 

records showing how the funds transferred pursuant to the interagency agreements 

with Treasury, HHS, and Labor were spent as well as the travel documentation we 

requested. EOP provided some summary and other cost data on April 25, 2007, which 

was after the scheduled end of field work and about 3 weeks into the 30-day agency 

comment period in which the agencies involved in this review had the opportunity to 

comment on a draft of this report. The information EOP provided was in response to 

our written request for the information first made in August 2006. EOP stated that 

much of the requested information contained personal information for EOP 

personnel (such as Social Security Numbers, personal contact information, and credit 

card numbers). EOP also stated that some of the information could pose security 

concerns (such as travel patterns, identities of vendors used, and names used for 

arranging White House–related travel and supplies). We disagree with EOP’s 

decision to withhold this information from GAO, but decided to report this limitation 

on our work without initiating the process to enforce our right of access to EOP 

financial and related information under 31 U.S.C. § 716(a) because of the 

disproportionate amount of time and resources needed to pursue this matter and the 

4

Fixed costs are those costs which would have been incurred whether or not the officials participated 

in the Social Security reform events. 
Page 3 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

limited amount of funds involved. Under the circumstances, we decided that it was 

appropriate to report EOP’s decision to withhold basic financial and related 

information and have the Congress decide whether to pursue this matter further as 

part of its own oversight and investigative agenda. A full description of our scope 

and methodology, including the limitation on our work, can be found in enclosure I. 

Results in Brief 

We identified 228 public speaking events to promote the Social Security reform 

initiative, of which there were 40 presidential events, 7 vice presidential events, and 

122 events with officials from EOP, SSA, or Treasury. As agreed with your office, we 

primarily focused on these 169 events (almost 75 percent of the 228 public speaking 

events) and are reporting cost information we obtained for these events. We also 

identified many other promotion initiatives, including radio addresses and interviews 

and the establishment of a Treasury Web site. 

The direct and incremental costs for the 169 events and other initiatives were a 

reported $2,588,367 for staging, travel, and other direct costs. The largest portion was 

for reported reimbursements to EOP from Treasury, HHS, and Labor for staging costs 

totaling $1,651,460, while reported travel costs included $437,887 for the use of Air 

Force One and Air Force Two, $369,838 for EOP officials’ travel, and $66,794 for 

travel by Treasury and SSA officials. EOP reported $62,388 in other direct costs to 

support its public speaking events. Treasury reported an additional $222,608 in other 

initiative costs to establish and operate its SSIC and Strengthening Social Security 

Web site, bringing the total reported costs to $2,810,975. 

In addition to reporting the scope limitation imposed by EOP which prevents us from 

providing reasonable assurance that the costs reported to us are complete and fully 

supported, we are reporting a deficiency we found in how Treasury handled its 

interagency agreements with EOP. Treasury did not have supporting documentation 

for amounts it reimbursed EOP under the interagency agreements to pay for staging 

costs associated with Social Security reform events. We are making a 

recommendation to Treasury that it strengthen its guidance on obtaining, reviewing, 

and retaining supporting documentation for reimbursements under interagency 

agreements. 

We requested comments on a draft of this report from the Director, Office of 

Administration, EOP; the Secretary of the Treasury; the Commissioner of Social 

Security; and the Secretary of Defense. EOP did not provide comments but did 

provide certain data we requested, which was incorporated into the report as 

appropriate. Treasury provided oral comments in which it agreed with our facts but 

would not say whether it agreed or disagreed with our recommendation. Instead, 

Treasury said it would review its procedures with respect to the processing of 

interagency agreements. We received written comments from SSA in which it 

requested that we modify our report to emphasize its role in educating the public 

about solvency issues rather than promoting any particular plan to achieve solvency. 

We did not incorporate any changes based upon this comment as GAO does not 

believe such a distinction is warranted. SSA also provided minor technical 
Page 4 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

 

corrections, which were incorporated into the report as appropriate. The 

Department of Defense stated that it agreed with the facts contained in the report. 

Background

Social Security provides protection against the loss of earnings due to retirement, 

death, or disability. According to the 2007 Social Security Board of Trustees Report 

(Trustees Report), there were 49 million beneficiaries at the end of 2006. Total 

benefits paid during 2006 amounted to $546 billion. The Trustees Report goes on to 

state that under current law, the cost of Social Security will soon begin to increase 

faster than the program’s income, because of the aging baby boom generation, 

expected low fertility, and increasing life expectancy. The Board of Trustees 

projected a long-range (75 year) funding shortfall in the Social Security Trust Funds 

of $4.7 trillion in present value, absent program reforms. For the infinite future, the 

Board projects a funding shortfall of $13.6 trillion in present value dollars.

In 2005, the President began promoting Social Security reform, including hundreds of 

public speaking events by administration officials across the country to educate the 

public about the Social Security solvency issues and gain popular support for his plan 

to reform Social Security. A large part of the costs of this initiative were paid by 

Treasury, HHS, and Labor through reimbursements to EOP, under interagency 

agreements covering event staging costs for many of the President’s and Vice 

President’s public speaking events around the country. Interagency agreements like 

those entered into by Treasury and EOP are permitted by the Economy Act,5

 which 

allows one department or agency to use the materials, supplies, facilities, and 

personnel of another. Under this authority, the agency requesting the goods or 

services (the ordering agency, or Treasury in this case) agrees to reimburse the 

agency providing the goods or services (the performing agency, or EOP in this case) 

the actual costs incurred by the performing agency, including both direct and indirect 

costs. The ordering agency is accountable to the Congress for expenses it incurs 

against appropriations made to it, and the performing agency is accountable for the 

proper use of the ordering agency’s funds. 

Social Security Reform Public Speaking Events and Other Promotion 

Initiatives 

On the basis of information obtained from Treasury, SSA, and EOP, including 

information obtained from their Web sites, we identified 228 public speaking events 

conducted by eight agencies.6

 Table 1 summarizes the 228 identified public speaking 

events attended by agency and EOP officials. These events were primarily town hall 

meetings conducted across the country before various groups. Enclosure II provides 

the date and location of each event and the name of the administration official who 

was a primary speaker.

5

31 U.S.C. §§ 1535–1536. 6

HHS identified 2 other events for which it stated it reimbursed $59,749.47 to EOP for costs associated 

with Social Security reform events, which are not included in the report totals. We could not obtain 

corroborating evidence that there were Social Security reform events in Cleveland, Ohio on 

January 27, 2005, and in Maple Grove, Minnesota on June 17, 2005. 
Page 5 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

Table 1: Number and Percentage of Social Security Reform Agenda Public Speaking 

Events by Agency 

Agency Number of events Percentage of all 

disclosed events 

Social Security Administration 73 32.0% 

Executive Office of the President 57 25.0 

Department of the Treasury 39 17.1 

Department of Labor 16 7.0 

Small Business Administration 16 7.0 

Department of Commerce 13 5.7 

Department of Health and Human Services 8 3.5 

Department of Housing and Urban Development 6 2.7 

Total 228 100.0% 

Source: GAO analysis of Treasury, SSA, and EOP data. 

In addition to these 228 public speaking events, the President, Vice President, and 

agency officials also conducted radio addresses, television and radio interviews, and 

Internet question-and-answer sessions to promote Social Security reform. As part of 

these other promotion initiatives, Treasury established and staffed the Social Security 

Information Center (SSIC) in February 2005, which administered the Strengthening 

Social Security Web site and coordinated many of the activities to promote reform, 

including identifying administration officials who were available to speak at reform 

events and posting summaries of the events to the Web site. According to Treasury 

officials, SSIC was shut down at the end of August 2005, and its staff was assigned to 

other duties within Treasury.7

 Enclosure III lists the other promotion initiatives we 

identified, including the date and type of initiative and the key administration officials 

involved. 

Identified Costs of Promoting Social Security Reform 

As agreed with your office, our review focused on EOP, Treasury, and SSA, as 

officials from these agencies participated in 169, or almost 75 percent, of the 228 

Social Security reform public speaking events. Of these 169 events, 40 featured the 

President, 7 featured the Vice President, and 122 featured officials from EOP, SSA, or 

Treasury. As shown in table 2, the direct and incremental costs to the U.S. 

government reported to us totaled $2,810,975, of which $2,588,367 was reported as 

expenses related to the public speaking events. Reimbursements to EOP from 

Treasury, HHS, and Labor for event staging costs totaled $1,651,460. Travel costs 

were the next largest category totaling a reported $874,519, including $437,887 

reported by the Air Force for the use of Air Force One and Air Force Two to transport 

the President and Vice President to and from the Social Security reform events. EOP 

reported an additional $369,838 in travel costs, with SSA and Treasury reporting a 

combined $66,794 in travel costs. EOP also reported $62,388 in other direct costs to 

support its public speaking events. Finally, Treasury reported $222,608 in costs to 

establish and operate its SSIC and Web site. The costs are discussed in greater detail 

below, including limitations on the data. Also, as discussed previously, the costs we 

identified do not include Secret Service and other security costs or the salaries of 

administration officials participating in the events within the context of performing 

their larger duties, which we view as fixed costs. Finally, SSA and Treasury officials 

 

7

The Strengthening Social Security Web site was still available at www.strengtheningsocialsecurity.gov

as of July 25, 2007. 
Page 6 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

told us that when officials from their agencies were invited to speak at events hosted 

by private sector organizations, the agencies only paid for travel expenses. 

Table 2: Reported Social Security Reform Costs 

Cost category Amount (in dollars) 

EOP event staging costs reimbursed through interagency agreements with 

Treasury, HHS, and Labor 

$1,651,460 

Air Force One and Air Force Two costs for 

 presidential and vice presidential travela

437,887 

EOP travel costs 369,838 

SSA travel costs 45,898 

Treasury travel costs 20,896 

EOP other direct costs 62,388 

Subtotal: reported public speaking event costs 2,588,367 

Treasury’s Social Security Information Center (SSIC) and Strengthening 

Social Security Web site costs 

222,608 

Total $2,810,975 

Sources: SSA, Treasury, EOP, Labor, HSS, and the Air Force. 

a

Reported fiscal year 2005 fuel costs, which accounted for nearly 90 percent of the Air Force’s total reported costs, were $6,462 per flight hour for 

the VC-25 (the Boeing 747 used to transport the President to most of the Social Security reform events) and $1,325 per flight hour for the C-32A 

(the Boeing 757 that was primarily used to transport the Vice President). 

Costs Related to EOP Participation. We have identified staging, travel, and other 

direct costs for the public speaking events with EOP participation. The staging costs 

were reimbursed to EOP by Treasury, HHS, and Labor pursuant to interagency 

agreements. Air Force incurred direct travel costs for the use of Air Force One and 

Air Force Two in transporting the President and Vice President to and from their 

public speaking events. In addition to the amounts reported by the Air Force, EOP 

reported its own travel costs. Finally, EOP reported having other direct costs to 

support its public speaking events. 

We determined that EOP had interagency agreements with Treasury, HHS, and Labor. 

In accordance with the agreements, these agencies agreed to reimburse EOP for 

staging costs associated with 36 events in which the President or Vice President 

participated. The agreements authorized a transfer of funds to EOP of up to 

$1,871,625. Respectively, Treasury, HHS, and Labor disbursed $703,177, $440,688, 

and $507,595 for a total of $1,651,460 to EOP for these events. Enclosure IV provides 

additional details on the costs reimbursed through these interagency agreements. In 

order to confirm the interagency agreement cost data submitted by EOP, we asked 

Treasury, Labor, and HHS to report on the amounts transferred by those agencies. 

However, we could not determine whether the transferred funds were actually used 

to pay for the costs of staging the events as stated in the agreements.8

Although we requested detailed source records (i.e., invoices, receipts, etc.) that 

would show what was purchased with these transferred funds, EOP withheld this 

documentation and Treasury officials said they did not receive supporting 

 

8

As discussed in enc. I, because Labor and HHS were not asked to report the costs associated with 

events with their agency officials based upon our decision to review the agencies with significant 

numbers of public speaking events and the fact that any additional information we might have 

obtained from Labor and HHS would not fully remove the records access limitation imposed by EOP, 

we only asked that Labor and HHS confirm the amounts reported by EOP. 
Page 7 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

 

documentation from EOP and, therefore, could not provide the information. EOP 

stated in its April 25, 2007, letter that “much of the underlying data (such as the 

requested receipts, invoices, and travel vouchers) contains personal information for 

Executive Office of the President personnel (such as social security numbers, 

personal contact information, and credit card numbers), as well as certain 

information that could represent security concerns (such as travel patterns, the 

identities of vendors used, and names/pseudonyms used for arranging White Houserelated travel and supplies),” and, therefore, it would not provide the source 

documents. We disagree with EOP’s decision to withhold this information and 

believe that it is inconsistent with current law. GAO has a statutory right of access to 

this information9

 and our work often involves reviewing information that is sensitive 

or classified and we have procedures for handling and protecting such information. 

However, given the nature of this request and the amounts involved, GAO decided not 

to pursue this records access issue. 

Further, because Treasury was party to the interagency agreements, we expected that 

Treasury would possess or have immediate access to such documentation as a 

normal course of doing business. The Economy Act, under which Treasury entered 

into the agreements to reimburse EOP for its staging costs, requires that the 

reimbursement be based upon the actual cost of goods or services provided.10 When 

coupled with Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-123, Management’s 

Responsibility for Internal Control, and our Standards for Internal Control in the 

Federal Government,

11 which require that all transactions be clearly documented and 

that documentation be properly maintained and managed and readily available for 

examination,12 we believe it would be prudent for Treasury to receive, review, and 

retain supporting documentation that would allow Treasury officials to ensure that 

the goods or services were received and that payments are properly certified in 

accordance with Treasury’s own guidance.13 Additional Treasury guidance, such as 

the Treasury Financial Management Service’s Federal Intragovernmental 

Transactions Accounting Policy Guide,

14 states that each agency is responsible for 

documenting and supporting the information recorded in its accounting records 

related to intragovernmental transactions. Without the availability of adequate 

documentation, Treasury lacks reasonable assurance of its compliance with the 

Economy Act and that its appropriations are used for purposes authorized by law. 

Reported travel costs associated with EOP’s participation totaled $807,725, including 

$437,887 reported by the Air Force for direct, incremental mission costs incurred to 

fly the President and Vice President aboard Air Force One and Air Force Two. The 

9

31 U.S.C. § 716(a). 

1031 U.S.C. § 1535(b). 

11GAO, Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government, GAO/AIMD-00-21.3.1 (Washington, 

D.C.: November 1999). 

12See also chapter 2 of title VII of GAO’s Policy and Procedures Manual for Guidance of Federal 

Agencies, which provides guidance on agencies’ responsibilities with regard to reimbursements 

between agencies. 

13Department of the Treasury, Procurement Services Division, Customer’s Guide To Processing 

Payable Interagency Agreements (IAA) (January 2006), p. 9. 14Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service, Federal Intragovernmental 

Transactions Accounting Policy Guide (Washington, D.C. August 2006). 
Page 8 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

 

Air Force reported that it flew 39 missions in support of the Social Security reform 

initiative. Mission costs included fuel, travel expenses of Air Force personnel, and 

miscellaneous mission expenses. As discussed previously, this figure does not 

include security costs or the salaries of the flight crews, as these were not 

incremental costs. Separately, EOP reported that its personnel incurred $369,838 in 

direct travel costs relating to 46 of the 57 EOP events. Finally, EOP reported $62,388 

in other direct costs. We were unable to review the travel authorizations and travel 

vouchers for EOP’s travel and the receipts for the miscellaneous costs because EOP 

withheld certain information, as described above. We also cannot provide reasonable 

assurance based on the information provided by EOP that its reported travel costs 

are complete since EOP stated for 7 events that we had identified that its records 

reflected no events and expenses on those particular days.15 However, we identified 

these events from either Treasury or White House Web sites and, for most of these 

events, have transcripts or other support showing that the events did occur. 

Costs Related to SSA Participation. For the 73 public speaking events in which 

an SSA official was a primary speaker, we identified $45,898 in travel costs.16

According to an SSA official, SSA had no other costs related to the administration’s 

promotion of Social Security reform. We reviewed all associated travel vouchers for 

proper approvals and to ensure the vouchers agreed with the reported amounts, and 

selected a statistical sample17 of these vouchers to test travel authorizations and 

supporting documentation for proper approvals and support for claimed amounts. 

We found that these costs were adequately supported. 

Costs Related to Treasury Participation. For the 39 public speaking events and 

other initiatives in which a Treasury official was a primary speaker, we identified 

$20,896 in travel costs.18 We reviewed the associated travel authorizations and travel 

vouchers for proper approvals and support for claimed amounts, and found that these 

costs were adequately supported. Treasury officials indicated that Treasury also had 

costs associated with its SSIC and Web site totaling $222,608. These costs included 

the salaries of personnel19 dedicated to the SSIC and information technology costs. 

15The EOP events with no reported expenses include the President’s events on May 4 and 13, and 

June 8, 14, and 23, 2005; Noam Neusner’s April 2, 2005 event; and Keith B. Hennessey’s March 7, 2005, 

event. The reported expenses do include travel expenses for 8 events that EOP reported it could not 

tie to the specific Social Security reform events we identified based upon its review of travel expense 

files. Those events include Joshua B. Bolten’s April 4, 2005, event, Allan B. Hubbard’s events on 

March 24 and 28, 2005, Keith B. Hennessey’s March 30, 2005, event, and Brian Reardon’s April 25, 2005, 

event. 

16SSA did not report costs for local travel. 

17Refer to enc. I, Scope and Methodology, for details related to the statistical sample. 18Identified Treasury travel expenses included $3,063 for travel to “Teach Children to Save Day” events, 

which are listed in enclosure III. While not the primary focus of these events, Social Security reform 

was discussed. Many of the initiatives were conducted in Washington, D.C., or in conjunction with 

other events and therefore did not likely have significant additional travel expenses. Treasury did not 

report costs for local travel. 

19The salary expenses associated with the assignments to the SSIC were considered direct and 

incremental because newly hired employees were initially assigned full-time to the SSIC. 
Page 9 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

Conclusions and Recommendation for Executive Action 

We identified hundreds of events geared toward educating the public about Social 

Security solvency issues and reform ideas as well as associated costs reported by 

Treasury, SSA, EOP, Labor, HHS, and the Air Force totaling about $2.8 million. We 

could not test the validity of some of those costs because EOP withheld certain key 

information and Treasury did not have supporting documentation for amounts it 

reimbursed EOP under the interagency agreements. We are, therefore, unable to 

provide reasonable assurance that the costs reported to us are complete and fully 

supported. While we continue to assert that we have a right to the supporting 

documentation denied us by EOP, we have decided to report the limitation without 

initiating the process to enforce our right to these documents because of the 

disproportionate amount of time and resources needed to pursue this matter and the 

limited amount of the funds involved. 

To strengthen Treasury’s oversight of its interagency agreements, GAO recommends 

that the Secretary of the Treasury direct the Chief Financial Officer of the department 

to strengthen the department’s guidance to clarify that sufficient documentation to 

support reimbursements made through interagency agreements is to be obtained, 

reviewed, and retained. 

Agency Comments and Our Evaluation 

EOP did not provide comments but did provide certain data related to our August 

2006 request. The information contained therein was incorporated into the report. 

In oral comments, Treasury agreed with the facts contained in this report but did not 

say whether it agreed or disagreed with GAO’s recommendation. Rather, Treasury 

stated that it would review its procedures with respect to the processing of 

interagency agreements. 

In written comments on a draft of this report, which are reprinted in enclosure V, SSA 

stated that it strongly believes that the body of the report should be modified to 

indicate the involvement of SSA’s representatives and the funds spent on those 

activities were to provide solvency education to the public rather than to promote 

any particular plan to achieve solvency. GAO does not believe such a distinction is 

warranted. Solvency issues are integral to any discussion of modifications to Social 

Security and the events identified in the report were, among other things, used to 

promote the President’s reform agenda as evidenced by their inclusion on Treasury’s 

Strengthening Social Security Web site. SSA’s comments also included minor 

technical corrections, which were incorporated into the report as appropriate. 

The Department of Defense orally commented that the agency agreed with the facts 

contained in the report. 

- - - - - - 

As agreed with your office, unless you publicly announce its contents earlier, we plan 

no further distribution of this report until 30 days from its date. At that time, we will 

send copies of this report to the appropriate House and Senate committees; the 
Page 10 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

Director of Administration, EOP; the Secretary of the Treasury; the Commissioner of 

Social Security; the Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of Labor; the Secretary of 

Health and Human Services; and other interested parties. Copies will be made

available to others upon request. In addition, this report will also be available at no 

charge on GAO’s Web site at http://www.gao.gov. 

This report was prepared under the direction of Jeffrey C. Steinhoff, Managing 

Director, Financial Management and Assurance, who may be reached at 

(202) 512-2600 or at steinhoffj@gao.gov if you or your staff have any questions 

regarding it. Contact points for our Offices of Congressional Relations and Public 

Affairs may be found on the last page of this report. Major contributors to this report 

include Phillip W. McIntyre, Assistant Director; Michelle L. Smith; and Edward F. 

Tanaka. 

Sincerely yours, 

David M. Walker 

Comptroller General 

of the United States
Page 11 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

Enclosure I 

Scope and Methodology 

To address your inquiry, we first identified the universe of public speaking events and 

other initiatives reported on the Department of the Treasury’s (Treasury) Web site 

dedicated to the President’s Social Security reform agenda, 

www.strengtheningsocialsecurity.gov, the general Treasury Web site, www.treas.gov, 

and the White House Web site, www.whitehouse.gov, and collected basic event data 

from these Web sites. Because the Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, 

and the Executive Office of the President (EOP) accounted for approximately 75 

percent of all identified events,1

 we requested financial records and other 

documentation for the events attended by officials from SSA, Treasury, and EOP.2

 

We requested additional information concerning EOP activities from the United 

States Air Force (Air Force) regarding the use of Air Force One and Air Force Two, 

and asked the Departments of Labor (Labor) and Health and Human Services (HHS) 

to report on interagency agreement costs those agencies reimbursed to EOP for many 

of the President’s and Vice President’s speaking events. We received information 

from SSA, Treasury, EOP, Air Force, Labor, and HHS. We also conducted interviews 

with officials from SSA, Treasury, and the Air Force. We did not ask the agencies that 

participated in a minimal number of speaking engagements (like Labor and HHS) to 

report their events or to provide us with costs related to those agencies’ speaking 

events. We also did not determine the costs of the Secret Service, other security, and 

the salaries of government officials who participated in the Social Security reform 

events within the context of performing their larger duties. Except as discussed 

below, salaries were considered fixed costs because they would have been incurred 

whether or not the officials participated in the Social Security reform events. 

We reviewed information and documentation from SSA, Treasury, and EOP, which 

we used to compile the lists of public speaking events and other reform initiatives. 

See enclosures II and III, respectively. EOP was unable to fully verify the 

completeness and accuracy of our list of EOP public speaking events. It stated in its 

April 2007 submittal that it did not have records for some of the events we identified. 

For the events that EOP could not verify, we are including the ones we identified 

from data contained on either the White House or Treasury Web sites. For most of 

these events, we have transcripts or other support showing that these events did 

occur. 

For the staging costs reimbursed to EOP through interagency agreements, we 

compared amounts reported by EOP with those reported by Treasury, Labor, and 

HHS. We reviewed Treasury’s interagency agreements with EOP for Treasury 

approvals but could not test for adequate support because Treasury did not have 

 

1

The remaining events were attended by officials from five other agencies including the Departments 

of Commerce, Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development, and Labor 

(Labor), and the Small Business Administration. 

2

In our request for EOP information and documentation, we asked EOP to report nontravel and 

nonstaging expenses if they amounted to more than $2,500. 
Page 12 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

 

support and EOP did not provide the requested support. EOP’s decision to withhold 

the requested documentation hindered our ability to provide reasonable assurance 

that the reported costs are complete and fully supported. Although we did not 

perform detailed tests at Labor and HHS because any results from those tests would 

not have fully eliminated the records access limitation, we did ask Labor and HHS to 

report on the amounts transferred to EOP under the interagency agreements. 

We reviewed SSA and Treasury travel authorizations and vouchers for proper 

approvals and support for claimed amounts. For SSA travel, we reviewed 100 percent 

of the travel vouchers for proper approvals and to ensure the vouchers supported the 

reported amounts. We also selected a statistical sample of 15 SSA travel vouchers 

totaling $11,510 from a population of 60 vouchers totaling $45,8983

 to test for proper 

travel authorizations and adequate support (i.e., hotel bills, airline tickets, etc.). We 

found no exceptions during testing.4

 For Treasury travel, we reviewed 100 percent of 

the trips for proper approvals and for adequate support. 

In addition to SSA and Treasury travel cost data, we received information from the 

Air Force and EOP pertaining to EOP travel. The Air Force calculated and provided 

mission cost data for presidential and vice presidential events in which Air Force One 

and Air Force Two were used. To assess the reasonableness of the data, we applied 

analytic procedures and interviewed an Air Force official. For the travel and other 

miscellaneous costs reported by EOP, we could not perform tests because EOP 

withheld the requested records. 

Finally, our review of Treasury costs related to the Social Security Information 

Center (SSIC) and Web site was limited to analytic procedures focusing on the 

salaries of Treasury employees dedicated to the SSIC, which constituted the majority 

of the SSIC costs. The salary expenses associated with the assignments to the SSIC 

were considered direct and incremental because newly hired employees were initially 

assigned full-time to the SSIC. 

Except for the limitation related to EOP’s withholding of detailed source records 

which affected our ability to provide reasonable assurance that the reported costs are 

complete and fully supported, we performed our work in accordance with generally 

accepted government auditing standards from June 2005 through June 2007 in 

Washington, D.C. This report reflects the information we were able to obtain from 

Treasury, SSA, EOP, the Air Force, Labor, and HHS. Through our review of 

supporting documentation, interviews, and analytical procedures, we found that the 

data provided by Treasury, SSA, EOP, the Air Force, Labor, and HHS were 

sufficiently reliable to substantially meet our objectives and therefore could be 

reported with disclosed limitations about the completeness of the costs and adequacy 

of the supporting documentation. While EOP provided certain cost information, it 

withheld from us the detailed source records showing how the funds transferred 

pursuant to the interagency agreements with Treasury, HHS, and Labor were spent as 

3

These vouchers represent 73 of the events attended by SSA officials in support of the Social Security 

reform initiative. 

4

We are 95-percent confident that the error rate associated with sampling error inherent in statistical 

sampling is less than or equal to 1 percent, plus or minus 5 percent. 
Page 13 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

well as the travel documentation we requested. EOP provided some summary and 

other cost data on April 25, 2007, which was after the scheduled end of field work and 

about 3 weeks into the 30-day agency comment period in which the agencies involved 

in this review had the opportunity to comment on a draft of this report. The 

information EOP provided was in response to our written request for information 

first made in August 2006. We could not confirm whether the transferred funds were 

actually used to pay for costs of staging the events as stated in the agreements but we 

are reporting the interagency agreement reimbursements because Treasury, Labor, 

and HHS reported to us that they had reimbursed EOP for costs associated with 

Social Security reform events. Further, we are including EOP reported amounts for 

travel and miscellaneous costs although we were unable to review the supporting 

documentation. 

We decided to report the limitation on our work without initiating the process to 

enforce our right of access to EOP financial and related information under 31 U.S.C. § 

716(a) because of the disproportionate amount of time and resources needed to 

pursue this matter and the limited amount of the funds involved. Under the 

circumstances, we decided that it was appropriate to report that EOP withheld basic 

financial and related information and have the Congress decide whether to pursue 

this matter further as part of its own oversight and investigative agenda. 

We requested comments on a draft of this report from the Director, Office of 

Administration at EOP; the Secretary of the Treasury; the Commissioner of Social 

Security; and the Secretary of Defense. 
Page 14 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

Enclosure II 

228 Identified Social Security Reform Public Speaking Events

Date Location of event Administration official Agency 

1/11/2005 Washington, D.C. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

1/13/2005 Washington, D.C. Richard B. Cheney Executive Office of the President 

2/3/2005 Great Falls, Mont. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

2/3/2005 Fargo, N.Dak. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

2/4/2005 Omaha, Nebr. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

2/4/2005 Little Rock, Ark. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

2/4/2005 Tampa, Fla. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

2/8/2005 Detroit, Mich. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

2/9/2005 Washington, D.C. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

2/10/2005 Blue Bell, Pa. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

2/10/2005 Raleigh, N.C. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

2/16/2005 Portsmouth, N.H. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

2/18/2005 New York, N.Y. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

2/18/2005 Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Mark J. Warshawsky Department of the Treasury 

2/19/2005 Tucson, Ariz. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

2/21/2005 Atlanta, Ga. Andrew Biggs Social Security Administration 

2/22/2005 Philadelphia, Pa. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

2/23/2005 Cincinnati, Ohio James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

2/23/2005 Sharonville, Ohio James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

2/24/2005 Tampa, Fla. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

2/24/2005 Houston, Tex. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

2/25/2005 Jacksonville, Fla. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/3/2005 Fayetteville, Ark. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/4/2005 Notre Dame, Ind. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/4/2005 Westfield, N.J. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/4/2005 New Orleans, La. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/4/2005 Allendale, Mich. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/4/2005 Muskegon, Mich. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/5/2005 Cadillac, Mich. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/5/2005 Manistee, Mich. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/5/2005 Ludington, Mich. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/7/2005 Westminster, Md. Keith Hennessey Executive Office of the President 

3/8/2005 Washington, D.C. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/8/2005 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Eric Stewart Department of Commerce 

3/8/2005 Boca Raton, Fla. Eric Stewart Department of Commerce 

3/8/2005 New Orleans, La. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/9/2005 Washington, D.C. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/9/2005 New Orleans, La. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/9/2005 New Orleans, La. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/10/2005 Albuquerque, N.Mex. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/10/2005 Albuquerque, N.Mex. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/10/2005 Montgomery, Ala. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/10/2005 Louisville, Ky. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/11/2005 San Antonio, Tex. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/11/2005 Memphis, Tenn. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/11/2005 Shreveport, La. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 
Page 15 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

Date Location of event Administration official Agency 

3/11/2005 London, England Elaine L. Chao Department of Labor 

3/11/2005 Orlando, Fla. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/12/2005 Philadelphia, Pa. Anna Escobedo Cabral Department of the Treasury 

3/15/2005 Washington, D.C. Mark J. Warshawsky Department of the Treasury 

3/15/2005 Charlotte, N.C. Eric Stewart Department of Commerce 

3/16/2005 Hickory, N.C. Eric Stewart Department of Commerce 

3/16/2005 Gastonia, N.C. Eric Stewart Department of Commerce 

3/18/2005 Pensacola, Fla. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/18/2005 Orlando, Fla. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/18/2005 Orlando, Fla. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/21/2005 Columbia, S.C. Melanie R. Sabelhaus Small Business Administration 

3/21/2005 Tucson, Ariz. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/21/2005 Pasadena, Calif. Hector V. Barreto Small Business Administration 

3/21/2005 Bakersfield, Calif. Richard B. Cheney Executive Office of the President 

3/21/2005 Denver, Colo. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/21/2005 Lakewood, Colo. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/21/2005 Lakewood, Colo. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/21/2005 Castle Rock, Colo. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/21/2005 Grand View, Colo. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/21/2005 Atlanta, Ga. Timothy S. Bitsberger Department of the Treasury 

3/21/2005 Green Bay, Wis. William H. Lash, III Department of Commerce 

3/21/2005 Edgefield, S.C. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/21/2005 Aiken, S.C. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/21/2005 North Augusta, S.C. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/22/2005 Aurora, Colo. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/22/2005 Denver, Colo. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/22/2005 Reno, Nev. Richard B. Cheney Executive Office of the President 

3/22/2005 Albuquerque, N.Mex. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/22/2005 Albuquerque, N.Mex. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/22/2005 Memphis, Tenn. Melanie R. Sabelhaus Small Business Administration 

3/22/2005 San Dimas, Calif. Hector V. Barreto Small Business Administration 

3/22/2005 Los Angeles, Calif. Hector V. Barreto Small Business Administration 

3/22/2005 Abbeville, S.C. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/22/2005 Greenwood, S.C. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/22/2005 Oxford, Miss. Timothy S. Bitsberger Department of the Treasury 

3/23/2005 Atlanta, Ga. Michael O. Leavitt Department of Health and Human Services 

3/23/2005 Seneca, S.C. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/23/2005 Anderson, S.C. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/23/2005 Easley, S.C. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/24/2005 Battle Creek, Mich. Richard B. Cheney Executive Office of the President 

3/24/2005 Pittsburgh, Pa. Richard B. Cheney Executive Office of the President 

3/24/2005 Stanton, Del. Jo Anne B. Barnhart Social Security Administration 

3/24/2005 Wilmington, Del. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/24/2005 Kennett Square, Pa. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/24/2005 Little Rock, Ark. Carlos M. Gutierrez Department of Commerce 

3/24/2005 St. Louis, Mo. Carlos M. Gutierrez Department of Commerce 

3/24/2005 Springfield, Mo. Allan B. Hubbard Executive Office of the President 

3/24/2005 Ozark, Mo. Allan B. Hubbard Executive Office of the President 

3/24/2005 Mo. Allan B. Hubbard Executive Office of the President 
Page 16 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

Date Location of event Administration official Agency 

3/24/2005 Mo. Allan B. Hubbard Executive Office of the President 

3/24/2005 Clinton, S.C. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/24/2005 Saluda, S.C. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/24/2005 McCormick, S.C. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/25/2005 Billings, Mont. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/28/2005 Portland, Ore. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/28/2005 Noblesville, Ind. Allan B. Hubbard Executive Office of the President 

3/29/2005 Bellevue, Wash. Robert S. Nichols Department of the Treasury 

3/29/2005 Manhattan, Kans. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/29/2005 Topeka, Kans. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/30/2005 Bozeman, Mont. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/30/2005 Cedar Rapids, Iowa George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/30/2005 Colusa, Calif. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/30/2005 Willows, Calif. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/30/2005 Redding, Calif. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/30/2005 Red Bluff, Calif. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/30/2005 Woodstock, Ga. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/30/2005 Charlotte, N.C. Keith Hennessey Executive Office of the President 

3/30/2005 Portland, Maine Michael O. Leavitt Department of Health and Human Services 

3/30/2005 Flagstaff, Ariz. Steven J. Law Department of Labor 

3/30/2005 Flagstaff, Ariz. Steven J. Law Department of Labor 

3/31/2005 Chico, Calif. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/31/2005 Magalia, Calif. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/31/2005 Yuba City, Calif. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/31/2005 Woodland, Calif. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/31/2005 Bismarck, N.Dak. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/31/2005 Bismarck, N.Dak. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/31/2005 West Palm Beach, Fla. Alphonso R. Jackson Department of Housing and Urban Development 

3/31/2005 Delray Beach, Fla. Melanie R. Sabelhaus Small Business Administration 

3/31/2005 Pittsburgh, Pa. Elaine L. Chao Department of Labor 

3/31/2005 Baton Rouge, La. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/31/2005 Roswell, Ga. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

3/31/2005 Peachtree City, Ga. James J. Courtney, Jr. Social Security Administration 

3/31/2005 Las Vegas, Nev. Steven J. Law Department of Labor 

4/1/2005 Miami, Fla. Carlos M. Gutierrez Department of Commerce 

4/1/2005 Jupiter, Fla. Melanie R. Sabelhaus Small Business Administration 

4/1/2005 Newark, Del. Jo Anne B. Barnhart Social Security Administration 

4/1/2005 Lake Charles, La. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

4/1/2005 Las Vegas, Nev. Hector V. Barreto Small Business Administration 

4/1/2005 San Antonio, Tex. Anna Escobedo Cabral Department of the Treasury 

4/2/2005 Fairfield, Conn. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

4/2/2005 Baltimore, Md. Noam Neusner Executive Office of the President 

4/3/2005 Darien, Conn. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

4/4/2005 Washington, D.C. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

4/4/2005 Dallas, Tex. Elaine L. Chao Department of Labor 

4/4/2005 Manchester, N.H. Steven J. Law Department of Labor 

4/4/2005 Fairfax, Va. Jo Anne B. Barnhart Social Security Administration 

4/4/2005 Waterbury, Conn. Melanie R. Sabelhaus Small Business Administration 

4/4/2005 Dumont, N.J. Joshua B. Bolten Executive Office of the President 
Page 17 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

Date Location of event Administration official Agency 

4/5/2005 Parkersburg, W.Va. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

4/5/2005 Parkersburg, W.Va. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

4/5/2005 Philadelphia, Pa. Melanie R. Sabelhaus Small Business Administration 

4/6/2005 Richmond, Va. Hector V. Barreto Small Business Administration 

4/6/2005 Orlando, Fla. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

4/7/2005 Cleveland, Ohio Alphonso R. Jackson Department of Housing and Urban Development 

4/11/2005 Cincinnati, Ohio Elaine L. Chao Department of Labor 

4/11/2005 Philadelphia, Pa. Michael O. Leavitt Department of Health and Human Services 

4/11/2005 Aiken, S.C. Arnold Havens Department of the Treasury 

4/11/2005 Aiken, S.C. Arnold Havens Department of the Treasury 

4/12/2005 Flagstaff, Ariz. Eric Stewart Department of Commerce 

4/12/2005 Atlanta, Ga. Hector V. Barreto Small Business Administration 

4/12/2005 Flagstaff, Ariz. Eric Stewart Department of Commerce 

4/13/2005 Chicago, Ill. Michael O. Leavitt Department of Health and Human Services 

4/13/2005 New Orleans, La. Hector V. Barreto Small Business Administration 

4/13/2005 Providence, R.I. Dominic “Dan” Iannicola, Jr. Department of the Treasury 

4/14/2005 Cartersville, Ga. Anna Escobedo Cabral Department of the Treasury 

4/14/2005 Rome, Ga. Anna Escobedo Cabral Department of the Treasury 

4/14/2005 Smyrna, Ga. Anna Escobedo Cabral Department of the Treasury 

4/14/2005 Columbus, Ga. Hector V. Barreto Small Business Administration 

4/15/2005 Kirtland, Ohio George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

4/15/2005 Pemberton, N.J. Richard B. Cheney Executive Office of the President 

4/16/2005 Decatur, Ga. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

4/18/2005 Columbia, S.C. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

4/18/2005 Charlotte, N.C. Elaine L. Chao Department of Labor 

4/18/2005 Aurora, Colo. Steven J. Law Department of Labor 

4/18/2005 Baltimore, Md. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

4/18/2005 Yonkers, N.Y. Thomas M. Sullivan Small Business Administration 

4/19/2005 St. Petersburg, Fla. Elaine L. Chao Department of Labor 

4/19/2005 Denver, Colo. Michael O. Leavitt Department of Health and Human Services 

4/20/2005 New York, N.Y. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

4/20/2005 Seattle, Wash. Michael O. Leavitt Department of Health and Human Services 

4/21/2005 Washington, D.C. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

4/22/2005 Louisville, Ky. Elaine L. Chao Department of Labor 

4/22/2005 Las Cruces, N.Mex. Carlos M. Gutierrez Department of Commerce 

4/22/2005 Albuquerque, N.Mex. Carlos M. Gutierrez Department of Commerce 

4/23/2005 Houston, Tex. Alphonso R. Jackson Department of Housing and Urban Development 

4/25/2005 Mandeville, La. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

4/25/2005 Lancaster County, Pa. Brian Reardon Executive Office of the President 

4/26/2005 Galveston, Tex. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

4/26/2005 Philadelphia, Pa. Mark J. Warshawsky Department of the Treasury 

4/27/2005 New Orleans, La. Elaine L. Chao Department of Labor 

4/27/2005 St. Louis, Mo. Alphonso R. Jackson Department of Housing and Urban Development 

4/27/2005 New Orleans, La. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

4/27/2005 New Orleans, La. Elaine L. Chao Department of Labor 

4/28/2005 Kansas City, Mo. Michael O. Leavitt Department of Health and Human Services 

4/28/2005 New York, N.Y. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

4/28/2005 Fort Washington, Md. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

4/29/2005 Falls Church, Va. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 
Page 18 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

Date Location of event Administration official Agency 

4/29/2005 Bowling Green, Ky. Elaine L. Chao Department of Labor 

4/29/2005 Dallas, Tex. Michael O. Leavitt Department of Health and Human Services 

4/29/2005 Hartford, Conn. Alphonso R. Jackson Department of Housing and Urban Development 

4/29/2005 Hartford, Conn. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

4/30/2005 New York, N.Y. Alphonso R. Jackson Department of Housing and Urban Development 

5/2/2005 Smyrna, Ga. Richard B. Cheney Executive Office of the President 

5/3/2005 Canton, Miss. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

5/3/2005 Washington, D.C. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

5/4/2005 Washington, D.C. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

5/4/2005 New Orleans, La. Elaine L. Chao Department of Labor 

5/7/2005 Los Angeles, Calif. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

5/9/2005 Hartford, Conn. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

5/11/2005 Orlando, Fla. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

5/12/2005 Davis, Calif. Anna Escobedo Cabral Department of the Treasury 

5/13/2005 Washington, D.C. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

5/16/2005 Lakewood, Va. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

5/19/2005 Milwaukee, Wis. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

5/20/2005 San Diego, Calif. Hector V. Barreto Small Business Administration 

5/23/2005 Washington, D.C. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

5/24/2005 Greece, N.Y. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

6/1/2005 Orange, Va. Jo Anne B. Barnhart Social Security Administration 

6/2/2005 Hopkinsville, Ky. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

6/2/2005 Glen Allen, Va. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

6/6/2005 New York, N.Y. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

6/8/2005 Washington, D.C. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

6/14/2005 University Park, Pa. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

6/18/2005 Ann Arbor, Mich. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

6/18/2005 St. Petersburg, Fla. Michel N. Korbey Social Security Administration 

6/21/2005 Boston, Mass. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

6/23/2005 Silver Spring, Md. George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

6/27/2005 Clifton Park, N.Y. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

6/27/2005 Trumbull, Conn. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

6/29/2005 Kearney, Neb. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

6/30/2005 Medford, Ore. James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

7/6/2005 Omaha, Neb. John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

Sources: Department of the Treasury, Social Security Administration, and the Executive Office of the President. 
Page 19 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

Enclosure III 

Other Social Security Reform Promotion Initiatives

Date Type of initiative Administration official Agency 

12/11/2004 Radio address George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

1/11/2005 Internet questions Charles P. Blahous Executive Office of the President 

1/15/2005 Radio address George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

2/3/2005 Internet questions John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

2/5/2005 Radio address George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

2/12/2005 Radio address George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

2/26/2005 Radio address George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/3/2005 Various media interviews John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/7/2005 Internet questions Charles P. Blahous Executive Office of the President 

3/8/2005 Radio interview Richard B. Cheney Executive Office of the President 

3/10/2005 Radio interview Joshua B. Bolten Executive Office of the President 

3/10/2005 Radio interview Karl Rove Executive Office of the President 

2/14/2005 - 

8/31/2006 

Social Security 

Information Center Treasury Staff Department of the Treasury 

3/12/2005 Radio address George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

3/16/2005 Radio interview Nicolle Devenish Executive Office of the President 

3/18/2005 Radio interview Daniel J. Bartlett Executive Office of the President 

3/23/2005 

Social Security Trustees 

meeting James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/23/2005 

Social Security Trustees 

report speech John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

3/23/2005 23 Radio interviews James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

3/30/2005 Radio interview George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

4/5/2005 Internet questions Charles P. Blahous Executive Office of the President 

4/6/2005 Social Security Radio Day Multiple officials Various 

4/7/2005 Radio interview Richard B. Cheney Executive Office of the President 

4/13/2005 Radio interview Hector V. Barreto Small Business Administration 

4/15/2005 Internet questions John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

4/26/2005 

Teach Children to Save 

Day 23 officials Department of the Treasury 

4/29/2005 Internet questions Catherine J. Martin Executive Office of the President 

4/30/2005 Radio address George W. Bush Executive Office of the President 

5/2/2005 

Anniversary of President’s 

commission John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

5/9/2005 Various media interviews James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

5/19/2005 

Social Security Economic 

Roundtable John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

5/19/2005 Newspaper article John W. Snow Department of the Treasury 

6/2/2005 Radio interview Catherine J. Martin Executive Office of the President 

6/6/2005 Various media interviews James B. Lockhart, III Social Security Administration 

6/8/2005 Internet questions Charles P. Blahous Executive Office of the President 

6/14/2005 Radio interview Allan B. Hubbard Executive Office of the President 

Sources: Department of the Treasury, Social Security Administration, and the Executive Office of the President. 
Page 20 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

Enclosure IV 

EOP Events Covered by Interagency Agreements and the Amounts 

Reimbursed by Agency

Event location President Reimbursed amount (dollars) 

(POTUS)/ 

Vice 

President 

(VP) 

Event 

date 

Department 

of the 

Treasury 

Department 

of Health and 

Human 

Services 

Department 

of Labor Total 

Washington, D.C. POTUS 1/11/2005 $56,404.83 $0.00 $0.00 $56,404.83 

Washington, D.C. VP 1/13/2005 10,625.00 0.00 0.00 10,625.00 

Great Falls, Mont. POTUS 2/3/2005 0.00 19,613.18 84,974.97 104,588.15 

Fargo, N.Dak. POTUS 2/3/2005 77,621.20 0.00 3,464.07 81,085.27 

Omaha, Neb. POTUS 2/4/2005 79,536.86 0.00 0.00 79,536.86 

Little Rock, Ark. POTUS 2/4/2005 0.00 40,475.47 4,047.55 44,523.02 

Tampa, Fla. POTUS 2/4/2005 16,295.44 0.00 56,672.04 72,967.48 

Blue Bell, Pa. POTUS 2/10/2005 46,707.91 23,353.96 0.00 70,061.87 

Raleigh, N.C. POTUS 2/10/2005 0.00 0.00 22,588.27 22,588.27 

Portsmouth, N.H. POTUS 2/16/2005 25,000.00 15,000.00 15,000.00 55,000.00 

Westfield, N.J. POTUS 3/4/2005 65,000.00 5,000.00 0.00 70,000.00 

Notre Dame, Ind. POTUS 3/4/2005 0.00 25,000.00 15,000.00 40,000.00 

Montgomery, Ala. POTUS 3/10/2005 21,207.54 26,250.00 24,742.13 72,199.67 

Louisville, Ky. POTUS 3/10/2005 22,500.00 18,750.00 18,750.00 60,000.00 

Memphis, Tenn. POTUS 3/11/2005 22,500.00 2,991.32 3,250.00 28,741.32 

Shreveport, La. POTUS 3/11/2005 22,500.00 33,750.00 33,750.00 90,000.00 

Pensacola, Fla. POTUS 3/18/2005 17,500.00 20,000.00 17,500.00 55,000.00 

Orlando, Fla.aPOTUS 3/18/2005 17,300.69 14,829.16 17,300.69 49,430.54 

Tucson, Ariz. POTUS 3/21/2005 14,161.93 14,161.93 14,161.93 42,485.79 

Denver, Colo. POTUS 3/21/2005 20,851.85 20,755.75 20,851.84 62,459.44 

Bakersfield, Calif. VP 3/21/2005 0.00 0.00 29,334.23 29,334.23 

Albuquerque, N.Mex.aPOTUS 3/22/2005 13,400.00 13,400.00 13,200.00 40,000.00 

Reno, Nev. VP 3/22/2005 0.00 0.00 17,958.83 17,958.83 

Battle Creek, Mich. VP 3/24/2005 0.00 23,809.61 0.00 23,809.61 

Pittsburgh, Pa. VP 3/24/2005 0.00 27,817.27 0.00 27,817.27 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa POTUS 3/30/2005 19,290.96 19,290.96 19,290.96 57,872.88 

Parkersburg, W.Va.aPOTUS 4/5/2005 13,500.00 13,000.00 13,500.00 40,000.00 

Kirtland, Ohio POTUS 4/15/2005 10,632.00 11,813.50 10,632.00 33,077.50 

Pemberton, N.J. VP 4/15/2005 28,116.67 0.00 0.00 28,116.67 

Columbia, S.C. POTUS 4/18/2005 532.89 532.89 532.89 1,598.67 

Galveston, Tex. POTUS 4/26/2005 844.50 844.50 844.50 2,533.50 

Falls Church, Va. POTUS 4/29/2005 14,495.85 14,495.85 14,495.85 43,487.55 

Smyrna, Ga. VP 5/2/2005 29,499.65 0.00 0.00 29,499.65 

Canton, Miss. POTUS 5/3/2005 19,036.22 18,170.98 18,170.98 55,378.18 

Rochester, N.Y. POTUS 5/24/2005 2,020.13 1,960.72 1,960.72 5,941.57 

Hopkinsville, Ky. POTUS 6/2/2005 16,094.38 15,621.02 15,621.02 47,336.42 

Total $703,176.50 $440,688.07 $507,595.47 $1,651,460.04 

Sources: Executive Office of the President, Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services. 

a

For each of these entries, there were two presidential events. 
Page 21 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

Enclosure V 

Comments from the Social Security Administration 
Page 22 GAO-07-621R Social Security Reform Costs 

(190142) 
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