*HomeU.S. Government Accountability Office*
Menu

      close


          
          
                          	
				
				
	
	
					Reports & Testimonies
									
																				
				
				
	
	
								Reports & Testimonies
													
																												
																						
							
																Recommendations Database
							
																												
																						
							
																Month in Review
							
																												
																						
							
																Order Copies
							
																												
																						
							
																Restricted Reports
							
																												
																						
							
																View Topics
							
																												
																						
							
																View Agencies
							
																												
																						
							
																Bid Protests & Appropriations Law
									
																				
				
				
	
	
								Bid Protests & Appropriations Law
													
																												
																						
							
																Bid Protests
							
																												
																						
							
																Appropriations Law
							
																												
																						
							
																Federal Vacancies Reform Act
							
																												
																						
							
																Other Legal
							
																												
																						
							
																About
									
																				
				
				
	
	
								About
													
																												
																						
							
																What GAO Does
							
																												
																						
							
																U.S. Comptroller General
							
																												
																						
							
																Careers
							
																												
																						
							
																Contact UsFor Congress
                                
                          
        
                Press Center
                                
                          
        
                Careers
                                
                          
        
                BlogSearch Breadcrumb
        Home
                            Reports & Testimonies
    Reports & Testimonies Reports & Testimonies
              
                          
                          
        
        
        Recommendations Database
              
                          
                          
        
        
        Month In Review
              
                          
                          
        
        
        Order Copies
              
                          
                          
        
        
        Restricted Reports
                                      
                                                            Filter Reports & Testimonies
        Skip to search results
    
    Publicly Released DatePast 6 MonthsPast Year
Custom Date Range
    
      StartEnd
By Topics(-)
Retirement Security
  (1492)< Clear
  (4433)Agriculture and Food
  (9)Auditing and Financial Management
  (314)Budget and Spending
  (250)Business Regulation and Consumer Protection
  (12)Economic Development
  (29)Education
  (24)Employment
  (433)Energy
  (6)Equal Opportunity
  (74)Financial Markets and Institutions
  (40)GAO Mission and Operations
  (9)Government Operations
  (222)Health Care
  (248)Homeland Security
  (27)Housing
  (4)Human Capital
  (373)Information Management
  (22)Information Security
  (10)Information Technology
  (22)International Affairs
  (8)Justice and Law Enforcement
  (271)National Defense
  (88)Natural Resources and Environment
  (4)Science and Technology
  (1)Space
  (15)Tax Policy and Administration
  (101)Telecommunications
  (31)Transportation
  (33)Veterans
  (35)Worker and Family Assistance
  (226)
By Agency NameBureau of Land Management
  (1)Bureau of Prisons
  (4)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  (4)Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
  (2)Department of Agriculture
  (16)Department of Commerce
  (35)Department of Defense
  (127)Department of Education
  (10)Department of Energy
  (14)Department of Health and Human Services
  (89)Department of Homeland Security
  (22)Department of Housing and Urban Development
  (6)Department of Justice
  (50)Department of Labor
  (184)Department of State
  (22)Department of the Air Force
  (41)Department of the Army
  (25)Department of the Interior
  (5)Department of the Navy
  (19)Department of the Treasury
  (214)Department of Transportation
  (17)Department of Veterans Affairs
  (48)Environmental Protection Agency
  (3)Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  (3)Executive Office of the President
  (142)Federal Aviation Administration
  (8)Federal Bureau of Investigation
  (5)Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
  (10)Federal Emergency Management Agency
  (3)Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  (1)Federal Trade Commission
  (4)Forest Service
  (1)General Services Administration
  (8)Internal Revenue Service
  (147)National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  (13)National Institutes of Health
  (7)National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  (1)National Science Foundation
  (1)Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  (4)Office of Management and Budget
  (73)Office of Personnel Management
  (82)Small Business Administration
  (2)Social Security Administration
  (166)Transportation Security Administration
  (1)United States Coast Guard
  (1)United States Customs and Border Protection
  (2)United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
  (3)United States Marine Corps
  (9)United States Postal Service
  (39)United States Securities and Exchange Commission
  (63)GAO’s reports and testimonies give Congress, federal agencies, and the public timely, fact-based, non-partisan information that can improve government operations and save taxpayers billions of dollars.Jump To:
    Jump ToElder Abuse
          Services for Older Adults
          State and Local-Level Drivers and Trends
          State and Local Fiscal Projections
          Federal Borrowing
          Managing the Debt
          Summary of Funding Provisions
          Auditing the Government's Books
          Unpacking the Financial Report
          Highlights
          Recommendations
          Background
          About This Work
          About This Work
          Trends
          About the Center
          Why It's High Risk
          What Remains To Be Done
          Key Reports
          Newest COVID-Related Reports
          AI Use Cases
          Flood Insurance
          Past Pandemic-Related Reports
          CARES Act Oversight Reports
          All COVID-19 Reports
          Report Suspected Fraud
          Subjects
          How to Get Notified
          Past Reports
          Public Health Threats
          Explore the FY 2022 and 2023 Funds
          Lessons Learned
          Agency Reports
          Recent Reports
          Recommendations
          Supplemental Material
          Full Report
          Additional Data
          View Decision
          Downloads
          Previously Identified Actions
          Related Pages
          Associated Agencies
          Tough Choices and Opportunities Ahead
          Americas Fiscal Future Key Areas
          Retirement Security Key Areas
          Current List
          About The High Risk List
          Area Ratings
          Previous High Risk Products
          Search Federal Vacancies
          Past Federal Vacancies
          Violation Letters
          About the Yellow Book
          Advisory Council
          Related Resources
          Comment Letters
          Related Publications
          Contacts and Resources
          Major Issues Facing the Nation
          Meeting Strategic Challenges
          Additional Resources
          Resources
          GAO Contacts
          Mission Teams
          Operations and Staff Offices
          Organization Chart
          Why a Career at GAO?
          Am I Qualified?
          Company Culture
          Reasonable Accommodations
          Video Gallery
          Paid Internships
          Student Volunteers
          Professional Development Program
          Advancement
          Executive Candidate Program
          Summer Associates
          Externships
          Benefits
          Contacts
                    Most Recent Reports**1 - 20 of 1492 Reports**
	
	

	
	  **Released on   Feb 20, 2024**
          401(k) Plans: Additional Federal Actions Would Help Participants Track and Consolidate Their Retirement Savings
    GAO-24-103577
      Published:   Jan 18, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Feb 20, 2024
.
    Investing in employer-sponsored 401(k) plans is the most common way American workers save for retirement. However, people can face challenges tracking their 401(k) accounts when they transfer jobs. Some countries use pension dashboards that allow participants to see and manage all their current and old plan savings in one place. This could be useful in the U.S., but Congress would need to authorize a federal...
      **Released on   Dec 7, 2023**
          Railroad Retirement Board: Agency Could Strengthen Plans to Address Key Management Challenges
    GAO-24-105545
      Published:   Dec 7, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 7, 2023
.
    The Railroad Retirement Board handles retirement and other benefits for railroad workers and their families. But the Board's programs are at risk for fraud and abuse and the agency faces a looming wave of retirements and aging IT systems. The Board is addressing some key management challenges. For example, it has assessed the agency's IT needs and has created a modernization plan that includes providing...
          Armed Forces Retirement Home: Congress and Agency Management Should Take Actions to Improve Financial Sustainability
    GAO-24-106171
      Published:   Dec 7, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 7, 2023
.
    The Armed Forces Retirement Home is an independent federal entity that provides housing, health care, and other services to certain retired and disabled military personnel. AFRH faces serious financial challenges as revenues decrease and costs increase over time. The trust fund that finances AFRH's operations is at risk of being exhausted in 20 years. AFRH has some proposals to address these challenges, but it needs...
      **Released on   Nov 30, 2023**
          Social Security Series Part 2: Criteria for Evaluating Reform Proposals
    GAO-24-106778
      Published:   Nov 30, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 30, 2023
.
    In Part 1 of this series, we reported that Social Security faces financial challenges and is projected to be unable to pay full scheduled benefits starting in 2033. This brief identifies criteria for policymakers to consider when evaluating potential reforms intended to address these challenges. Specifically: Can the reform sustain the program financially over time? Does the reform address goals related to the adequacy and...
      **Released on   Nov 16, 2023**
          Employee Benefits Security Administration: Systematic Process Needed to Better Manage Priorities and Increased Responsibilities
    GAO-24-105667
      Published:   Oct 24, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 16, 2023
.
    The Employee Benefits Security Administration helps ensure that employer-sponsored retirement and group health plans comply with applicable federal requirements, and that benefits are there for participants as promised. While EBSA's responsibilities have increased over the last decade, its budget has generally remained flat. EBSA officials said the agency has several strategies to manage this, like focusing resources on high-impact investigations or dedicating supplemental funds toward...
      **Released on   Oct 27, 2023**
          Retirement Plans: Improved Communication Needed on Church Plan Eligibility for Federal Insurance Coverage
    GAO-23-105080
      Published:   Sep 29, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Oct 27, 2023
.
    We examined "church plans"—retirement plans sponsored by religious organizations such as denominations, hospitals, or schools. Church plans are exempt from many federal retirement plan requirements, such as ensuring enough money will be available in the plan to pay benefits. These plans generally are ineligible for federal insurance, but we found some that may be paying premiums for it anyway. We recommended that the Pension Benefit...
      **Released on   Jul 27, 2023**
          Older Workers: Retirement Account Disparities Have Increased by Income and Persisted by Race Over Time
    GAO-23-105342
      Published:   Jul 27, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jul 27, 2023
.
    Congress is concerned that federal tax incentives for workers to save in tax-preferred retirement accounts are going mostly to higher income workers—and are doing little to help low-income workers save for retirement. We found that: Disparities between low-income and high-income older workers households' (ages 51-64) retirement accounts were greater in 2019 than in 2007. 1 in 10 low-income households had a retirement account balance in...
      **Released on   Jul 24, 2023**
          403(b) Retirement Plans: Department of Labor Should Update Educational Materials to Better Inform Plan Sponsors and Participants
    GAO-23-105620
      Published:   Jun 21, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jul 24, 2023
.
    Millions of teachers and employees at non-profits rely on 403(b) plans for their retirement savings. These individual account-based plans let participants make investment decisions and bear risk. Federal agencies, like the Department of Labor, oversee these plans. DOL also provides educational materials to plan sponsors and participants. However, we found that DOL's website contains little educational material specific to 403(b) plans—such as information to help...
      **Released on   May 18, 2023**
          Social Security Series Part 1: The Dilemma
    GAO-23-106667
      Published:   May 18, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   May 18, 2023
.
    Social Security is a major source of income for millions of retirees and other Americans. As program costs continue to exceed revenues, the fund that supports payments for retirees and their families is projected to be unable to pay full benefits in 10 years. This brief updates our 2015 report on Social Security and examines financial issues the program faces. The sooner policymakers address the...
      **Released on   May 16, 2023**
          Priority Open Recommendations: Social Security Administration
    GAO-23-106466
      Published:   May 9, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   May 16, 2023
.
    Each year, we make more than 1,000 recommendations to help the federal government save money, address issues on our High Risk List , and significantly improve government operations. This letter to the Social Security Administration outlines 4 open recommendations that it should prioritize. For example, one of these recommendations would help SSA safeguard recipients' personal data by ensuring privacy officials are reviewing and approving protections...
      **Released on   Nov 17, 2022**
          Social Security Administration: Remote Service Delivery Increased during COVID-19, but More Could Be Done to Assist Vulnerable Populations
    GAO-23-104650
      Published:   Nov 17, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 17, 2022
.
    The Social Security Administration changed how it delivered services due to COVID-19 . It temporarily closed its offices to the public, with few exceptions, and expanded its telephone, video, and online services. The public filed fewer SSA benefit claims during the pandemic—especially disability claims and claims by certain vulnerable populations. This may be in part because some benefit applications can't be submitted online, including those...
      **Released on   Oct 17, 2022**
          Older Households: Comparison of Income, Wealth, and Survival in the United States with Selected Countries
    GAO-22-103950
      Published:   Sep 15, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Oct 17, 2022
.
    In recent decades, income and wealth disparities have been increasing among older Americans and exceed those in Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. We found: In 2007, older Americans in a typical low-income household needed to work 12 years to equal what a typical high-income older household earned in 1 year; there were similar gaps in Germany, where they'd need to work 6 years, and...
      **Released on   Aug 29, 2022**
          Retirement Security: Recent Efforts by Other Countries to Expand Plan Coverage and Facilitate Savings
    GAO-22-105102
      Published:   Aug 29, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Aug 29, 2022
.
    Ensuring retirement income security for the aging U.S. workforce presents many challenges. People are increasingly responsible for their retirement planning, and as they live longer, they may outlive their savings. We reviewed steps other countries have taken to promote retirement plan savings. International experts informed us of several efforts, including auto-enrollment—which can increase plan participation for eligible workers but may not reach others, such as...
      **Released on   Jul 18, 2022**
          Social Security Disability: SSA Expedited Most Critical Cases at Hearings Level but Lacks Consistent Policy Implementation
    GAO-22-104191
      Published:   Jun 16, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jul 18, 2022
.
    People who disagree with a Social Security benefits decision may appeal for a hearing with an administrative law judge. The Social Security Administration prioritizes some appeals as "critical" for medical or financial reasons—like having a terminal illness or dire financial need. SSA policy directs hearing offices to expedite a case flagged as critical, but some claimants face unnecessary processing delays. For example, some offices require...
      **Released on   Jun 13, 2022**
          Priority Open Recommendations: Social Security Administration
    GAO-22-105623
      Published:   Jun 6, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jun 13, 2022
.
    Each year, we make more than 1,000 recommendations to help improve the federal government. We alert department heads to where they can save the most money, address issues on our High Risk List , or significantly improve government operations. This report outlines our 6 priority open recommendations for the Social Security Administration as of May 2022. For example, we recommended improving oversight of the "representative...
      **Released on   Apr 4, 2022**
          Defined Contribution Plans: 403(b) Investment Options, Fees, and Other Characteristics Varied
    GAO-22-104439
      Published:   Mar 4, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 4, 2022
.
    Millions of employees of tax-exempt organizations rely on savings in 403(b) plans for retirement. Like 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans are employer-sponsored, and participants make investment decisions and bear the risk. Our surveys found plan fees varied widely: Record keeping and administrative fees ranged from 0.0008% to 2.01% of assets Fees for investment options ranged from 0.01% to 2.37% Larger plan sponsors—universities, states, and sponsors with...
      **Released on   Nov 1, 2021**
          Social Security and Medicare: Improving the Timeliness of Trust Fund Reports
    GAO-21-105413
      Published:   Sep 30, 2021
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 1, 2021
.
    Boards of trustees manage the trust funds for some Social Security and Medicare programs. In 2019, we reported that the trustees issued their annual reports to Congress after the statutory deadline in 17 of the 25 years from 1995-2019, and were more than 2 months late in 6 of the years from 2010-2019. We reported that Treasury—which chairs the boards—agreed to our prior recommendations to...
      **Released on   Sep 21, 2021**
          Supplemental Security Income: SSA Faces Ongoing Challenges with Work Incentives and Improper Payments
    GAO-21-105419
      Published:   Sep 21, 2021
. 
        Publicly Released:   Sep 21, 2021
.
    The Social Security Administration is trying to encourage people with disabilities who get Supplemental Security Income benefits to work if they can. But we testified that working beneficiaries are at a higher risk of benefit overpayments. Beneficiaries who can work may choose not to because they're afraid of being stuck with overpaid benefits that they have to repay. SSA hasn't resolved its lags in processing...
      **Released on   Aug 26, 2021**
          401(k) Retirement Plans: Many Participants Do Not Understand Fee Information, but DOL Could Take Additional Steps to Help Them
    GAO-21-357
      Published:   Jul 27, 2021
. 
        Publicly Released:   Aug 26, 2021
.
    The Department of Labor requires 401(k) retirement plans to provide participants information on plan and investment fees. Even small fees can significantly reduce retirement savings. But we found that 40% of participants don't fully understand fee information and 41% don't know they pay fees. We recommended ways for DOL to help participants better understand fees. For example, plans' fee disclosures should include fee benchmarks—e.g., an...
      **Released on   Jun 24, 2021**
          Retirement Savings: Federal Workers' Portfolios Should Be Evaluated For Possible Financial Risks Related to Climate Change
    GAO-21-327
      Published:   May 25, 2021
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jun 24, 2021
.
    Climate change is expected to affect financial markets over time. For example, transitioning to a low-carbon economy could reduce the financial performance of companies that emit greenhouse gases. This could pose risks for retirement plans invested in such companies—including the Thrift Savings Plan for federal workers. Some retirement plans in other countries have assessed climate change-related risks and taken steps to address and disclose them...
    
		Go back to search filters
	  1
              2
              3
              4
              5
              6
              7
              8
              9
                          ...
                          Next
                          Last
 Receive GAO Updates
  Stay informed as we add new reports & testimonies.

  Federal Depository Library Program member and GPO digital preservation partner.

    GAO Logo
      U.S. Government Accountability Office


                                   Column 1
                            Press Center
                              Contact Us
                              Inspector General
                              Restricted Reports
                              Column 2
                            Copyright & Terms of Use
                              Privacy Policy
                              Accessibility
                              Sitemap
                              Column 3
                            FOIA Requests
                              Scam Alerts
                              No FEAR Act Data
                              Health Care Advisory Committees