**GAO-23-106859**                      Published: Sep 29, 2023. Publicly Released: Sep 29, 2023.                  

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## Fast Facts

As part of FY23 appropriations, Members of Congress could request to designate a certain amount of federal funding for specific projects in their communities.

While agencies often have discretion over how they award funds, Congress has directed them to distribute these funds to designated recipients. We're tracking these funds to help ensure transparency.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy's FY23 appropriations included nearly $10.5 million for 8 such projects. We looked at when ONDCP plans to distribute the funds and how it plans to ensure they're spent properly.

National efforts related to drug misuse are on our High Risk List.

Office of National Drug Control Policy: Where did the FY 2023 funding go?

Skip to Highlights

## Highlights

## What GAO Found

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 appropriated nearly $10.5 million to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) for 8 projects at the request of Members of Congress. The act, and its accompanying joint explanatory statement, include specific provisions that designate an amount of funds for a particular recipient, such as a nonprofit organization or a local government, to use for a specific project. These provisions are called "Congressionally Directed Spending" in the U.S. Senate and "Community Project Funding" in the House of Representatives.

GAO described, among other things, information about the intended uses for these funds, the recipients to whom they were designated, and when ONDCP expects recipients will have access to the funds:

**The intended uses of these funds** are for supporting drug control projects. Examples of projects include drug use reduction programs, youth substance abuse prevention, and community addiction and mental health support.

**The designated recipients of these funds** are a tribal, state, and local government organization, higher education organizations, and other nonprofit organizations. Funding ranges from $50,000 to $5 million.

**ONDCP obligated the funds in July 2023** and recipients will have 1 year to spend the funds.

## Why GAO Did This Study

The joint explanatory statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 includes a provision for GAO to review agencies' implementation of Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending.

For more information, contact Triana McNeil (202) 512-6691 or mcneilt@gao.gov.

## Full Report

Full Report (4 pages)

Accessible PDF (5 pages)

## GAO Contacts

Triana McNeil
mcneilt@gao.gov

(202) 512-8777

## Office of Public Affairs

Chuck Young
youngc1@gao.gov

(202) 512-4800

## Topics

Government Operations

Agency evaluationsAudit objectivesDrug controlGrant awardsGrant managementGrant processGrant programsPerformance auditsGrant applicationsMental health

## Multimedia

Blog PostTracking the Funds—Community Project Funding and Congressionally Directed SpendingTuesday, October 24, 2023  Starting with the fiscal year 2022 appropriations, Members of Congress began a new process for...