*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
                            View Topics
                            Economic Development
    Image

                          Economic Development 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
                    Image
      Recent Reports
    Economic Development: Additional Training Could Help Small Lenders Implement TechnologyGAO-24-106226
      
	Published:  Mar 28, 2024


	Publicly Released: Apr 11, 2024
          Justice40: Additional Efforts Needed to Improve Tribal Applicants' Access to Federal Programs   Under Environmental Justice InitiativeGAO-24-106511
      
	Published:  Apr 10, 2024


	Publicly Released: Apr 10, 2024
          COVID-19 Relief: State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Spending as of September 30, 2023GAO-24-107472
      
	Published:  Apr 10, 2024


	Publicly Released: Apr 10, 2024
          Small Business Administration: Targeted Outreach about Disaster Assistance Could Benefit Rural CommunitiesGAO-24-106755
      
	Published:  Feb 22, 2024


	Publicly Released: Feb 22, 2024
          Puerto Rico Disasters: Progress Made, but the Recovery Continues to Face ChallengesGAO-24-105557
      
	Published:  Feb 13, 2024


	Publicly Released: Feb 13, 2024
          Economic Downturns: Effects of Automatic Spending Programs and TaxesGAO-24-106056
      
	Published:  Nov 16, 2023


	Publicly Released: Dec 11, 2023
    
    

  
  View More ReportsOpen Recommendations
        Economic Development: Additional Training Could Help Small Lenders Implement TechnologyGAO-24-106226
      
						Apr 11, 2024
              Show
          1Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusDepartment of the Treasury
                                                                                        The Secretary of the Treasury should ensure that the Director of the CDFI Fund develops training or other materials for improving CDFIs' technology capacity. These resources should address the specific capacity limitations of and challenges faced by CDFIs, particularly smaller institutions. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
          Justice40: Additional Efforts Needed to Improve Tribal Applicants' Access to Federal Programs   Under Environmental Justice InitiativeGAO-24-106511
      
						Apr 10, 2024
              Show
          9Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusEnvironmental Protection Agency
                                                                                        The Administrator of EPA should ensure that the program offices of EPA Justice40 covered programs document previously identified statutory and regulatory barriers to access for tribal applicants informing their implementation of the Justice40 Initiative. As a part of this process, the agency should—with input from Tribes—identify any additional changes necessary to address remaining statutory and regulatory barriers, recommending legislative changes where the agency determines appropriate. The agency should make a summary of the results of this process publicly available. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Federal Emergency Management Agency
                                                                                        The Administrator of FEMA should ensure that program offices of FEMA Justice40 covered programs document previously identified statutory and regulatory barriers to access for tribal applicants informing their implementation of the Justice40 Initiative. As a part of this process, the agency should—with input from Tribes—identify any additional changes necessary to address remaining statutory and regulatory barriers, recommending legislative changes where the agency determines appropriate. The agency should make a summary of the results of this process publicly available. (Recommendation 2)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Department of Agriculture
                                                                                        The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that program offices of USDA Justice40 covered programs document previously identified statutory and regulatory barriers to access for tribal applicants informing their implementation of the Justice40 Initiative. As a part of this process, the agency should—with input from Tribes—identify any additional changes necessary to address remaining statutory and regulatory barriers, recommending legislative changes where the agency determines appropriate. The agency should make a summary of the results of this process publicly available. (Recommendation 3)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Environmental Protection Agency
                                                                                        The Administrator of EPA should ensure that program offices implementing Justice40 covered programs maintain records of related consultations with Tribes and consider—with tribal input—publicly sharing a high-level summary of consultation results, as appropriate, to improve tribal applicants' access to information about tribal input on federal programs and decrease the burden on Tribes and eligible Indigenous communities. (Recommendation 4)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Federal Emergency Management Agency
                                                                                        The Administrator of FEMA should ensure that program offices implementing Justice40 covered programs maintain records of related consultations with Tribes and consider—with tribal input—publicly sharing a high-level summary of consultation results, as appropriate, to improve tribal applicants' access to information about tribal input on federal programs and decrease the burden on Tribes and eligible Indigenous communities. (Recommendation 5)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Department of Agriculture
                                                                                        The Secretary of the USDA should ensure that program offices implementing Justice40 covered programs maintain records of related consultations with Tribes and consider—with tribal input—publicly sharing a high-level summary of consultation results, as appropriate, to improve tribal applicants' access to information about tribal input on federal programs and decrease the burden on Tribes and eligible Indigenous communities. (Recommendation 6)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
          Small Business Administration: Targeted Outreach about Disaster Assistance Could Benefit Rural CommunitiesGAO-24-106755
      
						Feb 22, 2024
              Show
          1Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusSmall Business Administration
                                                                                        The SBA Administrator should ensure that the Associate Administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience distinguishes between rural and urban communities in SBA's outreach and marketing plan and incorporates actions to mitigate challenges encountered by rural communities in accessing the Disaster Loan Program. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                        Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
          Disaster Recovery: HUD Should Develop Data Collection Guidance to Support Analysis of Block Grant Fraud RisksGAO-23-104382
      
						Aug 17, 2023
              Show
          7Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusDepartment of Housing and Urban Development
                                                                                        The Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development should develop guidance for CDBG-DR grantees and subrecipients on collecting complete and consistent data to better support applicant eligibility determinations and fraud risk management. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                        Open
At the time of the report's issuance, HUD agreed with this recommendation. HUD told GAO that it intended to develop guidance for grantee applicant data collection and provide technical assistance to grantees and subrecipients on best practices for data collection, data format, and personally identifiable information protections. In February 2024, HUD stated that it is working with its Privacy Office to develop training or training materials on data collection, data consistency for data analysis purposes, and protection of personally identifiable information and hoped to complete these actions by September 30, 2024. GAO will continue to monitor HUD's efforts to develop guidance for grantee applicant data collection and provide technical assistance.Department of Housing and Urban Development
                                                                                        The Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development should update the Monitoring Handbook for Disaster Recovery Community Development Block Grant monitoring activities to provide additional guidance in the selection of contracts for review. This should include factors such as contractors that present increased risk to the CDBG-DR environment, including those where allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse have been made. (Recommendation 2)
                                                                                        Open
At the time the report's issuance, HUD neither agreed nor disagreed with this recommendation. HUD maintained that fraud data analytics are led at the department level. HUD also stated it planned to initiate a fraud risk management process over the next 12 months that involves oversight from the department's Chief Risk Officer. In February 2024, HUD told GAO that it is communicating with the HUD Office of Inspector General to collaborate on a fraud risk training session, tentatively scheduled for May 2024. Additionally, HUD stated it plans to provide one-on-one fraud risk technical assistance and intends to do so by the end of FY2024 or early FY2025. GAO will continue to monitor HUD's efforts to provide additional monitoring guidance.Department of Housing and Urban Development
                                                                                        The Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development should identify ways to collect and combine contractor and subcontractor data across grantees and subrecipients to facilitate risk analyses, such as by expanding the Disaster Recovery Data Portal, Disaster Recovery Grant Reporting System, or other appropriate systems. (Recommendation 3)
                                                                                        Open
At the time of the report's issuance, HUD neither agreed nor disagreed with this recommendation. HUD stated it was taking steps to improve its fraud risk assessment and annual grantee risk analysis. In February 2024, HUD told GAO it plans to develop and implement fraud analytics. HUD did not provide a timeframe for completion but committed to providing regular status updates. GAO will continue to monitor HUD's efforts to identify ways to collect and combine data across grantees and subrecipients to facilitate risk analyses.Department of Housing and Urban Development
                                                                                        The Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development should develop and implement guidance for CDBG-DR grantees and subrecipients to collect contractor and subcontractor data to facilitate identification of contractor and cross-cutting fraud risks through approaches such as network analysis. (Recommendation 4)
                                                                                        Open
At the time of the report's issuance, HUD disagreed with this recommendation. HUD stated there was no program requirement for a grantee to undertake specific actions beyond attendance at mandatory HUD Office of Inspector General training. Additionally, HUD did not consider it practical for grantees to simultaneously administer network analysis and recovery programs. In February 2024, HUD told GAO that it plans to develop and implement fraud analytics. However, it is unclear how HUD's use of fraud analytics will develop and implement guidance for grantees and subrecipients on data collection to identify fraud risks. HUD did not provide a timeframe for completing its fraud analytics, but committed to providing regular status updates. GAO will continue to monitor HUD's efforts to develop and implement guidance for grantees and subrecipients to collect contractor and subcontractor data to identify fraud risks.Department of Housing and Urban Development
                                                                                        The Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development should develop guidance on data elements to be collected by grantees and subrecipients, to determine if a contractor has been suspended, debarred, or excluded from working on government contracts. (Recommendation 5)
                                                                                        Open
At the time of the report's issuance, HUD agreed with this recommendation. HUD stated it will develop guidance on data elements. In February 2024, HUD told GAO that it will provide training for grantees on how to use SAM.gov, clarify the data elements associated with debarment checks, and increase awareness of state and local debarment lists at HUD's CDBG-DR Problem Solving Clinic in May 2024. GAO will continue to monitor HUD's efforts to develop data collection guidance to determine a contractor's suspension or debarment status.Department of Housing and Urban Development
                                                                                        The Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development should ensure that grantees and subrecipients have attended fraud-related training as required. This could include requesting and reviewing attendance documentation from the OIG and grantees. (Recommendation 6)
                                                                                        Open
At the time of the report's issuance, HUD disagreed with this recommendation. HUD stated it was planning on coordinating with the HUD Office of Inspector General to request attendance documentation and additional training for grantees but disagreed with monitoring CDBG-DR grantees for this purpose. In February 2024, HUD told GAO that it is communicating with the HUD Office of Inspector General to develop a process for validating fraud training attendance documentation and expects to implement a solution by the third quarter of FY2024. GAO will continue to monitor HUD's efforts to ensure that grantees and subrecipients have attended fraud-related training.
    
    

  
  View More RecommendationsRelated Pages
    RelatedEnergy Innovation
          RelatedTribal and Native American Issues
          RelatedEmployment in a Changing Economy
          RelatedTrade Enforcement
          RelatedSmall Businesses
          RelatedWater Quality and Protection
          RelatedEconomic Sanctions
          RelatedU.S. - China Relations
GAO Contacts
    
      Howard Arp
      
              Howard Arp
            
            Director
      
            arpj@gao.gov
      
            (202) 512-6722
    Chris Currie
      
              Christopher P. Currie
            
            Director
      
            curriec@gao.gov
      
            (404) 679-1875
    Dan Garcia-Diaz
      
              Dan Garcia-Diaz
            
            Managing Director
      
            garciadiazd@gao.gov
      
            (202) 512-8678
    John Neumann
      
              John Neumann
            
            Managing Director
      
            neumannj@gao.gov
      
            (202) 512-6888
    Anna Maria Ortiz
      
              Anna Maria Ortiz
            
            Director
      
            ortiza@gao.gov
      
            (202) 512-3841
    William B. Shear
      
              William B. Shear
            
            Director
      
            shearw@gao.gov
      
            (202) 512-8678

            View More Contacts
                                                      MultimediaPodcasts
    
      Potential Fraud in SBA's Paycheck Protection Program and Efforts to Prevent It
    Thursday, July 29, 2021
      
            Transcript
          Funding for Areas With Persistent or High Poverty
    Thursday, July 16, 2020
      
            Transcript
          2017 Hurricanes and Wildfires
    Tuesday, September 04, 2018
      
            Transcript
Thumbnail
              INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC:  Targeting Federal Funding to Areas Experiencing Significant Poverty
        Interactive Graphic
          
            INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC:  Targeting Federal Funding to Areas Experiencing Significant Poverty
      
          Thursday, July 16, 2020
Photo of a "Closed for COVID" sign in a business window
          Blog Post
              Federal COVID Relief for Small Businesses Arrived Quickly, But With Risks to Loan Programs
            Tuesday, August 10, 2021
      
            Many of the more than 30 million small businesses in the U.S. experienced decreased revenue or...
          Black college students
          Blog Post
              How the Small Business Administration Partners with Historically Black Colleges and Universities
            Thursday, February 4, 2021
      
            When Vice President Kamala Harris was sworn in January 20, she became the first candidate elected to...
 Receive GAO Updates
  Stay informed as we add new reports & testimonies.

    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