This website brings together GAO's research on issues that are of national concern and highlights GAO's High Risk List, which calls attention to the agencies and program areas that are high risk due to their vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement or are most in need of broad reform.
Sweater Gear Boutique Tek Tek Pullover Boutique The High Risk List has documented more than $240 billion in financial benefits in the last decade.
In our 2017 High Risk report, we designated three new High Risk areas and removed one from the list. In January 2018, we added another area. GAO updates the High Risk list every two years, but areas may be added to the list at any time if significant problems arise.
Areas Added
- Government-wide Personnel Security Clearance Process (added January 2018)
- Improving Management of Federal Programs that Serve Tribes and Their Members
- U.S. Government’s Environmental Liabilities
- 2020 Decennial Census
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So, what's new this year? And which agencies have the most work to do? Listen to our podcast about this year’s report to find out more.
Our current High Risk List has a total of 35 areas.
- Government-wide Personnel Security Clearance Process — NEW
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- U.S. Government's Environmental Liability — NEW
- 2020 Decennial Census — NEW
- Ensuring the Effective Protection of Technologies Critical to U.S. National Security Interests
- Modernizing the U.S. Financial Regulatory System and the Federal Role in Housing Finance
- Ensuring the Security of Federal Information Systems and Cyber Critical Infrastructure and Protecting the Privacy of Personally Identifiable Information
- DOD Approach to Business Transformation
- Department of Energy's Contract Management for the National Nuclear Security Administration and Office of Environmental Management
- DOD Supply Chain Management
- Strategic Human Capital Management
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- Mitigating Gaps in Weather Satellite Data
- DOD Contract Management
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- Improving Federal Oversight of Food Safety
- DOD Financial Management
- Enforcement of Tax Laws
- Transforming EPA's Process for Assessing and Controlling Toxic Chemicals
- Managing Risks and Improving VA Health Care
- DOD Business Systems Modernization
- DOD Weapon Systems Acquisition
- Funding the Nation's Surface Transportation System
- Managing Federal Real Property
- Restructuring the U.S. Postal Service to Achieve Sustainable Financial Viability
- Limiting the Federal Government's Fiscal Exposure by Better Managing Climate Change Risks
- National Flood Insurance Program
- Improving and Modernizing Federal Disability Programs
- NASA Acquisition Management
- Strengthening Department of Homeland Security Management Functions
- Protecting Public Health through Enhanced Oversight of Medical Products
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- Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Insurance Programs
- Medicaid Program
When was each high-risk area added to the list? This table shows the year that each area on GAO’s 2017 High Risk List were designated High Risk.
- Areas Added
- Areas Expanded
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Want to learn more about the new areas designated High Risk? Watch our videos.
High Risk: Programs That Serve Tribes and Their Members
As part of GAO's High Risk series, Melissa Emrey-Arras, a director in GAO's Education, Workforce, and Income Security team, describes why GAO put improving federal management of programs that serve tribes and their members on its list of programs at high risk for waste, fraud, abuse or mismanagement.
View the transcriptLearn more
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High Risk: U.S. Government's Environmental Liabilities
As part of GAO's High Risk series, David Trimble, a director in GAO's Natural Resources and Environment team, describes why GAO put the federal government's environmental liabilities on its list of programs at high risk for waste, fraud, abuse or mismanagement.
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High Risk: Census 2020
As part of GAO's High Risk series, Robert Goldenkoff, a director in GAO's Strategic Issues team, describes why GAO put the 2020 Decennial Census on its list of programs at high risk for waste, fraud, abuse or mismanagement.
View the transcriptLearn more
Two areas expanded between 2015 and 2017.
Mitigating Gaps in Weather Satellite Data: DOD has made limited progress in meeting requirements for its polar satellite program, which is responsible for weather satellites that cross the equator in an early morning orbit. Because DOD delayed establishing plans for its next weather satellite program, there is a risk of a satellite data gap which could negatively affect military operations that depend on weather data.
Nike Shorts Athletic Boutique Athletic Boutique Boutique Nike Shorts Fwp4xwqES: Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has undertaken various reform efforts since its creation in 2011 but has made limited progress addressing long-standing deficiencies in the bureau's investigative, environmental compliance, and enforcement capabilities.
Since our last High Risk Update report in 2015, there has been solid progress on many of the 32 High Risk areas. Progress has been possible through the concerted actions and efforts of Congress and the leadership and staff in agencies and within the Office of Management and Budget. As shown in the report, 23 High Risk areas, or two-thirds of all the areas, have at least partially met all five criteria for removal from the High Risk List; 15 of these areas fully met at least one criterion. One area related to sharing and managing terrorism-related information has been removed as part of this update.
Enough progress was made in 2 other areas to narrow them in this update.
- DOD Supply Chain Management: GAO is removing the inventory management component from this high risk area because DOD has implemented a corrective action plan, reduced excess inventory, improved demand forecasting, and re-assessed inventory goals. However, DOD should monitor the data it collects, and needs to demonstrate that its corrective actions are working.
- Mitigating Gaps in Weather Satellite Data: NOAA has made significant progress in its efforts to mitigate the potential for gaps in weather satellite data on its geostationary weather satellite program. In contrast, DOD has made limited progress in meeting its requirements in this area.
- About the High Risk List
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- Rating Gallery
- Previous High Risk Products
In 1990, we began a program to report on government operations that we identified as “high risk.” Since then, generally coinciding with the start of each new Congress, we have reported on the status of progress to address High Risk areas and have updated the High Risk List. Our most recent High Risk update was in February 2015. That update identified 32 High Risk areas.
Overall, our High Risk program has served to identify and help resolve serious weaknesses in areas that involve substantial resources and provide critical services to the public. Since our program began, the government has taken high-risk problems seriously and has made long needed progress toward correcting them. In a number of cases, progress has been sufficient for us to remove the High Risk designation.
GAO: Comptroller General Testifies to U.S. House on GAO's 2017 High Risk List
In his February 15, 2017 testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives, Comptroller General Gene Dodaro provides an update of GAO's 2017 High Risk List.
View the transcriptLearn more
GAO: Comptroller General Testifies to U.S. Senate on GAO's 2017 High Risk List
In his February 15, 2017, testimony to the U.S. Senate, Comptroller General Gene Dodaro provides an update of GAO's 2017 High Risk List.
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The key elements needed to make progress in High Risk areas are top-level attention by the administration and agency leaders grounded in the five criteria for removal from the High Risk List, as well as any needed congressional action. Here are the five criteria:
- Leadership Commitment. Demonstrated strong commitment and top leadership support.
- Capacity. Agency has the capacity (i.e., people and resources) to resolve the risk(s).
- Action Plan. A corrective action plan exists that defines the root cause, solutions, and provides for substantially completing corrective measures including steps necessary to implement solutions we recommended.
- Monitoring. A program has been instituted to monitor and independently validate the effectiveness and sustainability of corrective measures.
- Demonstrated Progress. Ability to demonstrate progress in implementing corrective measures and resolving the high-risk area.
In 2015, GAO began illustrating progress in High Risk areas using a five-pointed star. The star visibly indicates whether each of the five criteria have been met, partially met, or not met for that High Risk area.
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Explore the ratings for each area on GAO’s 2017 High Risk List using our gallery. You can also view all of the star ratings for the 2017 areas together.
Boutique Cardigan Spencer Boutique Sarah Spencer Cardigan Sarah rUwqvZr- High Risk Series: Key Actions to Make Progress Addressing High-Risk Issues
GAO-16-480R, April 2016 - High Risk Series: An Update
GAO-15-290, Feb 2015 - High Risk Series: An Update
GAO-13-283, Feb 2013 - High Risk Series: An Update
GAO-11-278, Feb 2011 - High Risk Series: An Update
GAO-09-271, Jan 2009 - High Risk Series: An Update
GAO-07-310, Jan 2007 - High Risk Series: An Update
GAO-05-207, Jan 2005 - High Risk Series: An Update
GAO-03-119, Jan 2003
- High Risk Series: An Update
GAO-01-263, Jan 2001 - The Green Book: Determining Performance and Accountability Challenges and High Risks
GAO-01-159SP, Nov 2000 - High Risk Series: An Update
HR-99-1, Nov 2000 - High Risk Series: An Overview
HR-97-1, Jan 1997 - High Risk Series: An Overview
HR-95-1, Feb 1995 - High Risk Series: Farmers Home Administration's Farm Loan Programs
HR-93-1, Dec 1992 - High Risk Series: Letter to Congressional Committees Identifying GAO's Original High Risk Areas
Jan 23, 1990