Watchdog Blasts Federal Overlap

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A New GAO Study Shows That ‘The Federal Government Is Doing A Poor Job Coordinating Its Responsibilities,’ Costing ‘Tens Of Billions Of Dollars Annually’

 

SEN. TOM COBURN (R-OK): “At a time when our debt is the greatest threat to our economic and national security, Congress should be doing everything in its power to set common sense priorities. Eliminating duplicative spending should be the easy part.” (Sen. Coburn, Press Release, 2/28/12)

 

GAO: ‘Duplication,’ ‘Overlap,’ ‘Fragmentation’

 

GAO: “Opportunities exist for the Congress and federal agencies to continue to address the needed actions identified in our March 2011 and February 2012 reports. Collectively, these reports show that, if the actions are implemented, the government could potentially save tens of billions of dollars annually.” (Report Highlights, Government Accountability Office, 2/28/12)

 

·         GAO: “We identified 51 areas in our 2012 annual report, including 32 areas of potential duplication, overlap, or fragmentation as well as 19 opportunities for agencies or Congress to consider taking action that could either reduce the cost of government operations or enhance revenue collections for the Treasury.” (Report Highlights, Government Accountability Office, 2/28/12)

 

“The Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Tuesday reported that the federal government has done little to address 81 areas GAO identified a year ago where the government duplicates its own efforts or fails to collect revenue it is owed.” (“Little Progress Found In Reducing Waste By Federal Government,” The Hill’s ‘On The Money’ Blog, 2/28/12)

 

‘The Federal Government Is Doing A Poor Job’

 

“The federal government is doing a poor job of coordinating its responsibilities in dozens of areas, including food safety, breast cancer research, assistance to small business owners and home buyers and background investigations for federal job applicants — a disorganization that could be costing taxpayers tens of billions of dollars annually…” (“GAO: Overlapping Government Programs Cost Billions,” The Washington Post, 2/28/12)

 

·         GREEN BUILDING: “…  there are 94 federal initiatives GAO identified to foster green building in the nonfederal sector…” (Report, Government Accountability Office, P.175, 2/12)

 

·         DIESEL EMISSIONS: “Fourteen grant and loan programs at the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency and three tax expenditures fund activities that have the effect of reducing mobile source diesel emissions… In addition to fragmentation across three agencies, each of the 14 programs overlaps with at least 1 other program in the specific activities they fund, the program goals, or the eligible recipients of funding.” (Report, Government Accountability Office, P.162-3, 2/12)

 

·         EDUCATION PROGRAMS: “Thirteen agencies fund 209 different science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs — and 173 of those programs overlap with at least one other program.” (“GAO Report: Billions Spent On Duplicate Federal Programs,” USA Today, 2/28/12)

 

·         DOJ GRANTS: “Since fiscal year 2005, Congress has appropriated approximately $30 billion for crime prevention, law enforcement, and crime victim services for more than 200 federal financial assistance programs that the Department of Justice (Justice) manages. GAO found instances where Justice’s granting agencies had awarded funds from different grant programs to the same applicants whose applications described similar—and in some cases, the same—purposes for using the grant funds…” (Report, Government Accountability Office, P.110, 2/12)

 

·         FINANCIAL LITERACY: “And the government has at least 15 major financial literacy programs — including three new ones established by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.” (“GAO Report: Billions Spent On Duplicate Federal Programs,” USA Today, 2/28/12)

 

·         TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS: “There are 17 programs providing ‘technical assistance’ to entrepreneurs: Two at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, six run by the Small Business Administration, five run by the Agriculture Department and four out of the Commerce Department.” (“GAO: Overlapping Government Programs Cost Billions,” The Washington Post, 2/28/12)

 

·         HOUSING: “Twenty different entities administer 160 programs, tax expenditures, and other tools GAO identified that supported homeownership and rental housing in fiscal year 2010… For example, 39 programs, tax expenditures, and other tools provide assistance for buying, selling, or financing a home… Eight programs and tax expenditures provide assistance for rental property owners…” (Report, Government Accountability Office, P.186, 2/12)

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