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FEDERALhearing transcript
High Impact

Senate Hearing on Reducing Federal Program Duplication

Original title: REDUCING UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS: BILLIONS MORE COULD BE SAVED

January 1, 2016

government efficiencyfederal spendingGAObudget oversightprogram duplication

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing addresses the potential for significant federal budget savings, with the GAO identifying $80 billion in potential future savings if remaining recommendations are implemented.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Federal Agencies

Agencies are responsible for implementing GAO recommendations to reduce program duplication.

Taxpayers

Taxpayers are affected by the efficiency of federal spending and the potential reduction of government waste.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2016.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a hearing on April 14, 2015, to review the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) annual report on federal program , , and . The hearing focused on strategies to implement GAO recommendations to save billions in taxpayer funds.

Key Facts

  • The GAO has identified 440 areas of federal program duplication over the past five years.
  • Federal agencies have already achieved $20 billion in savings from GAO recommendations.
  • An additional $80 billion in savings is projected to be possible over the next 8 to 9 years.
  • Only 37% of the GAO's recommendations regarding duplication have been implemented to date.
  • This hearing marks the fifth annual report on federal fragmentation, overlap, and duplication.
  • The hearing was held on April 14, 2015, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of this hearing?
To review the GAO's findings on where federal programs or duplicate efforts and to discuss how to implement recommendations to save money.
How much money has been saved so far?
According to the GAO, $20 billion has been saved over the last five years.
Why are there still billions in potential savings?
The GAO reports that only 37% of their recommendations to reduce have been implemented by federal agencies.

Why It Matters

The hearing addresses the potential for significant federal budget savings, with the GAO identifying $80 billion in potential future savings if remaining recommendations are implemented.

News Coverage

Center1
1 source
Blind spot - only covered by center outlets
C

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Bias ratings based on AllSides / Media Bias/Fact Check

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Low Implementation Rate

Despite identifying $20 billion in savings, only 37% of GAO recommendations have been adopted, suggesting a significant gap between oversight findings and executive action.

Government Accountability Office

Connected Entities

personRon Johnson“Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs”Map →
personEugene L. Dodaro“Comptroller General of the United States, GAO”Map →
organizationDepartment of Homeland Security“Cited as a major area of focus for duplication”Map →
personThomas R. Carper“Ranking Member of the Committee”Map →
organizationGovernment Accountability Office“Federal watchdog agency providing the report”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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