STATE AND USAID:

Status of GAO Recommendations Made in 2017

GAO-19-524R: Published: Jun 4, 2019. Publicly Released: Jun 4, 2019.

In 2017, we made a combined total of 61 recommendations to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Of the 41 recommendations made to State, 11 were still open as of May 15, 2019, and 3 of those were priority recommendations. Priority recommendations are those we believe warrant priority attention from heads of key departments and agencies.

Of the 20 recommendations made to USAID, 5 were still open, and 2 were priority recommendations.

For example, we recommended that both agencies find ways to improve how they monitor assistance to Syrian refugees in areas that U.S. personnel can't visit.

United States Agency for International Development Comments on GAO Draft Report

Jason Bair
Acting Director, International Affairs and Trade
U.S. Government Accountability Office 441 G Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20226

Re: State and USAID: Status of GAO Recommendations Made in 2017 (GAO-19-524R)

Dear Mr. Bair:

I am pleased to provide the formal response of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to the draft report produced by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) titled, State and USAID: Status of GAO Recommendations Made in 2017, (GAO- 19-524R).

USAID is committed to the timely implementation of the GAO's recommendations. Beginning in December of 2017, the USAID Transformation Task Team (T3) instituted new procedures and best practices that have led to a 40-percent reduction in our response time to adopt and close GAO recommendations when compared to Calendar Years 2015 to 2017.

USAID takes each of GAO's recommendations seriously, and we recognize the importance of respecting taxpayer investments in development by improving the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of USAID's programming and operations. USAID has engaged extensively with the GAO to work towards the implementation of all outstanding recommendations from 2017, including by inviting GAO staff to view updated systems developed in response to audits of our food assistance. USAID continues to work with the GAO to provide additional evidence of our implementation of these recommendations.

I am transmitting this letter and the enclosed comments from USAID for inclusion in the GAO's final report. Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the draft repo1t, and for the courtesies extended by your staff while conducting this engagement. We appreciate the opp01tunity to participate in the complete and thorough evaluation of our fulfillment of the GAO's recommendations made in 2017.

Frederick M. Nutt
Assistant Administrator Bureau for Management

Enclosure: a/s

COMMENTS BY THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) ON THE DRAFT REPORT PRODUCED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE (GAO) TITLED, “State and USAID: Status of GAO Recommendations Made in 2017” (GAO-19-524R)