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(Letter Report, 12/03/93, GAO/OCG-94-1).
The National Performance Review (NPR), done under the direction of the Vice President, seeks ways to make the government work better and cost less. The NPR recommendations are grouped into four areas: cutting red tape, putting customers first, empowering employees to get results, and cutting back to basics. The NPR report contains 384 recommendations covering 27 federal agencies and 14 government systems, such as procurement and budgeting. The NPR report emphasizes many of the basic themes that GAO has been stressing for years, including the need to strengthen agency management and to focus management and accountability on the results of programs. Accordingly, GAO agrees with virtually all of the NPR report's recommendations and believes that their successful implementation will significantly help the government to overcome its management and programmatic problems. --------------------------- Indexing Terms ----------------------------- REPORTNUM: OCG-94-1 TITLE: Management Reform: GAO's Comments on the National Performance Review's Recommendations DATE: 12/03/93 SUBJECT: Public administration Personnel management Accountability Program management Agency evaluation General management reviews Oversight by Congress Planning Financial management Interagency relations IDENTIFIER: National Performance Review GMR Cover ================================================================ COVER Report to Congressional Requesters December 1993 MANAGEMENT REFORM - GAO'S COMMENTS ON THE NATIONAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW'S RECOMMENDATIONS GAO/OCG-94-1 Comments on NPR's Recommendations Letter =============================================================== LETTER B-255769 December 3, 1993 The Honorable John Conyers, Jr., Chairman The Honorable William F. Clinger, Jr., Ranking Minority Member Committee on Government Operations House of Representatives The Honorable John Glenn, Chairman The Honorable William V. Roth, Jr., Ranking Minority Member Committee on Governmental Affairs United States Senate The Honorable William L. (Bill) Clay Chairman, Committee on Post Office and Civil Service House of Representatives The Honorable John R. Kasich Ranking Minority Member Committee on the Budget House of Representatives This report responds to your requests that we comment on the recommendations contained in the National Performance Review's (NPR) September 7, 1993, report.\1 The NPR, under the direction of the Vice President, was a major management reform initiative by the administration and was intended to identify ways to make the government work better and cost less. The NPR report's recommendations were organized by four key principles: "cutting red tape, putting customers first, empowering employees to get results, and cutting back to basics." The NPR report contained 384 major recommendations covering 27 federal agencies and 14 government systems, such as procurement and budgeting. This report provides our initial comments on the NPR report's recommendations on the basis of our work, and is the first part of a planned long-term body of work on the NPR. In subsequent work, we will monitor the degree to which the NPR's recommendations have been implemented and evaluate the extent to which the recommendations effectively address the management and programmatic problems the NPR identified. -------------------- \1 From Red Tape to Results: Creating a Government That Works Better and Costs Less, report of the National Performance Review, Vice President Al Gore, September 7, 1993. RESULTS IN BRIEF ------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :1 The NPR report emphasized many of the basic themes that we have stressed for years, including the need to strengthen management within agencies and to focus management and accountability on the results of programs. Accordingly, we generally agree with most of the NPR report's recommendations and believe that successful implementation of those recommendations can make an important contribution in addressing the federal government's management and programmatic problems. The ultimate success of the NPR, however, will depend upon the detailed strategies and specific actions developed to implement its recommendations. The administration must forge a strong, coordinated partnership with Congress to develop these strategies. As part of that partnership, priority attention must be given to improving agencies' management capacities so that they can assume additional authority and responsibility contemplated by the NPR and be held accountable for programmatic outcomes. A key to improved accountability is strengthened financial management, including audited financial statements. Moreover, the fundamental management changes that are needed require the active and sustained attention of the top political and career leadership in the agencies. Despite its wide scope, the NPR report contained some recommendations that were too general for us to comment. The NPR report also was silent on a number of critical management and program issues confronting the federal government that our work has shown need prompt attention. These additional areas of concern are detailed in the individual sections accompanying this letter. .. . OBJECTIVES, SCOPE, AND METHODOLOGY ------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :5 This initial examination of the NPR report's recommendations had two objectives. Our first objective was to review the NPR report's recommendations. On the basis of our work, we placed each NPR recommendation in one of four categories: (1) We agree with the NPR recommendation. (2) We generally agree with the NPR recommendation. (3) We disagree with the NPR recommendation. (4) We have insufficient information on which to judge the merits of the NPR recommendation either because we have not done work in the specific area addressed by the recommendation or the recommendation was too vague for us to comment. We did not review the NPR's estimated savings from implementing its recommendations. The Congressional Budget Office already has analyzed some of the NPR report's recommendations from that perspective. Our second objective was to identify major management and programmatic areas of concern that were not addressed in the NPR report. We understand that the NPR report's recommendations will be supplemented by a series of detailed monographs, so some of these areas may be addressed in the subsequent NPR monographs. . . . CONTENTS ============================================================ Chapter 0 Pa ge -------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------- -- Letter 1 ================================================================================ Section Government agency Abbreviation 1 Agency for International Development AID 10 2 Department of Agriculture USDA 14 3 Department of Commerce DOC 22 4 Department of Defense DOD 31 5 Department of Education ED 41 6 Department of Energy DOE 47 7 Environmental Protection Agency EPA 54 8 Executive Office of the President EOP 61 9 Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA 67 10 Department of Health and Human Services HHS 70 11 Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD 81 12 Intelligence Community INTEL 88 13 Department of the Interior DOI 92 14 Department of Justice DOJ 10 2 15 Department of Labor DOL 11 2 16 National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA 12 1 17 National Science Foundation/Office of Science and NSF 12 Technology Policy 7 18 Small Business Administration SBA 13 0 19 Department of State/U.S. Information Agency DOS 13 6 20 Department of Transportation DOT 14 5 21 Department of the Treasury/Resolution Trust TRE 16 Corporation 0 22 Department of Veterans Affairs DVA 17 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------- -- ================================================================================ Section Government system Abbreviation Pa ge 23 Creating Quality Leadership and Management QUAL 18 3 24 Streamlining Management Control SMC 18 8 25 Transforming Organizational Structures ORG 19 3 26 Improving Customer Services ICS 19 8 27 Mission-Driven, Results-Oriented Budgeting BGT 20 2 28 Improving Financial Management FM 20 8 29 Reinventing Human Resource Management HRM 21 7 30 Reinventing Federal Procurement PROC 23 0 31 Reinventing Support Services SUP 24 3 32 Reengineer Through the Use of Information IT 25 Technology 0 33 Rethinking Program Design DES 25 9 34 Strengthening the Partnership in Intergovernmental FSL 26 Service Delivery 2 35 Reinventing Environmental Management ENV 26 6 36 Improving Regulatory Systems REG 26 9 37 General Services Administration GSA 27 4 38 Office of Personnel Management OPM 27 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) =========================================================== Chapter 14 OVERALL SUMMARY ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:0.1 As discussed in our December 1992 transition series report on Justice Issues, during the last decade federal, state, and local governments have substantially increased funding for law enforcement as a result of mounting public concern over crime (especially drugs and violence). Despite committing billions to the criminal justice system and filling the nation's jails and prisons, the expectation of reduced vulnerability to crime has not been achieved. Furthermore, inaccurate financial data, unrealiable financial and information systems, and poor internal controls could result in the loss of millions of dollars. Given the existing criminal threat and tight budget environment, government policymakers need to focus on getting the most from the existing criminal justice system resources by exploring ways to (1) strengthen the Department of Justice's leadership and management functions; (2) better investigate and prosecute white collar crime; (3) make needed immigration policy and management decisions; (4) respond to a rapid rise in the federal prison population; and (5) make antidrug efforts more effective. NPR's recommendations are targeted to improving the criminal justice system in each of these five areas. For example, NPR is seeking to strengthen the Attorney General's oversight of law enforcement activities, and consolidate some activities, as a means to improve the coordination and structure of federal law enforcement. We support such efforts, but in the search for increased efficiency and effectiveness, it should be recognized that some fragmentation and inefficiencies in the criminal justice system represent a trade-off for avoiding abuses that history has shown may occur from too much centralized police authority. GAO CONTACT ----------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:0.1.1 Henry R. Wray, Director, Administration of Justice Issues, General Government Division, (202) 512-5156. RECOMMENDATIONS WITH WHICH GAO AGREES --------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:1 DOJ02: Improve Border Management Federal border management should be significantly improved. NPR recommends a series of actions to be taken by Customs and INS to make these improvements. GAO Comments Customs and INS have a long history of interagency rivalry, poor coordination, and ineffective cooperation, despite sharing responsibility for primary inspections at land border ports of entry. We have recommended that OMB, working with the Treasury, Justice, and State Departments, develop a proposal for ending the dual management of border inspections. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:1.1 DOJ03: Redirect and Better Coordinate Resources Dedicated to Interdiction of Drugs This recommendation outlines changes that can be made to better coordinate federal programs directed at the air interdiction of drugs. GAO Comments We agree. Given worldwide drug production capacity, domestic demand, and the resourcefulness of drug smugglers to adapt to U.S. enforcement initiatives, the overall availability of drugs in this country has not been diminished despite substantial increases in air interdiction efforts and related drug seizures. The commitment of resources should not be made without considering the potential effectiveness of alternative efforts, both supply and demand, and should be based on achieving measurable goals. Also, to better coordinate agency efforts, improvements in information system interoperability, data integrity, security, and overall intelligence information management are needed. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:1.2 DOJ08: Reinvent the Immigration and Naturalization Service's Organization and Management NPR recommends a number of changes in INS organization and management processes to provide an improved management structure and a strategic vision for the agency. GAO Comments We concur. Over the past decade, weak management systems and inconsistent leadership at INS led to segmented autonomous programs, each attempting to deal with its own set of problems without much attention to the impact on other INS programs. Without coherent overall direction and basic management reforms, the organization has been unable to effectively address changing enforcement responsibilities and long-standing service delivery problems. Further, we have recommended the appointment of an Associate Commissioner for Financial Management as the focal point for developing an overall financial management plan. RECOMMENDATIONS WITH WHICH GAO GENERALLY AGREES --------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:2 DOJ01: Improve the Coordination and Structure of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies NPR recommends the designation of the Attorney General as the Director of Law Enforcement to coordinate federal law enforcement efforts. It also recommends changes in the alignment of federal law enforcement responsibilities. GAO Comments We support the need for greater coordination of the numerous agencies involved in federal law enforcement. The decentralized operations, including the 94 U.S. Attorneys and the various investigative agencies within Justice and Treasury, complicate efforts by the Department of Justice to coordinate and direct a wide variety of initiatives and programs to fight crime. We have not taken a position as to whether the various law enforcement agencies should be consolidated into one or more agencies. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:2.1 DOJ04: Improve Department of Justice Debt Collection Efforts This recommendation would make improvements in the Justice debt collection effort, including giving the department the ability to retain a small percentage of debts collected and allowing Justice to credit its working capital fund with a percentage of debt collections to be used for the creation of a centralized debt tracking and information system. GAO Comments We agree that the Department of Justice, as well as the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, need to improve their debt collection efforts and financial and other information systems. Our analysis has shown that the government had collected less than 5 percent of the fines and restitution ordered in major financial institution fraud cases. We have not, however, studied the alternative financing method recommended by NPR. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:2.2 DOJ05: Improve the Bureau of Prisons Education, Job Training, and Financial Responsibilities Programs NPR makes a series of recommendations for improving prison education, training, and inmate financial responsibility policies. GAO Comments We agree that the Bureau of Prisons should strengthen its inmate education and training programs. Many inmates leave prison without marketable job skills, English language proficiency, or completing a secondary education, yet are expected to become assimilated into society, i.e., become law-abiding productive citizens. We have not examined inmate financial responsibility policies and have no comment on those recommendations. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:2.3 DOJ06: Improve the Management of Federal Assets Targeted for Disposition Improvements are needed in the methods by which the federal government disposes of various assets. GAO Comments We have assessed the asset disposition activities of selected agencies--General Services Administration, Resolution Trust Corporation, Customs Service, Marshals Service, and Internal Revenue Service--and have identified the need for improvements by these agencies. We have recommended that the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury continue to pursue consolidating the management and disposition of noncash seized property inventories. We have also initiated work to evaluate asset disposition practices on a governmentwide basis, but as yet do not have enough information to comment on the recommendation from this broader perspective. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:2.4 DOJ07: Reduce the Duplication of Drug Intelligence Systems and Improve Computer Security NPR recommends several changes to eliminate duplication in the federal drug intelligence system. GAO Comments We agree in principle but are uncertain as to the specifics of the recommendation. Fragmentation and duplication in the intelligence area are an outgrowth of the overlap in responsibilities among the numerous law enforcement and defense agencies involved in countering drug-trafficking activities. We have also reported on inadequate physical and operational controls over computer security, absence of contingency plans, and lack of computer security training at the Department of Justice. We believe that strong leadership, such as by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (the office responsible for overseeing the implementation of national drug policies) is a key factor in streamlining the intelligence effort without compromising security. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:2.5 DOJ12: Streamline Background Investigations for Federal Employees The current method of completing background examinations on federal employees is time-consuming and inefficient. This recommendation outlines improvements to streamline the process without sacrificing thoroughness. GAO Comments We have not specifically reviewed this issue with respect to Justice employees. But, given our past work at other agencies, we endorse the concept of streamlining background investigations provided that thoroughness is not jeopardized, particularly with respect to the investigation of employees for sensitive positions such as those in law enforcement. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:2.6 DOJ16: Develop Lower Cost Solutions to Federal Prison Space Problems This recommendation describes approaches to solving existing prison space problems. GAO Comments We agree that lower cost solutions need to be pursued, and implemented where feasible, but it is not yet clear whether NPR's recommendation will be limited to lowering the cost of prison design and construction or encompass options for reducing the number of persons sent to prison. Between fiscal years 1986 and 1992, the federal inmate population grew from 41,500 to more than 89,000, in part reflecting changes in sentencing policies. Absent a change in those policies, the rapid growth in the federal prison population can be expected to continue, requiring additional prison capacity. RECOMMENDATIONS WITH WHICH GAO DISAGREES --------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:3 None. RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHICH GAO HAS INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO JUDGE --------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:4 DOJ09: Make the Department of Justice Operate More Effectively as the U.S. Government Law Firm Justice should undertake several improvements in the way it manages its litigation functions to improve service to its customers and better manage its case load. GAO Comments We believe that improving litigation service to customers is a goal that should be pursued by the Department. We have reported on the need for uniform and accurate litigative case management data and on weaknesses in ADP management and operations, most notably in the area of ADP security. We have not made an in-depth evaluation of other alternatives to existing litigation practices. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:4.1 DOJ10: Improve White Collar Fraud Civil Enforcement Civil fraud recovery should be established as a priority and the department should take steps to improve its white collar fraud enforcement. GAO Comments We recognize that civil fraud recoveries are an important aspect of white collar fraud enforcement. See our comments on related recommendation DOJ04. We have not studied other alternatives to existing practices. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:4.2 DOJ11: Reduce the Duplication of Law Enforcement Training Facilities Overlap and duplication in the provision of federal law enforcement training facilities should be examined. Multi-agency training needs should be accommodated through existing facilities in lieu of the construction of new facilities by individual agencies. GAO Comments Although we have not studied this issue, this is an area where we would agree that further examination could prove worthwhile. Law enforcement agencies, while having unique missions that require individualized training, frequently have overlapping jurisdictions and perform functions that require similar or identical knowledge and skills. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:4.3 DOJ13: Adjust Civil Monetary Penalties to the Inflation Index Civil monetary penalties have not been adjusted to keep up with inflation. Under this recommendation, a "catch-up" adjustment would be made and the need for additional inflation adjustments would be automatically reassessed every four years. GAO Comments At this time we have insufficient information to assess the basis for or desirability of this recommendation. Our work on civil debt and criminal fines indicates that a major problem is collecting the criminal and civil fines and penalties now imposed. Recent Justice estimates indicate that the total amount of unpaid criminal debt exceeded $1.6 billion, and the balance continues to grow. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:4.4 DOJ14: Improve Federal Courthouse Security This recommendation is intended to address concerns of the U.S. Marshals Service concerning security at federal courthouses. GAO Comments We recognize that federal courthouses need to be secure and Marshals Service resources need to be targeted at the greatest security needs based on systematic assessments of potential risk. We have not yet completed our ongoing review of courthouse and judicial security issues and thus have not taken a position on these matters. ------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:4.5 DOJ15: Improve the Professionalism of the U.S. Marshals Service U.S. Marshals should be selected based on merit by the Director of the U.S. Marshals Service and reduce some positions. GAO Comments While we endorse the concept of improving the professionalism of the Marshals Service and reducing unnecessary positions where feasible, we have not studied this issue and thus do not have sufficient information on which to take a position. ADDITIONAL AREAS OF GAO CONCERN --------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:5 None. RELATED GAO PRODUCTS --------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14:6 Justice Issues (GAO/OCG-93-23TR, Dec. 1992) relates to the overall summary and DOJ01. Justice Department: Coordination Between DEA and the FBI (GAO/GGD-90-59, Mar. 21, 1990) relates to DOJ01. Bank and Thrift Criminal Fraud: The Federal Commitment Could Be Broadened (GAO/GGD-93-48, Jan. 8, 1993) relates to DOJ01 and DOJ04. Bank and Thrift Fraud: Overview of the Federal Government's Response (GAO/T-GGD-92-12, Feb. 6, 1992) relates to DOJ01 and DOJ04. War on Drugs: Information Management Poses Formidable Challenges (GAO/IMTEC-91-40, May 31, 1991) relates to DOJ01, DOJ03, and DOJ07. Customs Service and INS: Dual Management Structure for Border Inspections Should Be Ended (GAO/GGD-93-111, June 30, 1993) relates to DOJ02. Drug Control: Heavy Investment in Military Surveillance Is Not Paying Off (GAO/NSIAD-93-220, Sept. 1, 1993) relates to DOJ03. Drug Interdiction: Funding Continues to Increase but Program Effectiveness Is Unknown (GAO/GGD-91-10, Dec. 11, 1990) relates to DOJ03. Drug Control: Anti-Drug Efforts in the Bahamas (GAO/GGD-90-42, Mar. 8, 1990) relates to DOJ03. Drug Smuggling: Capabilities for Interdicting Private Aircraft Are Limited and Costly (GAO/GGD-89-93, June 9, 1989) relates to DOJ03. Financial Management: INS Lacks Accountability and Controls Over Its Resources (GAO/AFMD-91-20, Jan. 24, 1991) relates to DOJ04 and DOJ08. U.S. Department of Justice: Overview of Civil and Criminal Debt Collection Efforts (GAO/T-GGD-90-62, July 31, 1990) relates to DOJ04, DOJ10, and DOJ13. Federal Prisons: Inmate and Staff Views on Education and Work Training Programs (GAO/GGD-93-33, Jan. 19, 1993) relates to DOJ05. Asset Forfeiture Programs (GAO/HR-93-17, Dec. 1992) relates to DOJ06. Resolution Trust Corporation (GAO/HR-93-4, Dec. 1992) relates to DOJ06. Drug Control: Reauthorization of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (GAO/T-GGD-94-7, Oct. 5, 1993) relates to DOJ07. Drug Control: Coordination of Intelligence Activities (GAO/GGD-93-83BR, Apr. 2, 1993) relates to DOJ07. Computer Security: DEA's Handling of Sensitive Drug Enforcement and National Security Information Is Inadequate (GAO/T-IMTEC-92-24, Sept. 30, 1992) relates to DOJ07. Drug Control: Inadequate Guidance Results in Duplicate Intelligence Production Efforts (GAO/NSIAD-92-153, Apr. 14, 1992) relates to DOJ07. Immigration Management: Strong Leadership and Management Reforms Needed to Address Serious Problems (GAO/GGD-91-28, Jan. 23, 1991) relates to DOJ08. Information Management: Immigration and Naturalization Service Lacks Ready Access to Essential Data (GAO/IMTEC-90-75, Sept. 27, 1990) relates to DOJ08. Justice: IRM and Project Eagle (GAO/IMTEC-93-7R, Dec. 9, 1992) relates to DOJ09. Employee Background Checks (GAO/GGD-93-62R, Sept. 2, 1993) relates to DOJ12. Nuclear Security: DOE's Progress on Reducing Its Security Clearance Work Load (GAO/RCED-93-183, Aug. 12, 1993) relates to DOJ12. Personnel Security: Efforts by DOD and DOE to Eliminate Duplicate Background Investigations (GAO/RCED-93-23, May 10, 1993) relates to DOJ12. OPM Revolving Fund: Benchmarking Could Aid OPM's Efforts to Improve Customer Service (GAO/GGD-92-18, Jan. 21, 1992) relates to DOJ12. National Fine Center: Expectations High, but Development Behind Schedule (GAO/GGD-93-95, Aug. 10, 1993) relates to DOJ13. Program Fraud: Implementation of the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act of 1986 (GAO/AFMD-91-73, Sept. 16, 1991) relates to DOJ13. Intensive Probation Supervision: Crime-Control and Cost-Saving Effectiveness (GAO/PEMD-93-23, June 4, 1993) relates to DOJ16. Prison Boot Camps: Short-Term Prison Costs Reduced, but Long-Term Impact Uncertain (GAO/GGD-93-69, Apr. 29, 1993) relates to DOJ16. Prison Alternatives: Crowded Federal Prisons Can Transfer More Inmates to Halfway Houses (GAO/GGD-92-5, Nov. 14, 1991) relates to DOJ16. Prison Costs: Opportunities Exist to Lower the Cost of Building Federal Prisons (GAO/GGD-92-3, Oct. 25, 1991) relates to DOJ16. Federal Prisons: Revised Design Standards Could Save Expansion Funds (GAO/GGD-91-54, Mar. 14, 1991) relates to DOJ16. Intermediate Sanctions: Their Impacts on Prison Crowding, Costs, and Recidivism Are Still Unclear (GAO/PEMD-90-21, Sept. 7, 1990) relates to DOJ16.