The Government Accountability Office (GAO) identified two significant tech-related ways to potentially save taxpayers billions of dollars in its 14th annual report that aims to identify overlap, duplication, and fragmentation across the Federal government.
In the report, GAO explains that the annual overlap reports have yielded $667 billion in cost savings and revenue increases. With the most recent recommendations to Congress, GAO said the Federal government could save even more money.
“This year’s report provides Congress and Federal agencies with new opportunities to save Federal dollars, increase revenue, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a wide range of Federal programs,” Gene Dodaro, comptroller general of the United States and head of the GAO, said in a press release. “By addressing this year’s pointed list, as well as open recommendations to both agencies and Congress from GAO’s past work, the Federal government could potentially save tens of billions of dollars.”
One notable tech-related recommendation is that the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) should facilitate information sharing about identifying foreign ownership of research entities.
According to the press release, “This would better manage Federal efforts designed to help safeguard federally funded research from foreign threats.” GAO did not offer a potential financial benefits estimate for this recommendation.
GAO released a separate report on this issue in January, which made the same recommendation to OSTP, which agreed with it.
Another notable tech-related recommendation in the latest report is for Congress to consider reauthorizing the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), “including different options for its placement, and ensure key statutory and contract responsibilities are addressed before current authorities sunset in 2027.”
FirstNet – which oversees a contract under which AT&T is building out a nationwide broadband network for first responders – is an independent authority within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). However, its current authorization is set to expire in 2027.
GAO issued a separate report on this issue in February 2022, reminding Congress that it needs to act soon to reauthorize FirstNet. As of May 2024, Congress had yet to do so.
According to GAO’s analysis of the FirstNet contract, reauthorizing FirstNet could potentially save $15 billion over 15 years.
“If FirstNet sunsets, it is unclear what will happen to the remaining $15 billion in scheduled annual payments, which FirstNet currently has authority to collect and reinvest,” GAO said in the report.
