This report, the third in response to a mandate under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), addresses the following objectives: (1) selected states’ and localities’ uses of Recovery Act funds, (2) the approaches taken by the selected states and localities to ensure accountability for Recovery Act funds, and (3) states’ plans to evaluate the impact of Recovery Act funds. GAO’s work for the report is focused on 16 states and certain localities in those jurisdictions as well as the District of Columbia (District)—representing about 65 percent of the U.S. population and two-thirds of the intergovernmental federal assistance available. Under the Recovery Act, GAO collected and analyzed documents and interviewed state and local officials. GAO also analyzed federal agency guidance and spoke with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) officials and with program officials at the federal agencies overseeing Recovery Act programs.
What GAO Recommends
GAO makes recommendations to federal agencies to address accountability and transparency issues. They are discussed on the next page and in the report. GAO also has recommendations to OMB (on pages 122 and 131-134) and a matter for congressional consideration (on page 123). The report draft was discussed with federal and state officials who generally agreed with its contents. Read more of the GAO Report.
