GAO Reports
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Privacy Enhancing Technologies
WASHINGTON, May 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Privacy Enhancing Technologies
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Highlights
Why This Matters
Companies and organizations are collecting more personal data from Americans than before to improve technologies such as AI. But using and sharing large amounts of data carries security and privacy risks, like breaches of personal information. According to the FBI, Americans reported more than $1.4 billion lost due to personal data breaches in 2024. Privacy enhancing technologies, or PETs, can help
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Privacy Enhancing Technologies
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Highlights
Why This Matters
Companies and organizations are collecting more personal data from Americans than before to improve technologies such as AI. But using and sharing large amounts of data carries security and privacy risks, like breaches of personal information. According to the FBI, Americans reported more than $1.4 billion lost due to personal data breaches in 2024. Privacy enhancing technologies, or PETs, can helpreduce risks associated with collecting, using, and sharing data.
Key Takeaways
* Privacy enhancing technologies are expanding to new datasets and evolving to counteract malicious actors.
* They also could enable more secure collaboration and research on sensitive information, such as medical records or proprietary company data.
* Lack of federal guidance, high resource costs, and workforce constraints affect implementation of these technologies and may hinder widespread use.
The Technology
What is it? Privacy enhancing technologies modify, hide, or process data in ways that make it difficult to access sensitive information. Newer technologies that focus on minimizing shared data and limiting uses are improving the ways data can be used while protecting privacy. They can facilitate global collaboration on research and fraud detection while also reducing privacy risks associated with using and sharing data. For example, these technologies could enable responsible deployment of AI and other applications that are using increasing amounts of personal data, thereby reducing risks to data privacy.
How does it work? Privacy enhancing technologies can be categorized by the different ways they protect data (see figure).
Data obfuscation hides or changes data to make it more difficult to accurately identify personal information. For example, data elements may be removed from datasets to depersonalize them or data can be randomly added as "noise."
Next-generation encryption processing tools keep data encrypted while in use. For example, AI could analyze encrypted documents, such as medical records, without decrypting them first through a process called homomorphic encryption.
Federated analytics and secure multi-party computation allow multiple entities access to parts of datasets, so that if one entity is compromised, the rest of the dataset remains secure. For example, each smartphone can conduct analysis for predictive text applications before manufacturers collect that information, keeping users' raw data private and decentralized.
How Some Privacy Enhancing Technologies Work
How mature is it? These technologies are largely mature, and their use is growing for applications such as AI. Some types are more widely used than others. For example, federated analytics are used by many companies to protect consumer privacy while using their data to train predictive text models. Other types of these technologies can require significant computing power and time, making them difficult to adopt and deploy. For example, analyzing data using homomorphic encryption can take up to a million times as long as analyzing unencrypted data.
Researchers are exploring how privacy enhancing technologies can be used to maximize the utility of existing datasets. For example, secure multi-party computation could enable secure sharing of protected genetic information, giving researchers more opportunities to collaborate.
Opportunities
* Increase privacy. Limiting access to and obfuscating data results in fewer opportunities for data to leak, which limits opportunities for malicious actors to identify targets and helps mitigate risks in data-driven applications.
* Make new data sources available. When data remain private, companies can work collaboratively on proprietary or sensitive data that they might not normally share with competitors and outside groups. For example, banks can safely share information with foreign companies to identify fraud across borders. Researchers can more readily collaborate on sensitive data, like medical records, when those data are protected.
Challenges
* Reliability. Some of these technologies, such as data obfuscation, may reveal data in certain cases. Malicious actors are using machine learning and other strategies to work around privacy enhancing technologies.
* Resource and skill demands. Some privacy enhancing technologies, such as homomorphic encryption, require more time and other resources than traditional data protection systems. Deploying these technologies effectively requires skill sets that companies and organizations may not possess.
* Lack of federal guidance. While the federal government requires certain data to be protected, federal guidance for how or when to use these technologies is limited. This leaves entities uncertain about how to best use them, which could slow adoption across different fields and make implementation difficult or ineffective.
Policy Context And Questions
* What additional steps could the U.S. government and industry take to protect personal data?
* What is the government's role, if any, in encouraging wider adoption and implementation of privacy enhancing technologies?
* How can institutions balance calls for privacy against calls for greater data transparency and accountability for using data collaboratively?
Selected GAO Work
Artificial Intelligence: OMB Action Needed to Address Privacy-Related Gaps in Federal Guidance, GAO-26-107681.
Selected Reference
OECD (2023), "Emerging privacy-enhancing technologies: Current regulatory and policy approaches," OECD Digital Economy Papers, No. 351, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/bf121be4-en.
For more information, contact Sarah Harvey at HarveyS@gao.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-109063
Nuclear Waste Cleanup: DOE Shortages in Mission-Critical Positions Have Continued to Increase
WASHINGTON, May 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Nuclear Waste Cleanup: DOE Shortages in Mission-Critical Positions Have Continued to Increase
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Fast Facts
The Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management's federal staff oversee nuclear cleanup work across the U.S. In 2024, we reported that the office was understaffed, with a 17% vacancy rate-and that workforce challenges had caused delays, cost overruns, and accidents.
At the end of FY 2025, it had even fewer staff, with vacancy rate of 45%. Almost half of its vacancies
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Nuclear Waste Cleanup: DOE Shortages in Mission-Critical Positions Have Continued to Increase
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Fast Facts
The Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management's federal staff oversee nuclear cleanup work across the U.S. In 2024, we reported that the office was understaffed, with a 17% vacancy rate-and that workforce challenges had caused delays, cost overruns, and accidents.
At the end of FY 2025, it had even fewer staff, with vacancy rate of 45%. Almost half of its vacancieswere in mission-critical positions, such as nuclear safety specialists. Many in the remaining workforce are or will soon be eligible for retirement.
We maintain that the office should implement the recommendations from our 2024 report as it's rebuilding its workforce.
Overview of DOE's Carlsbad Field Office
An overview photograph of DOE's Office of Environmental Management's site in New Mexico called the Carlsbad Field Office.
Highlights
What GAO Found
The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) has become further understaffed since GAO reported on EM's workforce challenges in July 2024. From fiscal year (FY) 2023 through FY 2025, total staff decreased by 33 percent, from 1,272 to 856. This created an overall vacancy rate of 45 percent as of the end of FY 2025, based on a staffing need of 1,515 full-time employees that EM identified in FY 2023.
This understaffing includes shortages in mission-critical occupations that are integral to carrying out EM's mission, which includes addressing contaminated buildings, soil, and groundwater, and treating radioactive waste.
Federal Staff in Selected Mission-Critical Occupations at the Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management (EM), End of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025
Source: GAO analysis of Department of Energy and EM information. | GAO-26-108674
EM experienced high attrition in FY 2025. Most staff left through the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), and attrition will likely remain high, according to EM data. Of the 409 staff who left EM in FY 2025, 76 percent (312) separated through the DRP. Almost half (180) were in mission-critical occupations.
EM's remaining workforce is aging. EM's data indicate that, as of the end of FY 2025, 35 percent of EM's remaining staff, and 30 percent in mission-critical occupations, will be eligible for retirement by 2030.
According to officials, EM plans to hire about 174 new staff in FY 2026, based on its FY 2026 budget, to help offset staffing gaps. As of March 2026, officials said EM is reassessing staffing needs and did not plan to change work scopes to match any potential changes in workforce numbers while considering reorganization. A reduction in identified staffing needs would eliminate some vacant positions, according to officials.
In July 2024, GAO reported that EM's levels of understaffing and workforce management challenges had caused schedule delays, cost overruns, and workplace accidents. These events all affected EM's mission to clean up nuclear waste, according to DOE assessments. GAO concluded that without efforts to address workforce challenges, severe staffing shortages threatened EM's ability to meet its mission.
Why GAO Did This Study
EM relies on federal staff to oversee its nuclear waste cleanup, which is the result of decades of nuclear weapons production and research at locations across the country. Since January 2025, several executive orders, memoranda, and related programs have affected EM's workforce.
GAO was asked to provide updated information on the EM workforce data that it had reported in July 2024 in GAO-24-106479.
This report describes EM's workforce capacity including the composition and attrition rates as of the end of FY 2025. GAO reviewed agency documents, analyzed EM's human capital data for fiscal years 2023 through 2025, and interviewed EM officials.
Recommendations
In its July 2024 report, GAO made 10 recommendations to DOE to improve EM's workforce management, including that EM develop a forward-looking workforce plan and develop a strategy for a multigenerational pipeline.
DOE agreed with all of the recommendations, which remained open as of March 2026. GAO maintains that all of these recommendations warrant action.
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Original text here: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108674
Export-Import Bank: Improved External Stakeholder Engagement Could Enhance Fraud Risk Management
WASHINGTON, May 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Export-Import Bank: Improved External Stakeholder Engagement Could Enhance Fraud Risk Management
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The Export-Import Bank of the United States supports American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. It offers loans, loan guarantees, and other help to U.S. companies that can't get private financing for their deals. It may assume risks that the private sector won't, including risk of losses due to fraud.
In doing so, the Bank evaluates the effectiveness of its fraud prevention activities. We
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Export-Import Bank: Improved External Stakeholder Engagement Could Enhance Fraud Risk Management
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The Export-Import Bank of the United States supports American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. It offers loans, loan guarantees, and other help to U.S. companies that can't get private financing for their deals. It may assume risks that the private sector won't, including risk of losses due to fraud.
In doing so, the Bank evaluates the effectiveness of its fraud prevention activities. Wefound that it doesn't collect information about potential fraud from external stakeholders and may be missing opportunities to fully understand its fraud risks.
We recommended ways for the Bank to improve fraud risk management, among other things.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States' Headquarters building in Washington, D.C.
Highlights
What GAO Found
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has generally monitored and evaluated the effectiveness of its fraud prevention activities in accordance with GAO's leading practices. For example, EXIM surveys internal stakeholders, such as program managers and loan officers, to evaluate its fraud risk assessments.
However, EXIM does not fully engage with external stakeholders to inform its fraud risk management activities, as called for in leading practices. EXIM works with external stakeholders, such as lenders and export credit insurance partners, to process transactions that carry EXIM's guarantees. These stakeholders have antifraud responsibilities, but EXIM does not involve them in its fraud risk assessment process. EXIM officials explained they do not think it is feasible to include these external stakeholders in the risk assessment process, or in the evaluation of those assessments, as there are many external stakeholders of varying sizes and types. By not engaging with external stakeholders, EXIM is not well positioned to fully understand the landscape of fraud risks and vulnerabilities facing the agency, such as risks posed by tariff evasion and the malicious use of artificial intelligence, therefore putting taxpayers at risk.
Further, EXIM collects information about potential fraud from internal loan officers to inform real-time monitoring efforts across its programs, but EXIM does not collect such information from external stakeholders (see fig. on the types and impacts of potential fraud at EXIM). According to leading practices, program managers should collect information from external stakeholders for real-time monitoring of fraud trends. By not collecting this information, EXIM is missing opportunities to proactively address fraud risks.
Types and Impacts of Potential Fraud at Export-Import Bank of the United States
GAO also reviewed EXIM transaction data from January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025, to determine if entities that were banned from receiving federal assistance were present in the transaction data. GAO's analysis did not identify any excluded parties within the EXIM transaction data during that period.
Why GAO Did This Study
EXIM's mission is to support American jobs by facilitating the export of U.S. goods and services. Taxpayers could be responsible for losses arising from EXIM's operations, including losses due to fraud.
Congress included a provision in statute for GAO to periodically review EXIM's antifraud controls. This report assesses the extent to which (1) EXIM has monitored and evaluated its fraud risk management activities and engaged its stakeholders in the monitoring process; and (2) excluded parties can be identified in EXIM's transaction data from January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025.
GAO reviewed EXIM's activities against relevant leading practices for fraud risk management identified by GAO, reviewed EXIM documentation, and interviewed EXIM managers and select external stakeholders responsible for fraud risk management. GAO selected external stakeholders to obtain a range of perspectives and based the selection on a variety of considerations including geographic location, asset size, the length of time associated with EXIM, and the number of active transactions. GAO also reviewed EXIM transaction data from January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025.
Recommendations
GAO is making four recommendations to EXIM, including the following three recommendations, to engage external stakeholders with its (1) fraud risk assessment process, (2) evaluation of assessments, and (3) collection and use of information on instances of potential fraud for its fraud risk monitoring effort. EXIM agreed with GAO's recommendations.
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Export-Import Bank of the United States EXIM's Chair and President should engage EXIM's external stakeholders responsible for specific fraud risk management activities within its monitoring and evaluation of preventative activities by including Delegated Authority Lenders (DAL) and Export Credit Insurer (ECI) stakeholders in its fraud risk survey. (Recommendation 1)
Open Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Export-Import Bank of the United States EXIM's Chair and President should involve external stakeholders responsible for the design and implementation of fraud controls, such as its DAL and ECI stakeholders, in its fraud risk assessment process. (Recommendation 2)
Open Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Export-Import Bank of the United States EXIM's Chair and President should collect and use information on instances of potential fraud from DAL and ECI stakeholders for the refinement of its "red flags," or fraud indicators. (Recommendation 3)
Open Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Export-Import Bank of the United States EXIM's Chair and President should communicate the results of its monitoring and evaluations, including corrective actions taken, to its DAL and ECI stakeholders, such as deficiencies identified, lessons learned, or recommendations made as a result of EXIM's fraud risk management activities. (Recommendation 4)
Open Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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Original text here: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108469
Disaster Assistance Scams: Education and Awareness Are Key to Consumer Protection
WASHINGTON, May 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Disaster Assistance Scams: Education and Awareness Are Key to Consumer Protection
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Disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and wildfires afflict hundreds of American communities and millions of people each year. The resulting federal disaster response-i.e., billions of dollars distributed quickly-also attracts scammers.
In this Q&A, we looked at ways federal and state agencies are educating people to protect them from disaster assistance scams. For example, information booths at disaster
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Disaster Assistance Scams: Education and Awareness Are Key to Consumer Protection
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Disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and wildfires afflict hundreds of American communities and millions of people each year. The resulting federal disaster response-i.e., billions of dollars distributed quickly-also attracts scammers.
In this Q&A, we looked at ways federal and state agencies are educating people to protect them from disaster assistance scams. For example, information booths at disasterrecovery centers display signs with tips about identifying, reporting, and avoiding scams. Online information-including press releases and emergency app push notifications-also helps raise awareness.
A person typing on a laptop with a red hazard icon related to online threats above the hands.
Highlights
What GAO Found
Scams are a method of committing fraud that involves the use of deception or manipulation intended to achieve financial gain. Scams generally succeed by manipulating and deceiving victims and often play on their emotions to exploit vulnerabilities. Disaster assistance scams are a type of scam that seeks to take advantage of either disaster survivors or people trying to aid disaster survivors.
Examples of Disaster Assistance Scams
The prevalence of disaster assistance scams is unknown, due in part to underreporting, but recent surveys-including one by the U.S. Census Bureau-suggest that many individuals encounter scams during disaster recovery. Federal agencies collect complaint data that include allegations of these types of scams. While agencies review complaints to identify where further action, such as investigation, might be appropriate, data limitations prevent accurate estimates on how often these scams occur and how much money is lost.
Federal agencies use consumer education to raise awareness and help prevent individuals from becoming victims of disaster assistance scams. Factors hindering enforcement actions against scammers include underreporting of scams. Many disaster assistance scams go unreported to the federal agencies that receive and process complaints. These agencies include disaster response agencies-such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Small Business Administration, and Department of Housing and Urban Development-and other agencies, such as the National Center for Disaster Fraud. Disaster assistance scams can go unreported for various reasons, including shame, embarrassment, the belief that reporting will not help, and a lack of awareness about how to report the crime. For those complaints that are reported, there are challenges in prosecuting the disaster assistance scams, such as time and resource constraints, case prioritization, and the sophistication of some international scam operations.
Why GAO Did This Study
Scams related to disaster assistance pose financial and nonfinancial risks to disaster survivors, communities, and federal programs. Scams have been around for many years, have evolved with technology, and are a growing risk to consumers in the United States and around the world. Disaster assistance scams typically target vulnerable individuals and communities affected by a disaster by preying on desperation and fear, as well as exploiting vulnerabilities which may be heightened following a disaster. Disaster assistance scams can further compound losses incurred from disasters themselves. Each year, disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and wildfires affect hundreds of American communities and millions of people. The resulting federal disaster response-billions of dollars distributed quickly-also attracts scammers. It is likely that as natural disasters increase in frequency, so too will scams related to disaster assistance.
GAO performed this work under the American Relief Act, 2025, which included a provision for GAO for audits and investigations related to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and other disasters declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in calendar years 2023 and 2024. This report provides information about disaster assistance scams and efforts to mitigate them.
For more information, contact Rebecca Shea at Shear@gao.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108280
Telecommunications: Selected Agencies Have Taken Steps to Address Risks of Equipment Linked to China
WASHINGTON, May 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Telecommunications: Selected Agencies Have Taken Steps to Address Risks of Equipment Linked to China
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Fast Facts
The federal government depends on a network of telecommunications and video surveillance equipment to do its work. However, foreign adversaries could exploit this equipment, putting critical systems at risk.
The six agencies we reviewed have searched for vulnerable equipment connected to their IT networks. Specifically, they looked for equipment produced by certain companies
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Telecommunications: Selected Agencies Have Taken Steps to Address Risks of Equipment Linked to China
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Fast Facts
The federal government depends on a network of telecommunications and video surveillance equipment to do its work. However, foreign adversaries could exploit this equipment, putting critical systems at risk.
The six agencies we reviewed have searched for vulnerable equipment connected to their IT networks. Specifically, they looked for equipment produced by certain companieslinked to the People's Republic of China. Two of the agencies, the Departments of Defense and Energy, found a small number of vulnerable devices and have efforts underway to address any risks they pose. For example, DOD blocked these devices from accessing their network.
Cybersecurity threat actors in front of a Chinese flag
Highlights
What GAO Found
A 2018 law generally prohibits executive agencies from procuring telecommunications and video surveillance equipment produced by certain companies, or their subsidiaries and affiliates, linked to the People's Republic of China (referred to as "covered equipment"). Agencies are not prohibited from using covered equipment procured prior to this prohibition. Officials from four of six selected agencies-the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, State, and Treasury-told GAO they did not identify any covered equipment connected to their IT networks. The Departments of Defense (DOD) and Energy reported finding little covered equipment in recent searches and having efforts underway to address potential risks. For example, DOD officials identified three instances of covered equipment connected to its network and confirmed the devices have been blocked from external access while DOD acts to remove them.
All six selected agencies have used a combination of methods to search for covered equipment since 2019. Each method has benefits and limitations. For example, IT network scans may not scan agencies' entire IT networks, including classified networks.
Note: "Covered equipment" refers to "covered telecommunications equipment" as defined by the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, Pub. L. No. 115-232, SS 889(f)(3), 132 Stat. 1636, 1918 (2018).
a IT hardware asset inventories are records of IT hardware assets owned by an agency.
b IT network scans use software to identify devices active on an IT network.
Officials at some of the selected agencies cited limited visibility into product supply chains as a challenge in identifying covered equipment. For example, one agency official noted that manufacturers were reluctant to share proprietary information about their supply chains, thereby limiting the agency's ability to determine whether devices in its inventory contained components produced by covered entities. Some officials said the lack of comprehensive, authoritative information on companies' subsidiaries and affiliates also posed a challenge. However, officials noted that such information would be accurate only at the time it was developed, because companies may change their names or acquire or divest subsidiaries and affiliates.
Why GAO Did This Study
The federal government depends on a complex network of telecommunications and video surveillance equipment to support operations and communicate with the public. Foreign adversaries may seek to exploit vulnerabilities in this equipment. According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, China poses the most active and persistent cyber threat to the federal government.
GAO was asked to review issues related to federal agencies' use of covered equipment. This report examines (1) the amount of covered equipment selected agencies have identified, and actions the agencies have taken to address risks associated with using the equipment; and (2) the methods selected agencies reported using to search for covered equipment and challenges they have experienced.
To conduct this review, GAO selected the six agencies from the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 that have organizational entities in the Intelligence Community. GAO obtained and reviewed information (e.g., screenshots of network scans or inventory searches) on selected agencies' identification of covered equipment, if any, and actions to address associated risks.
GAO also reviewed agencies' policies and procedures for developing and maintaining inventories of hardware assets (i.e., equipment) and compared them with relevant National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity requirements. Further, GAO reviewed documentation and interviewed agency officials about their methods for searching for covered equipment and the challenges they faced in identifying the equipment.
For more information, contact Andrew Von Ah at vonaha@gao.gov or Jennifer Franks at franksj@gao.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107668
Disaster Loan Program: SBA Should Ensure Consistent Outreach to Survivors
WASHINGTON, May 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Disaster Loan Program: SBA Should Ensure Consistent Outreach to Survivors
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Fast Facts
The Small Business Administration's Disaster Loan Program provides low-interest loans to help businesses and homeowners recover after a natural disaster.
SBA increased loan limits in 2023. In 2024, FEMA started allowing certain disaster survivors to apply for some types of FEMA assistance without applying for an SBA loan.
SBA's disaster offices issue press releases and fact sheets after disasters
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Disaster Loan Program: SBA Should Ensure Consistent Outreach to Survivors
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Fast Facts
The Small Business Administration's Disaster Loan Program provides low-interest loans to help businesses and homeowners recover after a natural disaster.
SBA increased loan limits in 2023. In 2024, FEMA started allowing certain disaster survivors to apply for some types of FEMA assistance without applying for an SBA loan.
SBA's disaster offices issue press releases and fact sheets after disastersand include information about the loans. But each office shares its own version of these materials and some left out key details about the changes-leaving some survivors without clear or complete information.
We recommend that SBA address this.
Homes destroyed by a tornado.
Highlights
What GAO Found
The Small Business Administration's (SBA) Disaster Loan Program provides low-interest loans to businesses, nonprofits, homeowners, and renters to help repair, rebuild, and recover from physical and economic losses after a declared disaster.
In 2023 and 2024, SBA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) separately adopted rules affecting the program. SBA's rule expanded options for loan recipients and adjusted program limits to reflect inflation. For example, it increased the maximum loan amount for repairing or replacing a primary residence from $200,000 to $500,000 and extended the loan deferment period from 5 to 12 months. FEMA's rule removed the requirement that certain disaster survivors apply for an SBA loan-and either be denied or receive only partial funding-before qualifying for some types of FEMA assistance.
According to SBA's guidance, its field operations centers are responsible for outreach materials for declared disasters that affect localized areas. SBA relies on press releases and fact sheets to inform disaster survivors and the media about the Disaster Loan Program. However, field operations centers did not consistently update SBA's disaster-specific press releases or fact sheets to reflect key components of SBA's 2023 and FEMA's 2024 rules. GAO's analysis of outreach materials for 76 presidentially declared disasters in 2023 and 2024 found that while materials from the two field operations centers were generally similar, they were not consistent in the information they included. For example, both centers included updated loan limits in all post-disaster fact sheets. However, the East Field Operations Center incorporated updated SBA language explaining that survivors could apply for certain FEMA assistance without first applying to SBA in 96 percent of its press releases, compared with 5 percent for the West Field Operations Center.
By implementing controls to ensure field operations centers consistently include standardized information in their disaster outreach materials, SBA would have greater assurance that survivors across regions receive key information needed to access resources and manage their recovery.
GAO also found that SBA's 2023 rule addresses some challenges faced by rural and underserved areas in using the Disaster Loan Program. For example, the higher home lending limit could help homeowners and renters in rural areas manage construction costs when demand is high and supplies are limited.
Why GAO Did This Study
Recent natural disasters highlight the need for federal agencies to deliver assistance efficiently and effectively. In fiscal year 2024, the most recent year for which data were available, SBA's Disaster Loan Program supported about $1.7 billion in disaster lending at an estimated cost of $341.4 million. That year, SBA approved more than 27,000 direct disaster loans to help borrowers recover from events such as floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. In 2023 and 2024, SBA and FEMA, respectively, adopted rules that made changes affecting the program.
GAO was asked to examine the effects of these rules on the Disaster Loan Program, including changes in SBA's implementation of the program. This report addresses SBA's implementation of these rules, including how the agency communicated changes to survivors.
GAO reviewed SBA and FEMA rules and analyzed SBA press releases, fact sheets, staffing reports, and recovery center data for disasters declared in 2023 and 2024 to assess how SBA communicated rule changes and allocated resources. GAO also interviewed officials from SBA, FEMA, and local government in five states, selected based on geographic location, loans approved, and funds disbursed, to understand survivor experiences and how the new rules affected rural and underserved communities.
Recommendations
GAO recommends that SBA establish controls to help ensure that agency outreach materials across regions consistently include key information for those affected by disasters to access needed resources and manage their recovery. SBA neither agreed nor disagreed with our recommendation. GAO maintains that the recommendation should be implemented.
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Small Business Administration The SBA Administrator should establish controls to help ensure that agency outreach materials across regions consistently include key information for those affected by disasters to access needed resources and manage their recovery. (Recommendation 1)
Open Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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Original text here: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108688
Border Security: Additional Information Could Inform Enforcement Decisions for Noncitizens Paroled at the Southwest Border
WASHINGTON, May 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Border Security: Additional Information Could Inform Enforcement Decisions for Noncitizens Paroled at the Southwest Border
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Fast Facts
Customs and Border Protection can grant parole to noncitizens, giving them temporary permission to stay in the United States. CBP granted roughly 2.4 million paroles at the southwest border from late 2018 through May 2025.
Once parole is granted, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is supposed to monitor them to make sure they follow release requirements,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
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Border Security: Additional Information Could Inform Enforcement Decisions for Noncitizens Paroled at the Southwest Border
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Fast Facts
Customs and Border Protection can grant parole to noncitizens, giving them temporary permission to stay in the United States. CBP granted roughly 2.4 million paroles at the southwest border from late 2018 through May 2025.
Once parole is granted, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is supposed to monitor them to make sure they follow release requirements,like attending immigration court proceedings.
But ICE doesn't readily have information to identify people who were paroled at the southwest border and doesn't monitor them as required.
Our recommendation addresses this issue.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Port of Entry in San Diego, California
A concrete building wall that says San Ysidro Land Port of Entry, West Pedestrian Facility
Highlights
What GAO Found
From October 2018 through May 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) granted about 2.4 million paroles-temporary permission for a noncitizen to stay in the U.S.-out of its nearly 10.4 million encounters at the southwest border (see figure). Over half were to Mexicans, Cubans, and Venezuelans.
CBP Paroles and Encounters at the Southwest Border, October 2018-May 2025
CBP implemented policies in 2021 expanding the use of humanitarian parole to help manage increasing encounters at the southwest border. In July 2021, CBP's U.S. Border Patrol authorized agents to parole apprehended noncitizens on a case-by-case basis under certain conditions, such as limited immigration detention space. Further, in May 2023, CBP expanded access for noncitizens to use the CBP One mobile application to schedule appointments for CBP Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers to inspect them. Almost all (97 percent) appointments in fiscal years 2023 and 2024 resulted in paroles. Noncitizens paroled under the policies were generally placed in removal proceedings. Since January 2025, Border Patrol and OFO implemented guidance and policies restricting the use of parole and the number of paroles decreased substantially.
Once noncitizens are paroled at the southwest border, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for monitoring them to ensure they adhere to the conditions of their release. For example, ICE may require assurances that they attend their removal proceedings. In January 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE issued guidance that emphasized the importance of ICE reviewing these cases to determine whether further enforcement action is appropriate. However, ICE does not have the information it needs to readily identify noncitizens CBP paroled at the southwest border and does not monitor them as required. By obtaining this information from CBP, ICE would be better positioned to monitor these noncitizens, review their cases, and take enforcement action, in accordance with DHS and ICE guidance.
Why GAO Did This Study
Within DHS, CBP is responsible for securing U.S. borders while facilitating legitimate travel and trade. CBP encounters noncitizens at the southwest border at and between ports of entry. CBP has discretion to grant parole-temporary permission to stay in the U.S.-to noncitizens it encounters for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. CBP's OFO and Border Patrol are responsible for securing the border at and between ports of entry. ICE, also within DHS, is responsible for monitoring paroled noncitizens to ensure they adhere to the conditions of their release.
GAO was asked to review CBP's use of humanitarian parole at the southwest border and ICE's enforcement efforts for paroled noncitizens. This report examines (1) what CBP data show about the number and characteristics of humanitarian paroles at the southwest border since fiscal year 2019; (2) how CBP has used humanitarian parole in processing noncitizens encountered at the southwest border; and (3) ICE's monitoring and enforcement efforts related to those noncitizens. GAO analyzed CBP and ICE documents, and CBP data on paroles granted at the southwest border from October 2018 through May 2025. GAO also interviewed officials from (1) CBP and ICE headquarters, (2) selected CBP field locations that collectively granted more than half of paroles over the time period, and (3) selected ICE field offices responsible for monitoring noncitizens.
Recommendations
GAO is recommending ICE obtain information from CBP on the parole status of noncitizens CBP paroled at the southwest border and make that information accessible to relevant ICE officials, to inform ICE's monitoring and enforcement decisions. DHS concurred with the recommendation.
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement The Director of ICE should obtain information from CBP on the parole status of noncitizens CBP paroled at the southwest border and make that information accessible to relevant ICE officials to inform ICE's monitoring and enforcement decisions. (Recommendation 1)
Open Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
***
Original text here: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107765
Border Security: Additional Information Could Inform Enforcement Decisions for Noncitizens Paroled at the Southwest Border
WASHINGTON, May 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
* * *
Border Security: Additional Information Could Inform Enforcement Decisions for Noncitizens Paroled at the Southwest Border
*
Fast Facts
Customs and Border Protection can grant parole to noncitizens, giving them temporary permission to stay in the United States. CBP granted roughly 2.4 million paroles at the southwest border from late 2018 through May 2025.
Once parole is granted, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is supposed to monitor them to make sure they follow release requirements,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
* * *
Border Security: Additional Information Could Inform Enforcement Decisions for Noncitizens Paroled at the Southwest Border
*
Fast Facts
Customs and Border Protection can grant parole to noncitizens, giving them temporary permission to stay in the United States. CBP granted roughly 2.4 million paroles at the southwest border from late 2018 through May 2025.
Once parole is granted, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is supposed to monitor them to make sure they follow release requirements,like attending immigration court proceedings.
But ICE doesn't readily have information to identify people who were paroled at the southwest border and doesn't monitor them as required.
Our recommendation addresses this issue.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Port of Entry in San Diego, California
A concrete building wall that says San Ysidro Land Port of Entry, West Pedestrian Facility
Highlights
What GAO Found
From October 2018 through May 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) granted about 2.4 million paroles-temporary permission for a noncitizen to stay in the U.S.-out of its nearly 10.4 million encounters at the southwest border (see figure). Over half were to Mexicans, Cubans, and Venezuelans.
CBP Paroles and Encounters at the Southwest Border, October 2018-May 2025
CBP implemented policies in 2021 expanding the use of humanitarian parole to help manage increasing encounters at the southwest border. In July 2021, CBP's U.S. Border Patrol authorized agents to parole apprehended noncitizens on a case-by-case basis under certain conditions, such as limited immigration detention space. Further, in May 2023, CBP expanded access for noncitizens to use the CBP One mobile application to schedule appointments for CBP Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers to inspect them. Almost all (97 percent) appointments in fiscal years 2023 and 2024 resulted in paroles. Noncitizens paroled under the policies were generally placed in removal proceedings. Since January 2025, Border Patrol and OFO implemented guidance and policies restricting the use of parole and the number of paroles decreased substantially.
Once noncitizens are paroled at the southwest border, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for monitoring them to ensure they adhere to the conditions of their release. For example, ICE may require assurances that they attend their removal proceedings. In January 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE issued guidance that emphasized the importance of ICE reviewing these cases to determine whether further enforcement action is appropriate. However, ICE does not have the information it needs to readily identify noncitizens CBP paroled at the southwest border and does not monitor them as required. By obtaining this information from CBP, ICE would be better positioned to monitor these noncitizens, review their cases, and take enforcement action, in accordance with DHS and ICE guidance.
Why GAO Did This Study
Within DHS, CBP is responsible for securing U.S. borders while facilitating legitimate travel and trade. CBP encounters noncitizens at the southwest border at and between ports of entry. CBP has discretion to grant parole-temporary permission to stay in the U.S.-to noncitizens it encounters for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. CBP's OFO and Border Patrol are responsible for securing the border at and between ports of entry. ICE, also within DHS, is responsible for monitoring paroled noncitizens to ensure they adhere to the conditions of their release.
GAO was asked to review CBP's use of humanitarian parole at the southwest border and ICE's enforcement efforts for paroled noncitizens. This report examines (1) what CBP data show about the number and characteristics of humanitarian paroles at the southwest border since fiscal year 2019; (2) how CBP has used humanitarian parole in processing noncitizens encountered at the southwest border; and (3) ICE's monitoring and enforcement efforts related to those noncitizens. GAO analyzed CBP and ICE documents, and CBP data on paroles granted at the southwest border from October 2018 through May 2025. GAO also interviewed officials from (1) CBP and ICE headquarters, (2) selected CBP field locations that collectively granted more than half of paroles over the time period, and (3) selected ICE field offices responsible for monitoring noncitizens.
Recommendations
GAO is recommending ICE obtain information from CBP on the parole status of noncitizens CBP paroled at the southwest border and make that information accessible to relevant ICE officials, to inform ICE's monitoring and enforcement decisions. DHS concurred with the recommendation.
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement The Director of ICE should obtain information from CBP on the parole status of noncitizens CBP paroled at the southwest border and make that information accessible to relevant ICE officials to inform ICE's monitoring and enforcement decisions. (Recommendation 1)
Open Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
***
Original text here: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107765
Border Security: Additional Information Could Inform Enforcement Decisions for Noncitizens Paroled at the Southwest Border
WASHINGTON, May 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
* * *
Border Security: Additional Information Could Inform Enforcement Decisions for Noncitizens Paroled at the Southwest Border
*
Fast Facts
Customs and Border Protection can grant parole to noncitizens, giving them temporary permission to stay in the United States. CBP granted roughly 2.4 million paroles at the southwest border from late 2018 through May 2025.
Once parole is granted, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is supposed to monitor them to make sure they follow release requirements,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:
* * *
Border Security: Additional Information Could Inform Enforcement Decisions for Noncitizens Paroled at the Southwest Border
*
Fast Facts
Customs and Border Protection can grant parole to noncitizens, giving them temporary permission to stay in the United States. CBP granted roughly 2.4 million paroles at the southwest border from late 2018 through May 2025.
Once parole is granted, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is supposed to monitor them to make sure they follow release requirements,like attending immigration court proceedings.
But ICE doesn't readily have information to identify people who were paroled at the southwest border and doesn't monitor them as required.
Our recommendation addresses this issue.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Port of Entry in San Diego, California
A concrete building wall that says San Ysidro Land Port of Entry, West Pedestrian Facility
Highlights
What GAO Found
From October 2018 through May 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) granted about 2.4 million paroles-temporary permission for a noncitizen to stay in the U.S.-out of its nearly 10.4 million encounters at the southwest border (see figure). Over half were to Mexicans, Cubans, and Venezuelans.
CBP Paroles and Encounters at the Southwest Border, October 2018-May 2025
CBP implemented policies in 2021 expanding the use of humanitarian parole to help manage increasing encounters at the southwest border. In July 2021, CBP's U.S. Border Patrol authorized agents to parole apprehended noncitizens on a case-by-case basis under certain conditions, such as limited immigration detention space. Further, in May 2023, CBP expanded access for noncitizens to use the CBP One mobile application to schedule appointments for CBP Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers to inspect them. Almost all (97 percent) appointments in fiscal years 2023 and 2024 resulted in paroles. Noncitizens paroled under the policies were generally placed in removal proceedings. Since January 2025, Border Patrol and OFO implemented guidance and policies restricting the use of parole and the number of paroles decreased substantially.
Once noncitizens are paroled at the southwest border, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for monitoring them to ensure they adhere to the conditions of their release. For example, ICE may require assurances that they attend their removal proceedings. In January 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE issued guidance that emphasized the importance of ICE reviewing these cases to determine whether further enforcement action is appropriate. However, ICE does not have the information it needs to readily identify noncitizens CBP paroled at the southwest border and does not monitor them as required. By obtaining this information from CBP, ICE would be better positioned to monitor these noncitizens, review their cases, and take enforcement action, in accordance with DHS and ICE guidance.
Why GAO Did This Study
Within DHS, CBP is responsible for securing U.S. borders while facilitating legitimate travel and trade. CBP encounters noncitizens at the southwest border at and between ports of entry. CBP has discretion to grant parole-temporary permission to stay in the U.S.-to noncitizens it encounters for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. CBP's OFO and Border Patrol are responsible for securing the border at and between ports of entry. ICE, also within DHS, is responsible for monitoring paroled noncitizens to ensure they adhere to the conditions of their release.
GAO was asked to review CBP's use of humanitarian parole at the southwest border and ICE's enforcement efforts for paroled noncitizens. This report examines (1) what CBP data show about the number and characteristics of humanitarian paroles at the southwest border since fiscal year 2019; (2) how CBP has used humanitarian parole in processing noncitizens encountered at the southwest border; and (3) ICE's monitoring and enforcement efforts related to those noncitizens. GAO analyzed CBP and ICE documents, and CBP data on paroles granted at the southwest border from October 2018 through May 2025. GAO also interviewed officials from (1) CBP and ICE headquarters, (2) selected CBP field locations that collectively granted more than half of paroles over the time period, and (3) selected ICE field offices responsible for monitoring noncitizens.
Recommendations
GAO is recommending ICE obtain information from CBP on the parole status of noncitizens CBP paroled at the southwest border and make that information accessible to relevant ICE officials, to inform ICE's monitoring and enforcement decisions. DHS concurred with the recommendation.
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement The Director of ICE should obtain information from CBP on the parole status of noncitizens CBP paroled at the southwest border and make that information accessible to relevant ICE officials to inform ICE's monitoring and enforcement decisions. (Recommendation 1)
Open Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
***
Original text here: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107765
