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Open Recommendations (98 total)

Maritime Cargo Security: Additional Efforts Needed to Assess the Effectiveness of DHS's Approach

GAO-25-106953
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Coast Guard The Commandant of the Coast Guard, in coordination with Transportation Systems Sector partners, should use the performance information collected to assess progress toward strategic and performance goals and the overall effectiveness of the layered approach to securing vessels and maritime cargo on an ongoing basis. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Maritime Cargo Security: Additional Efforts Needed to Assess the Effectiveness of DHS's Approach

GAO-25-106953
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Coast Guard The Commandant of the Coast Guard, in coordination with Transportation Systems Sector partners, should develop objective, measurable, and quantifiable performance goals and associated performance measures. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Coast Guard Acquisitions: Further Cost and Affordability Analysis of Polar Fleet Needed

GAO-25-106822
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Coast Guard The Commandant of the Coast Guard should complete an analysis of the cost and sequencing for the polar icebreaker fleet expansion, including how these efforts are affordable within its larger acquisition portfolio. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
United States Coast Guard The Commandant of the Coast Guard should ensure the Coast Guard develops a detailed cost estimate before purchasing a commercially available polar icebreaker that incorporates the costs of modifications to reach full operational capability. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Coast Guard: Additional Actions Needed to Guide Training and Assessment Efforts

GAO-25-107025
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Coast Guard The Commandant of the Coast Guard should ensure that the Commander of FORCECOM assesses whether FORCECOM's Level 3 evaluation guidelines are reasonable for training centers and considers whether new guidelines could provide more useful data. (Recommendation 2)
Open
DHS concurred and described its plans to address this recommendation. For example, FORCECOM plans to revise its standard operating procedures for conducting training evaluations, including Level 3 evaluations, to ensure that its guidelines address leading practices. FORCECOM also plans to draft a training policy to provide greater accountability over course evaluations. DHS stated that FORCECOM plans to complete these efforts by January 2026. We will monitor DHS's efforts to address this recommendation and provide updates as needed.
United States Coast Guard The Commandant of the Coast Guard should ensure that the Commander of FORCECOM develops a written project plan for developing and implementing the assessment program's dashboard, including key items such as project goals, work activities, timeline for completion, and interim milestones. (Recommendation 3)
Open
DHS concurred and described its plans to address this recommendation. For example, FORCECOM plans to develop a business plan for its assessment program dashboard that will include key elements such as project goals, work activities, timeline for completion, and interim milestones by April 2025. We will monitor DHS's efforts to address this recommendation and provide updates as needed.
United States Coast Guard The Commandant of the Coast Guard should ensure that the Commander of FORCECOM documents and implements an approach for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of training center data on triennial course review requirements. (Recommendation 1)
Open
DHS concurred and described its plans to address this recommendation. For example, FORCECOM plans to integrate all of the Coast Guard's training centers into its Continuous Improvement Cycle dashboard--a tool for tracking key training data--by October 2026. FORCECOM also plans to draft a training policy to document its approach to ensuring accountability for maintaining accurate and complete training data by January 2026. We will monitor DHS's efforts to address this recommendation and provide updates as needed.

Coast Guard: Complete Performance and Operational Data Would Better Clarify Arctic Resource Needs

GAO-24-106491
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Coast Guard The Commandant of the Coast Guard should ensure that the Coast Guard's Arctic implementation plan includes performance measures with associated targets and time frames for the action items described in the plan in accordance with Coast Guard guidance. (Recommendation 2)
Open
The Department of Homeland Security concurred with this recommendation. It stated that the Coast Guard's Polar Coordination Office (CG-PCO) will coordinate actions to address this recommendation by incorporating milestones into the program and project execution plans associated with action items described in ASIP as they are developed. It further stated that the CG-PCO will capture the advancement of Arctic strategic objectives, which will be tracked and shared with Coast Guard leadership, as appropriate. The stated estimated completion date is November 30, 2024.

Coast Guard: Complete Performance and Operational Data Would Better Clarify Arctic Resource Needs

GAO-24-106491
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Coast Guard The Commandant of the Coast Guard should ensure that District 17 collects and reports complete information about resource use and mission performance in accordance with Coast Guard guidance. (Recommendation 1)
Open
The Department of Homeland Security concurred with this recommendation. It stated that Coast Guard District 17 has integrated the practice of reviewing the status of its Operational Assessment Reports and associated deadlines into bi-weekly leadership meetings to ensure cross-department visibility and collaboration. In addition, guidance contained in the Operation Planning Direction will be condensed and distributed to subordinate operational units on a quarterly basis. These actions will better enable the collection and reporting of complete information about resource use and mission performance in accordance with Coast Guard guidance. The stated estimated completion date is December 31, 2024.

Coast Guard: Aircraft Fleet and Aviation Workforce Assessments Needed

GAO-24-106374
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Coast Guard The Commandant of the Coast Guard should assess and determine the aviation workforce levels it requires to meet its mission needs. (Recommendation 5)
Open
DHS concurred with this recommendation. In response to our report, DHS noted that Coast Guard will begin the process to determine the aviation workforce needed for all air stations in May 2024. We will continue monitoring Coast Guard's efforts to address this recommendation.
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