Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Labor

What GAO Found

In May 2024, GAO identified 13 priority recommendations for the Department of Labor (DOL). Since then, DOL implemented five recommendations by (1) publishing a final rule to improve oversight of coal miner operator insurance under the Black Lung Benefits Program, addressing two recommendations, (2) collaborating with USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service to improve the safety and health of meat and poultry workers and issuing new inspection guidance focused on multiple hazards, addressing two recommendations, and (3) using survey data to better approximate the veteran population protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974.

In May 2025, GAO identified four additional priority recommendations for DOL, bringing the total number to 12. These priority recommendations involve the following areas:

• enhancing unemployment insurance,
• strengthening worker safety and health protections, and
• protecting sensitive information.

DOL's attention to these issues could lead to significant improvements in government operations.

Why GAO Did This Study

Priority open recommendations are the GAO recommendations that warrant priority attention from heads of key departments or agencies because their implementation could save large amounts of money; improve congressional and/or executive branch decision-making on major issues; eliminate mismanagement, fraud, and abuse; or ensure that programs comply with laws and funds are legally spent, among other benefits. Since 2015 GAO has sent letters to selected agencies to highlight the importance of implementing such recommendations.

For more information, contact Cindy Brown Barnes at brownbarnesc@gao.gov.