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Open Recommendations (38 total)

Wildfires: Additional Actions Needed to Address FEMA Assistance Challenges

GAO-25-106862
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should assess ways to provide assistance for immediate post-wildfire mitigation and take steps to provide such assistance. If FEMA determines it needs additional authorities, it should develop a legislative proposal for implementing the proposed change(s). (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Wildfires: Additional Actions Needed to Address FEMA Assistance Challenges

GAO-25-106862
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4 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should clarify eligible pre-positioning costs, including use of in-state resources, in the FMAG Program and Policy Guide. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should establish a formal process to regularly collect and assess nationwide feedback from state, local, and tribal FMAG recipients and incorporate such feedback into program policy, as appropriate. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should amend the FMAG regulations to provide tribal governments the option to request FMAG declarations directly from FEMA. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should document its position on approving FMAG declarations for fires burning on federal land but threatening nearby communities in the FMAG Program and Policy Guide. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Federal Workforce: Actions Needed to Improve Recruitment and Retention in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. Territories

GAO-25-106527
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency should evaluate the agency's current recruitment strategies and efforts to identify opportunities to broaden the pool of qualified local candidates in USVI. (Recommendation 7)
Open
In its comments on our draft report, the Department of Homeland Security, on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), did not concur with this recommendation, citing details of recent efforts in Puerto Rico. Given this updated information, we were able to adjust the report to reflect examples of the agency's actions and modified the recommendation to focus on USVI. As discussed in the report, officials in USVI cite difficulties finding local staff with the required technical background or experience. Examining recruitment strategies could help strengthen recruitment, hiring, and retention for positions in USVI. Therefore, we maintain that FEMA should evaluate the agency's current recruitment strategies and efforts in USVI.

Federal Workforce: Actions Needed to Improve Recruitment and Retention in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. Territories

GAO-25-106527
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency should ensure that employees in offices that are outside of the Eastern time zone are able to access live training at a reasonable time, that includes the opportunity to interact with the instructor(s) and peers. (Recommendation 10)
Open
The Department of Homeland Security, on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), concurred with this recommendation. FEMA described actions they are taking in this area. We will update the status of this recommendation when we receive additional information from the agency.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency should evaluate the agency's efforts to obtain and use feedback on hiring, recruitment, and retention practices, including human capital flexibilities, from staff in the noncontiguous U.S. to identify and address opportunities for improvement. (Recommendation 3)
Open
The Department of Homeland Security, on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), did not concur with this recommendation. FEMA explained the current efforts that it takes to obtain and use feedback and stated that these are sufficient, based on the percent of filled positions in the non-contiguous U.S. However, as discussed in the report, multiple officials in the noncontiguous U.S. described the challenges they experience due to their headquarters office not fully understanding their needs. Agency officials in the noncontiguous U.S. stressed they could use more guidance, procedures, or training on the resources available to them. Therefore, we maintain that evaluating its efforts to obtain and use feedback on hiring, recruitment, and retention practices, could help FEMA ensure it is addressing the concerns of those responsible for hiring personnel.

Disaster Relief Fund: Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Could Improve FEMA's Estimates

GAO-24-106676
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should identify and document lessons learned related to estimating obligations for declared catastrophic disasters based on its experience with COVID-19. (Recommendation 1)
Open
FEMA did not concur with our recommendation; however, we maintain that it is warranted. In January 2025, FEMA told us it believes the analyses it has already conducted, including an analysis of COVID-19 expenditure drawdowns, are sufficient to meet the intent of the recommendation. We have requested documentation of this analysis and of any associated lessons learned related to cost estimation. We will continue to monitor FEMA's efforts and provide further information when we confirm any actions taken to address the recommendation.

Justice40: Additional Efforts Needed to Improve Tribal Applicants' Access to Federal Programs Under Environmental Justice Initiative

GAO-24-106511
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Administrator of FEMA should ensure that program offices consult with federally recognized Tribes and conduct outreach to eligible Indigenous communities to ensure meaningful involvement when determining benefits for Justice40 covered programs in accordance with EOP guidance and determine how to incorporate the input into future Justice40 implementation efforts. (Recommendation 8)
Open
In written comments reproduced in our report, FEMA stated that it anticipates taking steps in the coming months to implement our recommendations on improving tribal applicants' access to Justice40 covered programs. We will update the status of this recommendation when we receive additional information from the agency.
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