Skip to main content

Homeland Security

Jump To:

Recent Reports

View More Reports

Open Recommendations

Domestic Terrorism: Additional Actions Needed to Implement an Effective National Strategy
GAO-25-107030
Apr 09, 2025
Show
3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Security Council The Chairperson of the NSC or their designee should work with relevant federal entities to ensure any strategy, in effect, and related documents guiding the nation's efforts to counter domestic terrorism reflect desirable characteristics of an effective national strategy, including

  • conducting a risk assessment that includes an analysis of the threats to, and vulnerabilities of, critical assets and operations;
  • clarifying which entities are responsible for implementing each activity and ensuring accountability and oversight of federal efforts;
  • consistently developing milestones and performance measures for activities related to the 2021 Strategy or any national strategy, in effect, to combat domestic terrorism;
  • addressing how the 2021 Strategy or any national strategy, in effect, to combat domestic terrorism, relates to other strategies' goals, objectives, and activities; and
  • identifying the resources and investments needed to implement the 2021 Strategy or any national strategy, in effect, to combat domestic terrorism, and providing guidance on risk management activities. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Homeland Security The Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, should help further clarify its roles and efforts to counter domestic terrorism and communicate those roles to nonfederal partners to ensure their contributions effectively assist federal efforts, including those related to any national strategy, in effect, to combat domestic terrorism, as appropriate. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Justice The Attorney General, in coordination with the Director of the FBI and the Secretary of Homeland Security, should help further clarify its roles and efforts to counter domestic terrorism and communicate those roles to nonfederal partners to ensure their contributions effectively assist federal efforts, including those related to any national strategy, in effect, to combat domestic terrorism. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Border Security: Additional Actions Needed to Evaluate the Missing Migrant Program
GAO-25-107548
Apr 07, 2025
Show
2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
United States Customs and Border Protection The Commissioner of CBP should ensure that Border Patrol develops an evaluation design to assess the Missing Migrant Program. Such a design should include evaluation questions and methods for collecting and analyzing information to address those questions. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
United States Customs and Border Protection The Commissioner of CBP should ensure that Border Patrol, following the development of an evaluation design, collects information on Missing Migrant Program activities that is clearly linked to its scope and purpose. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Combatting Illicit Drugs: Improvements Needed for Coordinating Federal Investigations
GAO-25-107839
Apr 04, 2025
Show
3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Drug Enforcement Administration The DEA Administrator should (1) establish timeliness goals for the cross-designation processes in consultation with the Director of ICE, and (2) collect and analyze data on the time involved in the processes to assess its performance against the goals. (Recommendation 1)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when DEA provides its 180-day letter (expected in fall 2025).
Drug Enforcement Administration The DEA Administrator should work with the Director of ICE to develop and implement the two training modules in accordance with their January 2021 agreement, using agreed-upon dispute resolution mechanisms as appropriate. (Recommendation 2)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when DEA provides its 180-day letter (expected in fall 2025).
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement The Director of ICE should work with the DEA Administrator to develop and implement the two training modules in accordance with their January 2021 agreement, using agreed-upon dispute resolution mechanisms as appropriate. (Recommendation 3)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when DHS provides its 180-day letter (expected in fall 2025).

DHS Annual Assessment: Improved Guidance on Revised Acquisition Goals Would Enhance Transparency
GAO-25-107317
Feb 25, 2025
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Homeland Security The Secretary of DHS should ensure that the Director of PARM updates its acquisition guidance to specify that Acquisition Program Baselines for DHS's major acquisition programs clearly document the context behind key program changes, such as revisions to cost and schedule parameters and the reasons for such revisions (e.g., breaches, COVID-19-related updates, administrative updates, or requirements changes).
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
View More Recommendations

Related Pages

GAO Contacts

View More Contacts