Page 1 GAO-25-108167 Recommendations for Congress
Matters for congressional consideration are recommendations that we make to
Congress to address findings from our work. Congressional action in response to
the matters has been critical to addressing significant challenges facing the
nation. Among these are the challenges on our High-Risk List and in our
duplication and cost savings body of work.
Action to address open matters can produce tens of billions of dollars in future
financial savings or improve the effectiveness of federal agencies and programs
and help position the nation to address future challenges. Congress can address
these matters by passing legislation; Congress can also hold hearings, and use
its budget, appropriations, and oversight processes to highlight these matters.
This report provides information about open matters for congressional
consideration, along with a consolidated listing of these matters by topic area in
enclosure 1. The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for 2023
includes a provision for us to report this information annually to congressional
leadership and the oversight committees of the House and Senate. (Pub. L. No.
117-263, § 7211, 136 Stat. 2395, 3668 (2022)).
GAO is committed to serving Congress and addressing the nation’s challenges.
We remain available to provide assistance and information on the matters we
have raised for congressional consideration.
• Since 2000, we have recommended that Congress consider over 1,100
matters. Of these, nearly 80 percent have closed.
• As of March 2025, 272 matters remained open.
• If acted upon, these open matters could achieve tens of billions of dollars in
financial benefits, including one matter that could achieve almost $157 billion
over 10 years. Other benefits could be achieved in a wide array of areas,
including energy, defense, and health.
Since our June 2024 open matters report, Congress took action to fully address 8
of our matters.
1
For example, in May 2024 we recommended that Congress
consider requiring the Navy to report on the degree of vendor-furnished
information completeness supporting the overall maturity and stability of a ship's
design before beginning construction (GAO-24-105503). Enacted in December
2024, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 required the Navy to report on this
information, enhancing information available on design maturity for Navy
shipbuilding programs.
2
U.S. Government Accountability Office
ngress: Action Can
Tens of Billions of Dollars in Future
Financial and Other Benefits
-25-108167
Q&A Report to Congressional Addressees
What action has
Congress taken on our
recommendations?
