The 30 Biggest Risks Facing the Federal Government in 2013

This month, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) updated its biannual High Risk List. The list includes 30 topics the GAO says are of greatest risk to the federal government in 2013. Many of the areas added to the list in 2011 have seen significant improvement, so much so that two items were removed from the list this year:

Management of Interagency Contracting. Improvements include (1) continued progress made by agencies in addressing identified deficiencies, (2) establishment of additional management controls, (3) creation of a policy framework for establishing new interagency contracts, and (4) steps taken to address the need for better data on these contracts.

Internal Revenue Service Business Systems Modernization. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) made progress in addressing significant weaknesses in information technology and financial management capabilities. IRS delivered the initial phase of its cornerstone tax processing project and began the daily processing and posting of individual taxpayer accounts in January 2012. This enhanced tax administration and improved service by enabling faster refunds for more taxpayers, allowing more timely account updates, and faster issuance of taxpayer notices. In addition, IRS has put in place close to 80 percent of the practices needed for an effective investment management process

In their place, two topics have been added to the High Risk List: limiting the fiscal impacts of climate change and mitigating gaps in weather satellite data.

( Related: GAO’s High-Risk List Tackles Climate Change )

GAO Comptroller General Gene Dodaro introduced the 2013 list in the video below:

See the full list:

Strengthening the Foundation for Efficiency and Effectiveness

• Limiting the Federal Government's Fiscal Exposure by Better Managing Climate Change Risks , Natural Resources and Environment
• Management of Federal Oil and Gas Resources , Natural Resources and Environment
• Modernizing the U.S. Financial Regulatory System and Federal Role in Housing Finance , Business Regulation and Consumer Protection
• Restructuring the U.S. Postal Service to Achieve Sustainable Financial Viability , Government Operations
• Funding the Nation's Surface Transportation System , Transportation
• Strategic Human Capital Management , Government Operations
• Managing Federal Real Property , Government Operations

Transforming DOD Program Management

• DOD Approach to Business Transformation , National Defense
• DOD Business Systems Modernization , Information Technology
• DOD Support Infrastructure Management , National Defense
• DOD Financial Management , Auditing and Financial Management
• DOD Supply Chain Management , National Defense
• DOD Weapon Systems Acquisition , National Defense

Ensuring Public Safety and Security

• Mitigating Gaps in Weather Satellite Data , Science and Technology
• Strengthening Department of Homeland Security Management Functions , Homeland Security
• Establishing Effective Mechanisms for Sharing and Managing Terrorism-Related Information to Protect the Homeland , Homeland Security
• Protecting the Federal Government's Information Systems and the Nation's Cyber Critical Infrastructures , Information Security
• Ensuring the Effective Protection of Technologies Critical to U.S. National Security Interests , National Defense
• Revamping Federal Oversight of Food Safety , Agriculture and Food
• Protecting Public Health through Enhanced Oversight of Medical Products , Health Care
• Transforming EPA's Process for Assessing and Controlling Toxic Chemicals , Natural Resources and Environment

Managing Federal Contracting More Effectively

• DOD Contract Management , National Defense
• DOE's Contract Management for the National Nuclear Security Administration and Office of Environmental Management , Government Operations
• NASA Acquisition Management , Government Operations

Assessing the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Tax Law Administration

• Enforcement of Tax Laws , Tax Policy and Administration

Modernizing and Safeguarding Insurance and Benefit Programs

• Improving and Modernizing Federal Disability Programs , Government Operations
• Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Insurance Programs , Retirement Security
• Medicare Program , Health Care
• Medicaid Program , Health Care
• National Flood Insurance Program , Business Regulation and Consumer Protection

Read GAO’s entire High-Risk List here .