GAO makes FEMA grant assessment recommendations

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued recommendations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding the manner in which the agency assesses its grant programming.

In 2012 the GAO identified coordination challenges among Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant programs sharing similar goals and the funding of similar projects, which contribute to the risk of duplication among the programs.

GAO officials said the agency previously recommended FEMA complete a national preparedness assessment of capability gaps at each level, based on tiered, capability-specific performance objectives to enable prioritization of grant funding. The GAO also acknowledged FEMA has taken some steps to address GAO’s prior recommendation.

In February 2018, FEMA reported developing capability-specific performance objectives enabling a national preparedness assessment of capability gaps, but the agency plans to finalize those efforts in 2020.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said FEMA has awarded over $49 billion to a variety of DHS preparedness grant programs from fiscal years 2002 through 2017 to enhance the capabilities of grant recipients.

GAO officials said the agency has made prior recommendations designed to address FEMA’s challenges, noting while FEMA has taken actions to address some but not all of the recommendations.

Officials said DHS, through FEMA, provides preparedness grants to state, local, tribal and territorial governments, with the goal of improving the nation’s readiness in preventing, protecting against, responding to, recovering from and mitigating terrorist attacks and other emergencies.