GAO issues nuclear security program recommendations

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) five recommendations as a means of addressing nuclear security program concerns.

The IAEA executes its nuclear security program under its Division of Nuclear Security through four subprograms, noting IAEA activities under the subprograms include developing guidance, providing training and assisting countries in enhancing nuclear and radiological material security.

The GAO said the Secretary of State should work with IAEA and its member states through the Board of Governors to develop detailed guidelines for prioritizing nuclear security activities, work with IAEA and its member states through the Board of Governors to improve the nuclear security program’s performance measures by developing baselines and measurable targets, and work with IAEA and its member states through the Board of Governors to improve how the Division of Nuclear Security (DNS) reports to member states by consistently including the results of performance measures in at least one of the reports.

It also suggested that the Secretary of State should work with IAEA and its member states through the Board of Governors to analyze options to stabilize DNS’s funding within current fiscal and political constraints to enhance the sustainability of IAEA’s nuclear security program, and work with IAEA and its member states through the Board of Governors to strengthen the agency’s central coordinating role by following key practices for collaboration.

The Department of State agreed with each of the recommendations.