High-Risk Series
Since 1990, GAO has identified and reported on government programs and operations at “high risk.” GAO’s High-Risk Series has brought much-needed focus to major program challenges that are impeding effective government and costing billions of dollars each year. GAO has made hundreds of recommendations to executive branch agencies and the Congress aimed at improving these programs.
Addressing these high-risk areas will
- dramatically improve service to the American public,
- continue to yield significant financial and non-financial benefits,
- ensure that the government can deliver on its promises, and
- strengthen public confidence in the performance and accountability of the federal government.
GAO provides its high-risk reports at the start of each new Congress. These reports help in setting congressional oversight agendas and also help Congress and the executive branch carry out their responsibilities while improving the government’s performance and enhancing its accountability. The reports, and related material, are available below.
GAO added the 2010 Census as a high-risk area in March 2008.
See the complete list of high risk areas as of March 2008 (PDF, 1 page)
See the highlights describing GAO’s designation of Census
as high-risk (PDF, 1 page)
2007 High-Risk Series
- High-Risk Series: An Update
- GAO-07-310, January 2007
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 98 pages) Accessible Text
- Information Technology: Significant Problems of Critical Automation Program Contribute to Risks Facing 2010 Census
- GAO-08-550T, March 5, 2008
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 21 pages) Accessible Text
2005 High-Risk Series
- High-Risk Series: An Update
- GAO-05-207, January 2005
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 95 pages) Accessible Text
- High-Risk Program: National Flood Insurance Program
- GAO-06-497T, March 15, 2006
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 31 pages) Accessible Text
2003 High-Risk Series
- High-Risk Series: An Update
- GAO-03-119, January 2003
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 62 pages) Accessible Text
- High-Risk Series: Strategic Human Capital Management
- GAO-03-120, January 2003
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 34 pages) Accessible Text
- High-Risk Series: Protecting Information Systems Supporting the Federal Government and the Nation's Critical Infrastructures
- GAO-03-121, January 2003
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 34 pages) Accessible Text
- High-Risk Series: Federal Real Property
- GAO-03-122, January 2003
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 64 pages) Accessible Text
- High-Risk Series: Pension Benefits Guaranty Corporation Single-Employer Insurance Program
- GAO-03-1050SP, July 2003
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Accessible Text