Summary

Pursuant to a congressional recommendation, GAO reviewed activities at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assess its management systems and administrative support functions. The resulting report summarizes FEMA development since its creation in 1979 and notes the agency's efforts to identify and respond to organizational and management problems.

GAO found that FEMA management problems have resulted from startup activities associated with the reorganization and integration of five predecessor agencies into the newly created agency, which now serves as a single contact for federal emergency management activities. GAO determined that the most obvious problem is a lack of FEMA identity. Specifically, GAO stated that FEMA needs: (1) an agencywide management system; (2) a clear statement of its mission; (3) clearly defined goals and objectives; (4) long- and short-range planning; (5) information systems to compare planned and actual performance; and (6) internal assessments of program performance related to goals and objectives. GAO stated that these problems resulted in little accountability within FEMA. With respect to administrative support functions, GAO found that deficiencies compounded FEMA organization and management problems. GAO stated that, while improvements have been made in management and administrative support functions during the last 3 years, more needs to be done.