Department of Commerce

Budget, Performance and Financial Snapshot Fiscal Year 2008

Who We Are

Mission: The Department of Commerce (DoC) creates the conditions for economic growth and opportunity by promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and environmental stewardship.

Organization: Supported by the Office of the Inspector General and Departmental Management, eleven bureaus carry out the extensive activities of the Department thereby fulfilling its mission. Bureaus include the following: EDA, CENSUS, BEA, ITA, BIS, MBDA, NOAA, USPTO, NIST, NTIS and NTIA. Organizational Chart: http://www.commerce.gov/s/groups/public/@doc/@os/@opa/documents/content/prod01_004984.pdf.

Personnel: The Department is an agency with over 37,000 employees, expanding to over 100,000 employees during a Decennial year.

Budgetary Resources: The budget for FY 2008 is approximately $8.2 billion in outlays with a substantial portion (nearly 1 billion) occurring only in FY 2008 and FY 2009 for the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund. This does not include nearly $2 billion in obligations for USPTO which is fee funded. In FY 2010, while this funding will drop from the budget, the budget still will expand to nearly $11 billion to fund the Decennial Census.


Budget Snapshot

Total Spending FY 2005-2009
Total Outlays
 Mandatory $19 $7 $72 $1,006 $1,174
 Discretionary $6,132 $6,453 $6,418 $7,145 $8,072
Total $6,151 $6,460 $6,490 $8,151 $9,246
$ in millions
Top 5 Programs By Budget
  Top 5 Programs
  NOAA CENSUS NTIA NIST ITA
2008 $4,299 $1,143 $922 $838 $369
2009 $4,213 $2,331 $1,081 $725 $406
$ in millions

Performance Snapshot

Accomplishments: The Department improved its weather prediction capability, saving lives and minimizing property loss. For the first time, the U.S. trade balance in manufactured goods with our 14 FTA partners is in a surplus with the trade balance in manufactured goods rising from a deficit of $12.3 billion to a surplus of $2.7 billion. U.S. manufactured exports to FTA countries have grown 63 percent, compared to only 42 percent growth in imports. EDA estimates that generated $4.2 billion in private investment and 57,700 jobs as a result of approximately $370 million in investments made in FY 1999. MBDA generated $1.85 billion in contract and financial awards. NIST offered more than 500 types of physical calibrations and conducted more than 25,000 calibrations. The Department developed and implemented a program so that all Americans who need Digital T.V. conversion capability (required in 2/2009), could do so at little or no cost.

Challenges: The Decennial Census continues to pose a major challenge, with the Department seeking to achieve the most accurate Decennial Census ever. In addition, the OIG identified nine other major challenges in the Department. Descriptions and actions taken are available at http://www.osec.doc.gov/bmi/budget/FY08PAR.htm.
Financial Snapshot
Clean Opinion on Financial Statements Yes
Timely Financial Reporting Yes Material Weaknesses 1
Improper Payment Rate NA Total Assets $33,717
Total Liabilities $21,501 Net Cost of Operations $7,699
$ in millions
  Footnote:Mandatory amounts do not include Emergency Steel Guaranteed Loan Program since this program has a negative amount of $87 million in FY 2006, resulting in a negative mandatory amount of $7 million. Large mandatory amounts in FY 2008 and FY 2009 reflect the Digital Television Transition program.

Summary of Department of Commerce Ratings for Fiscal Year 2008

 
                        FY 2008 Performance
Results per Strategic Goal
  Met/Exceeded     Not met but improved over prior years
  Not met target     Data not yet available
Budget per Strategic Goal
($ in millions)
Strategic Goal: Maximize U.S. competitiveness and enable economic growth for American industries, workers, and consumers
The Department promotes growth by developing partnerships with state, local, private, and non-profit enterprise so as to encourage economic growth and development. The Department also encourages trade by promoting U.S. exports while at the same time monitoring those exports to prevent any export of goods that could be used for any activities against the United States. The Department also develops and publishes the economic statistics and indicators (e.g., gross domestic product [GDP]) that are essential to U.S. business. Finally, the Department encourages growth by assisting small manufacturers.
 
Sample chart
          
2008 Actual = $2,626
Performance Measure(s)* 2006 Results 2007 Results 2008 Target 2008 Results 2009 Target
Jobs created / retained - 9 year results (EDA) 50,546 73,559 56,900 57,701   56,500
Number of export successes made as a result of ITA involvement 11,919 11,974 11,385 12,659   12,600
Actions resulting in deterrence/prevention of an export violation (BIS) 872 930 675 881   850
Strategic Goal: Promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness
The Department promotes innovation through research and the development of new applications of research (e.g., quantum mechanics) to assist the private sector. The Department also encourages the development of new technology and the protection of intellectual property (IP) through the issuance of patents and trademarks. Finally, the Department advances the telecommunication sector by making certain that the allocation of the radio spectrum provides the greatest benefit to all people as well as promoting new sources of advanced telecommunications.
 
Sample chart
          
2008 Actual = $3,656
Performance Measure(s)* 2006 Results 2007 Results 2008 Target 2008 Results 2009 Target
Calibration tests performed (NIST) NA 27,489 12,000 25,944   12,000
Patent average total pendency (months) (USPTO) 31.1 31.9 34.7 32.2   37.9
Trademark average total pendency (months) (USPTO) 18.0 15.1 16.3 13.9   14.0
Strategic Goal: Promote environmental stewardship
The Department promotes the use of natural resources that both benefits the American people while sustaining natural resources. The Department monitors the fishing industry and U.S. marine habitats to prevent overfishing and conserve U.S. natural marine habitats. The Department also studies the long-term effects of climate change and provides daily weather reports and warnings, tracking the progress of severe storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes. The Department encourages trade and shipping by providing navigation maps to the private sector. The Department's mission support activities (e.g., satellites) support the other four objectives within Strategic Goal 3.
 
Sample chart
          
2008 Actual = $4,436
Performance Measure(s)* 2006 Results 2007 Results 2008 Target 2008 Results 2009 Target
Habitat acres restored 7,598 5,974 9,000 11,254   9,000
Tornado lead time (min) 13 14 11 15   12
Hurricane forecast track error (nautical miles) 97 97 110 86   108
Strategic Goal: Management Integration
Two organizations are involved in this goal: Departmental Management (DM) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG). This goal addresses financial management, contracting, competitive sourcing, and human resource (HR) management.
 
Sample chart
          
2008 Actual = $69
Performance Measure(s)* 2006 Results 2007 Results 2008 Target 2008 Results 2009 Target
Percentage of OIG recommendations accepted by Departmental and bureau management (OIG) 96% 96% 95% 100%   95%
Dollar value of financial benefits identified by the OIG (OIG) $31.2 M $51.7 M $28.0 M $113.0 M   $30.0 M
  * This measure was selected from a number of performance measures aimed at the specific strategic goal