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GAO recommends that the Forest Service—in coordination with other firefighting agencies, as needed—develop a strategic plan to improve its wildland firefighter communications, tracking, and mapping capabilities.
September 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
GAO recommends that the Forest Service—in coordination with other firefighting agencies, as needed—develop a strategic plan to improve its wildland firefighter communications, tracking, and mapping capabilities.
We found that the Forest Service mostly relies on voice communications over radios, which limits sharing important safety visual info like fire intensity maps. Further, the agency can track locations of firefighting aircraft but not locations of most of its firefighters on foot.
September 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
We found that the Forest Service mostly relies on voice communications over radios, which limits sharing important safety visual info like fire intensity maps. Further, the agency can track locations of firefighting aircraft but not locations of most of its firefighters on foot.
In 2024, my colleagues and I reported on NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program, which supports research, monitoring, & restoration work. You can read the full report here, including our recommendations.
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov
September 15, 2025 at 2:17 PM
In 2024, my colleagues and I reported on NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program, which supports research, monitoring, & restoration work. You can read the full report here, including our recommendations.
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
You can also check out my testimony before the House @NatResources on this topic: naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eve...
Hearings | House Committee on Natural Resources
naturalresources.house.gov
August 1, 2025 at 8:11 PM
You can also check out my testimony before the House @NatResources on this topic: naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eve...
In 2024 my colleagues and I reported on the challenges that NPS faces in addressing its deferred maintenance backlog—which was over $20 billion in fiscal year 2022. You can read the full report here, including our recommendations: www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Deferred Maintenance: Agencies Generally Followed Leading Practices in Selections but Faced Challenges
Buildings, roads, and other structures on the federal government's public lands require billions of dollars to maintain each year. Agencies may defer...
www.gao.gov
August 1, 2025 at 8:11 PM
In 2024 my colleagues and I reported on the challenges that NPS faces in addressing its deferred maintenance backlog—which was over $20 billion in fiscal year 2022. You can read the full report here, including our recommendations: www.gao.gov/products/gao...
In 2023 we reported on the barriers to recruitment and retention of our nation’s federal wildland firefighter workforce. We found that these barriers include low pay, poor work-life balance, career advancement challenges, and other factors. www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Wildland Fire: Federal Agencies Face Barriers to Recruiting and Retaining Firefighters
U.S. wildfires have grown more severe in recent years. The Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and 4 agencies within the Department of the...
www.gao.gov
May 30, 2025 at 6:28 PM
In 2023 we reported on the barriers to recruitment and retention of our nation’s federal wildland firefighter workforce. We found that these barriers include low pay, poor work-life balance, career advancement challenges, and other factors. www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Last year we reviewed the U.S. Forest Service’s prescribed fire program, through which specific areas are burned under managed conditions to mitigate wildfire risk. We issued 4 recommendations related to following leading practices: www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Forest Service: Fully Following Leading Practices for Agency Reforms Would Strengthen Prescribed Fire Program
The Forest Service is reforming its prescribed fire program. Prescribed fire—or deliberately burning specific areas under managed conditions—is used...
www.gao.gov
May 30, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Last year we reviewed the U.S. Forest Service’s prescribed fire program, through which specific areas are burned under managed conditions to mitigate wildfire risk. We issued 4 recommendations related to following leading practices: www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Stakeholders we spoke with cited challenges to the program such as long processing times for requests + inadequate communication. Read our new report, which includes three recommendations to NMFS regarding the fishery resource disaster program: www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Fishery Disaster Assistance: Process is Changing, but Challenges Remain to Improve Timeliness and Communication
Disasters like hurricanes and oil spills can affect fisheries and communities and may result in lost revenue or jobs. When a fishery disaster occurs...
www.gao.gov
April 30, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Stakeholders we spoke with cited challenges to the program such as long processing times for requests + inadequate communication. Read our new report, which includes three recommendations to NMFS regarding the fishery resource disaster program: www.gao.gov/products/gao...
