By: Joseph A. Hackenbracht, 04.30.2010

On April 2, 2010, the Government Accountability Office responded to a request from the House Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development to evaluate “whether the President’s recent budget requests for the Corps are presented so that agency priorities are clear and proposed use of funds transparent.” 

In its analysis, the GAO reviewed the Corps’ internal review guidance for fiscal year 2011 and interviewed Corps’ officials at the Headquarters office and all Division offices. The GAO concluded that the Corps’ budget presentation continues to lack transparency and should provide key information that would be useful for Congress’ review of the budget. GAO believes that the Corps should provide two types of project-level information: first, information on projects previously funded that may still have resource needs; and second, information on the amount of unobligated appropriations remaining on previously funded projects. 

GAO suggests that this detailed information would help Congress make better informed appropriations and oversight decisions. Both Senate and House members have indicated that this type of information would be useful, and the Corps has agreed to provide this type of project-level information in future budget requests. While some of the information has been provided for the 2011 budget, the Corps has indicated that it can supplement the budget request during Congressional consideration of the appropriations........read more