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Reports News from the GAO Reports News from the GAO. https://www.gao.gov/rss/reports.xml Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:58:09 -0400 GAO https://www.gao.gov/themes/custom/gao_uswds/img/gao-logo-rss.gif Reports News from the GAO https://www.gao.gov/rss/reports.xml Feed provided by GAO. Professional Standards Update No. 102 https://www.gao.gov/products/e16067 To alert the audit community to changes in professional standards, we periodically issue Professional Standards Updates (PSU). These updates highlight the effective dates of recently issued standards and guidance related to engagements conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards. PSUs contain summary information only, and those affected by a change should refer to the respective standard or guidance for details. Mon, 26 Oct 2026 12:11:08 -0400 /products/e16067 State Department: Standards for Overseas Housing Need Review [Reissued with revisions on Oct. 21, 2026] https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107965 What GAO Found The Department of State last updated its standards for overseas housing space in 1991, according to State officials. Those standards may no longer align with State’s goal of providing Foreign Service personnel living abroad with housing comparable to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. In the last 35 years, median housing costs in the Washington, D.C., area have increased at a faster rate than Foreign Service personnel salaries. In addition, State’s method for measuring overseas housing does not align with the domestic industry standards typically followed by housing appraisers in the U.S., which may prevent State from comparing its overseas housing to housing in the Washington D.C. area. Without reviewing and updating, as applicable, its overseas housing policy, State may be paying for larger residential units than necessary for its Foreign Service personnel. State’s posts largely adhered to overseas housing cost and space standards, with 87 percent and 81 percent of units meeting those standards, respectively. Posts must request waivers to exceed these standards. Rental cost waivers resulted in overages of under 2 percent of annual lease costs in 2025, representing $8.8 million of the total $497 million in lease costs. GAO found the use of cost and space waivers varied by rank, family size, and locality. For example, executive officers and smaller families most frequently used cost and space waivers. Additionally, posts designated with more difficult living conditions used space waivers more frequently and exceeded standards by the largest margin. Examples of Residences Provided to Foreign Service Personnel Living Overseas State officials from the three posts that GAO selected for illustrative purposes, in Côte d’Ivoire, France, and Thailand, identified various challenges that limited their ability to provide and manage overseas housing for Foreign Service personnel. The challenges included resource constraints, limited suitable housing, and disparate systems tracking housing data. State’s Staff Housing Opportunity Purchase program aims to address some of these challenges by enabling eligible posts to acquire residential properties using proceeds from the global sales of excess properties. This initiative supports the provision of high-quality housing while generating long-term savings for the U.S. government through reduced lease costs, according to State officials. Why GAO Did This Study Around the world, State employees play critical roles in achieving U.S. foreign policy. State seeks to provide Foreign Service personnel serving abroad with safe and secure housing at a cost most advantageous to the U.S. government. GAO was asked to review the housing benefit for Foreign Service personnel serving abroad. This report examines (1) the extent to which State updates its overseas housing standards to ensure they align with its goal of providing adequate housing, (2) the extent to which State adheres to its overseas housing standards at posts, and (3) the challenges State faces in adhering to its overseas housing standards at selected posts. GAO reviewed relevant laws, policies, and guidance documents, and collected State data on overseas housing for fiscal year 2025 to analyze housing availability, size, costs, and waivers. GAO analyzed changes to housing affordability and Foreign Service personnel salaries in the Washington, D.C., area from 1993 to 2023—the latest available data. GAO also interviewed State officials at headquarters and at three overseas posts. GAO selected these posts to illustrate conditions for different regions, a range of embassy sizes, a mix of both owned and leased properties, and a mix of space and cost waivers. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:28:52 -0400 /products/gao-26-107965 Textile Circular Economy: Policy Options for the U.S. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-27-108142 What GAO Found Developing a textile circular economy includes repairing, reusing, and recycling textiles and making them last longer. Example of a Circular Economy for Textiles In the U.S., a textile circular economy may create potential benefits and involve challenges, according to reports by federal agencies and organizations and stakeholder interviews. Potential benefits could include creating new jobs and markets related to textile repair and recycling, reducing environmental harm, and changing consumer practices. Challenges could include limited funding and domestic infrastructure for nationwide textile collection and recycling efforts. GAO identified a number of policy options—based on relevant literature, site visits, and interviews with 49 stakeholders in the public and private sectors—that federal and state policymakers can consider if the U.S. chooses to develop a textile circular economy. Two of the options are: Developing a textile extended producer responsibility program: makes companies responsible for what happens to their products after use, along with other requirements. Creating tax credits related to a textile circular economy: reduces or offsets the amount of taxes paid by businesses when they contribute to textile circularity efforts, such as reusing textiles or reducing textile waste. Some U.S. states and other countries are proposing, enacting, or implementing most of the identified policy options that can help develop a textile circular economy. For example, U.S. states, the European Union, and others have proposed or enacted legislation to develop textile extended producer responsibility programs. When discussing policy options, stakeholders shared key observations. For example, several stakeholders, including industry groups, told GAO they prefer a federal approach to develop a textile circular economy. A federal approach may provide for coordination, compliance, and consistent implementation across U.S. states or other countries’ legal requirements, among other reasons, according to these stakeholders. However, this would require additional federal coordination and resources and depend on the government’s legal authority to implement a federal approach. Why GAO Did This Study The textile industry is part of a massive, global economic sector—including fiber sourcing, yarn production, and textile manufacturing. Textiles include apparel and other products, such as carpets, footwear, and towels. In response to global increases in the amount of textile consumption and waste, certain U.S. states and other countries have begun to consider and implement policies that can help develop a textile circular economy. GAO was asked to review aspects of developing a textile circular economy. This report continues GAO’s previous work from December 2024 on federal efforts to address textile waste. This report describes (1) the potential benefits and challenges with developing a textile circular economy in the U.S.; (2) the options that policymakers could consider to develop a textile circular economy; and (3) identified proposed, enacted, or implemented policies, both domestically and internationally, and stakeholders’ key observations. GAO reviewed legislation, regulations, federal agency documents, and academic reports. GAO also interviewed a range of stakeholder groups, including government entities (international, federal, and state), industry, academia, and other nonfederal stakeholders, such as representatives from nonprofit organizations. These stakeholders were selected because they have, or will have, a role in ongoing or planned efforts related to a textile circular economy or were recommended by knowledgeable officials. GAO also conducted site visits to the states of Washington and Oregon, as well as France and the Netherlands to meet with private sector organizations involved with various aspects of developing a textile circular economy. For more information, contact J. Alfredo Gómez at gomezj@gao.gov. Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:35:25 -0400 /products/gao-27-108142 Critical Minerals: Limited Available Information on the Full Extent of Foreign Investment in Mining on Federal Lands https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-27-108094 What GAO Found The U.S critical mineral supply chain faces numerous constraints, including the need for substantial capital investment and limited domestic processing capacity. The U.S. exports large quantities of domestically extracted ore to Canada, Mexico, and China, among other countries. Copper Mine on Federal Lands The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service oversee hardrock mines on federal land. As of February 2026, there were 632 approved hardrock mining plans of operation on federal land. The 1872 Mining Law generally requires mining claimants to be U.S. citizens or business entities incorporated in the U.S. Foreign businesses can meet this requirement by having a U.S. subsidiary serve as the claimant. While there is limited available information on the full extent of foreign investment in mining on federal lands and parent-subsidiary relationships, GAO reviewed ownership information of 43 claimants and operators associated with critical mineral mines on federal lands. GAO determined ownership for 32 of those companies and found that 14 were subsidiaries of foreign entities. GAO found that none of the 14 had Chinese-owned parent companies, but in at least two cases, Chinese entities had financial interest in the foreign parent companies. The 1872 Mining Law does not contain a provision requiring BLM or Forest Service to collect information on foreign parent companies nor does it require claimants or operators to submit information regarding foreign ownership. However, other federal agencies have some authorities and processes to identify foreign investment in mining. For example, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, chaired by the Department of the Treasury, can review foreign investment in mining as it relates to potential national security concerns. Why GAO Did This Study Critical minerals are essential to the economic and national security of the United States. These minerals, including copper, lithium, and zinc, are key components in advanced technologies and have vulnerable supply chains. As demand for these minerals increases, U.S. access to critical minerals has become a key topic in domestic policymaking and international relations. Recently, the administration and Congressional entities have expressed concerns over U.S. dependence on imports and the role of potential adversary nations, such as the People’s Republic of China (China), in the U.S. supply chain of critical minerals. Most critical minerals that can be mined in the U.S. are obtained through hardrock mining, some of which occurs on federal lands. However, policymakers have raised questions about the full amount and extent of foreign investment in those mines. This report provides information on hardrock mining that occurs on federal lands, foreign investment in mining on federal lands, and steps federal agencies take to identify foreign investment. It also provides inf

Reports News from the GAO Reports News from the GAO. https://www.gao.gov/rss/reports.xml Thu, 29 Oct 2026 10:58:06 -0400 GAO https://www.gao.gov/themes/custom/gao_uswds/img/gao-logo-rss.gif Reports News from the GAO https://www.gao.gov/rss/reports.xml Feed provided by GAO. Professional Standards Update No. 102 https://www.gao.gov/products/e16067 To alert the audit community to changes in professional standards, we periodically issue Professional Standards Updates (PSU). These updates highlight the effective dates of recently issued standards and guidance related to engagements conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards. PSUs contain summary information only, and those affected by a change should refer to the respective standard or guidance for details. Mon, 26 Oct 2026 12:11:08 -0400 /products/e16067 State Department: Standards for Overseas Housing Need Review [Reissued with revisions on Oct. 21, 2026] https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107965 What GAO Found The Department of State last updated its standards for overseas housing space in 1991, according to State officials. Those standards may no longer align with State’s goal of providing Foreign Service personnel living abroad with housing comparable to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. In the last 35 years, median housing costs in the Washington, D.C., area have increased at a faster rate than Foreign Service personnel salaries. In addition, State’s method for measuring overseas housing does not align with the domestic industry standards typically followed by housing appraisers in the U.S., which may prevent State from comparing its overseas housing to housing in the Washington D.C. area. Without reviewing and updating, as applicable, its overseas housing policy, State may be paying for larger residential units than necessary for its Foreign Service personnel. State’s posts largely adhered to overseas housing cost and space standards, with 87 percent and 81 percent of units meeting those standards, respectively. Posts must request waivers to exceed these standards. Rental cost waivers resulted in overages of under 2 percent of annual lease costs in 2025, representing $8.8 million of the total $497 million in lease costs. GAO found the use of cost and space waivers varied by rank, family size, and locality. For example, executive officers and smaller families most frequently used cost and space waivers. Additionally, posts designated with more difficult living conditions used space waivers more frequently and exceeded standards by the largest margin. Examples of Residences Provided to Foreign Service Personnel Living Overseas State officials from the three posts that GAO selected for illustrative purposes, in Côte d’Ivoire, France, and Thailand, identified various challenges that limited their ability to provide and manage overseas housing for Foreign Service personnel. The challenges included resource constraints, limited suitable housing, and disparate systems tracking housing data. State’s Staff Housing Opportunity Purchase program aims to address some of these challenges by enabling eligible posts to acquire residential properties using proceeds from the global sales of excess properties. This initiative supports the provision of high-quality housing while generating long-term savings for the U.S. government through reduced lease costs, according to State officials. Why GAO Did This Study Around the world, State employees play critical roles in achieving U.S. foreign policy. State seeks to provide Foreign Service personnel serving abroad with safe and secure housing at a cost most advantageous to the U.S. government. GAO was asked to review the housing benefit for Foreign Service personnel serving abroad. This report examines (1) the extent to which State updates its overseas housing standards to ensure they align with its goal of providing adequate housing, (2) the extent to which State adheres to its overseas housing standards at posts, and (3) the challenges State faces in adhering to its overseas housing standards at selected posts. GAO reviewed relevant laws, policies, and guidance documents, and collected State data on overseas housing for fiscal year 2025 to analyze housing availability, size, costs, and waivers. GAO analyzed changes to housing affordability and Foreign Service personnel salaries in the Washington, D.C., area from 1993 to 2023—the latest available data. GAO also interviewed State officials at headquarters and at three overseas posts. GAO selected these posts to illustrate conditions for different regions, a range of embassy sizes, a mix of both owned and leased properties, and a mix of space and cost waivers. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:28:52 -0400 /products/gao-26-107965 Textile Circular Economy: Policy Options for the U.S. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-27-108142 What GAO Found Developing a textile circular economy includes repairing, reusing, and recycling textiles and making them last longer. Example of a Circular Economy for Textiles In the U.S., a textile circular economy may create potential benefits and involve challenges, according to reports by federal agencies and organizations and stakeholder interviews. Potential benefits could include creating new jobs and markets related to textile repair and recycling, reducing environmental harm, and changing consumer practices. Challenges could include limited funding and domestic infrastructure for nationwide textile collection and recycling efforts. GAO identified a number of policy options—based on relevant literature, site visits, and interviews with 49 stakeholders in the public and private sectors—that federal and state policymakers can consider if the U.S. chooses to develop a textile circular economy. Two of the options are: Developing a textile extended producer responsibility program: makes companies responsible for what happens to their products after use, along with other requirements. Creating tax credits related to a textile circular economy: reduces or offsets the amount of taxes paid by businesses when they contribute to textile circularity efforts, such as reusing textiles or reducing textile waste. Some U.S. states and other countries are proposing, enacting, or implementing most of the identified policy options that can help develop a textile circular economy. For example, U.S. states, the European Union, and others have proposed or enacted legislation to develop textile extended producer responsibility programs. When discussing policy options, stakeholders shared key observations. For example, several stakeholders, including industry groups, told GAO they prefer a federal approach to develop a textile circular economy. A federal approach may provide for coordination, compliance, and consistent implementation across U.S. states or other countries’ legal requirements, among other reasons, according to these stakeholders. However, this would require additional federal coordination and resources and depend on the government’s legal authority to implement a federal approach. Why GAO Did This Study The textile industry is part of a massive, global economic sector—including fiber sourcing, yarn production, and textile manufacturing. Textiles include apparel and other products, such as carpets, footwear, and towels. In response to global increases in the amount of textile consumption and waste, certain U.S. states and other countries have begun to consider and implement policies that can help develop a textile circular economy. GAO was asked to review aspects of developing a textile circular economy. This report continues GAO’s previous work from December 2024 on federal efforts to address textile waste. This report describes (1) the potential benefits and challenges with developing a textile circular economy in the U.S.; (2) the options that policymakers could consider to develop a textile circular economy; and (3) identified proposed, enacted, or implemented policies, both domestically and internationally, and stakeholders’ key observations. GAO reviewed legislation, regulations, federal agency documents, and academic reports. GAO also interviewed a range of stakeholder groups, including government entities (international, federal, and state), industry, academia, and other nonfederal stakeholders, such as representatives from nonprofit organizations. These stakeholders were selected because they have, or will have, a role in ongoing or planned efforts related to a textile circular economy or were recommended by knowledgeable officials. GAO also conducted site visits to the states of Washington and Oregon, as well as France and the Netherlands to meet with private sector organizations involved with various aspects of developing a textile circular economy. For more information, contact J. Alfredo Gómez at gomezj@gao.gov. Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:35:25 -0400 /products/gao-27-108142 Critical Minerals: Limited Available Information on the Full Extent of Foreign Investment in Mining on Federal Lands https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-27-108094 What GAO Found The U.S critical mineral supply chain faces numerous constraints, including the need for substantial capital investment and limited domestic processing capacity. The U.S. exports large quantities of domestically extracted ore to Canada, Mexico, and China, among other countries. Copper Mine on Federal Lands The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service oversee hardrock mines on federal land. As of February 2026, there were 632 approved hardrock mining plans of operation on federal land. The 1872 Mining Law generally requires mining claimants to be U.S. citizens or business entities incorporated in the U.S. Foreign businesses can meet this requirement by having a U.S. subsidiary serve as the claimant. While there is limited available information on the full extent of foreign investment in mining on federal lands and parent-subsidiary relationships, GAO reviewed ownership information of 43 claimants and operators associated with critical mineral mines on federal lands. GAO determined ownership for 32 of those companies and found that 14 were subsidiaries of foreign entities. GAO found that none of the 14 had Chinese-owned parent companies, but in at least two cases, Chinese entities had financial interest in the foreign parent companies. The 1872 Mining Law does not contain a provision requiring BLM or Forest Service to collect information on foreign parent companies nor does it require claimants or operators to submit information regarding foreign ownership. However, other federal agencies have some authorities and processes to identify foreign investment in mining. For example, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, chaired by the Department of the Treasury, can review foreign investment in mining as it relates to potential national security concerns. Why GAO Did This Study Critical minerals are essential to the economic and national security of the United States. These minerals, including copper, lithium, and zinc, are key components in advanced technologies and have vulnerable supply chains. As demand for these minerals increases, U.S. access to critical minerals has become a key topic in domestic policymaking and international relations. Recently, the administration and Congressional entities have expressed concerns over U.S. dependence on imports and the role of potential adversary nations, such as the People’s Republic of China (China), in the U.S. supply chain of critical minerals. Most critical minerals that can be mined in the U.S. are obtained through hardrock mining, some of which occurs on federal lands. However, policymakers have raised questions about the full amount and extent of foreign investment in those mines. This report provides information on hardrock mining that occurs on federal lands, foreign investment in mining on federal lands, and steps federal agencies take to identify foreign investment. It also provides inf

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