Oversight and Accountability in a Time of Fiscal Stress
Gao ID: GAO-10-653CG April 23, 2010This is an Acting Comptroller General Presentation delivered to the Association of Government Accountants in Dallas, Texas on April 23, 2010. Major topics of this presentation include: long-term fiscal challenges, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act implementation, Emergency Economic Stabilization Act experience, and examples of the need for transformation.
GAO-10-653CG, Oversight and Accountability in a Time of Fiscal Stress
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653CG entitled 'Oversight and Accountability in a Time of Fiscal Stress'
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Oversight and Accountability in a Time of Fiscal Stress:
Association of Government Accountants:
Dallas, Texas:
April 23, 2010:
Gene L. Dodaro:
Acting Comptroller General:
GAO-10-653CG:
* Long-Term Fiscal Challenges:
* American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Implementation:
* Emergency Economic Stabilization Act Experience:
* Examples of the Need for Transformation:
Long-Term Fiscal Challenges:
Figure: Debt Held by the Public Under Two Fiscal Policy Simulations:
(Percent of GDP):
[Refer to PDF for image: line graph]
Historical high: 109% in 1946.
Year: 2000;
Baseline Extended: 35.1%;
Alternative: 35.1%.
Year: 2001;
Baseline Extended: 33.0%;
Alternative: 33.0%.
Year: 2002;
Baseline Extended: 34.1%;
Alternative: 34.1%.
Year: 2003;
Baseline Extended: 36.2%;
Alternative: 36.2%.
Year: 2004;
Baseline Extended: 37.3%;
Alternative: 37.3%.
Year: 2005;
Baseline Extended: 37.5%;
Alternative: 37.5%.
Year: 2006;
Baseline Extended: 36.5%;
Alternative: 36.5%.
Year: 2007;
Baseline Extended: 36.2%;
Alternative: 36.2%.
Year: 2008;
Baseline Extended: 40.1%;
Alternative: 40.1%.
Year: 2009;
Baseline Extended: 53.0%;
Alternative: 53.0%;
Year: 2010;
Baseline Extended: 60.3%;
Alternative: 60.7%.
Year: 2011;
Baseline Extended: 65.3%;
Alternative: 68.0%.
Year: 2012;
Baseline Extended: 66.6%;
Alternative: 72.8%.
Year: 2013;
Baseline Extended: 66.3%;
Alternative: 76.2%.
Year: 2014;
Baseline Extended: 65.6%;
Alternative: 79.6%.
Year: 2015;
Baseline Extended: 65.4%;
Alternative: 83.7%.
Year: 2016;
Baseline Extended: 65.5%;
Alternative: 88.3%.
Year: 2017;
Baseline Extended: 65.5%;
Alternative: 93.0%.
Year: 2018;
Baseline Extended: 65.7%;
Alternative: 98.2%.
Year: 2019;
Baseline Extended: 66.1%;
Alternative: 103.8%.
Year: 2020;
Baseline Extended: 66.7%;
Alternative: 109.8%.
Year: 2021;
Baseline Extended: 67.5%;
Alternative: 116.0%.
Year: 2022;
Baseline Extended: 68.5%;
Alternative: 122.0%.
Year: 2023;
Baseline Extended: 69.8%;
Alternative: 128.3%.
Year: 2024;
Baseline Extended: 71.4%;
Alternative: 134.7%.
Year: 2025;
Baseline Extended: 73.3%;
Alternative: 141.4%.
Year: 2026;
Baseline Extended: 75.6%;
Alternative: 148.6%.
Year: 2027;
Baseline Extended: 78.2%;
Alternative: 156.2%.
Year: 2028;
Baseline Extended: 84.4%;
Alternative: 172.5%.
Year: 2030;
Baseline Extended: 88.0%;
Alternative: 181.2%.
Year: 2031;
Baseline Extended: 91.8%;
Alternative: 190.3%.
Year: 2032;
Baseline Extended: 96.0%;
Alternative: 199.8%.
Year: 2033;
Baseline Extended: 100.5%.
Year: 2034;
Baseline Extended: 105.2%.
Year: 2035;
Baseline Extended: 110.2%.
Year: 2036;
Baseline Extended: 115.5%.
Year: 2037;
Baseline Extended: 121.0%.
Year: 2038;
Baseline Extended: 126.8%.
Year: 2039;
Baseline Extended: 132.8%.
Year: 2040;
Baseline Extended: 139.1%.
Year: 2041;
Baseline Extended: 145.5%.
Year: 2042;
Baseline Extended: 152.2%.
Year: 2043;
Baseline Extended: 159.1%.
Year: 2044;
Baseline Extended: 166.2%.
Year: 2045;
Baseline Extended: 173.5%.
Year: 2046;
Baseline Extended: 181.0%.
Year: 2047;
Baseline Extended: 188.7%.
Year: 2048;
Baseline Extended: 196.8%.
Source: GAO.
[End of figure]
Figure: Potential Fiscal Outcomes under Baseline Extended: Revenues
and Composition of Spending:
[Refer PDF for image: vertical bar and line graph]
Percent of GDP:
2009:
Net interest: 1.3;
Social Security: 4.8;
Medicare & Medicaid: 4.8;
All other spending: 12.5;
Revenue: 14.9.
2019:
Net interest: 3.4;
Social Security: 5.2;
Medicare & Medicaid: 5.8;
All other spending: 9.2;
Revenue: 20.2.
2030:
Net interest: 4.7;
Social Security: 6;
Medicare & Medicaid: 8;
All other spending: 9.2;
Revenue: 20.2.
2040:
Net interest: 7.6;
Social Security: 6.1;
Medicare & Medicaid: 9.9;
All other spending: 9.2;
Revenue: 20.2.
Source: GAO.
Note: Data are from GAO‘s January 2010 analysis based on the Trustees‘
assumptions for Social Security and Medicare.
[End of figure]
Table: Pressures on the Federal Budget in the Near Term:
2008:
Oldest members of the baby-boom generation became eligible for early
Social Security retirement benefits.
2008:
Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) outlays exceeded cash income.
2010:
Social Security runs first cash deficit since 1984[A].
2011:
Oldest members of the baby-boom generation become eligible for
Medicare.
2014:
45 percent of Medicare outlays funded by general revenue[B].
2016:
Social Security begins running consistent annual cash deficits.
2017:
Medicare HI trust fund exhausted. Income sufficient to pay about 81
percent of benefits[B].
2020:
Debt held by the public under GAO's Alternative simulation exceeds the
historical high reached in the aftermath of World War II.
Source: GAO analysis.
Notes:
[A] Based on CBO's January 2010 baseline projections.
[B] Based on 2009 Annual Report of the Boards of Trustees of the
Federal Hospital Insurance and Federal Supplementer}, Medical
Insurance Trust Funds (May 12, 2009).
[End of table]
Figure: Federal and Combined Federal, State, and Local Deficits as
Shares of GDP:
Percent of GDP:
[Refer to PDF for image: multiple line graph]
Fiscal year: 2000;
Federal only: 2.4%;
Federal, state, and local: 2.1%
Fiscal year: 2001;
Federal only: 1.3%;
Federal, state, and local: 0.5%.
Fiscal year: 2002;
Federal only: -1.5%;
Federal, state, and local: -2.7%.
Fiscal year: 2003;
Federal only: -3.5%;
Federal, state, and local: -4.5%.
Fiscal year: 2004;
Federal only: -3.6%;
Federal, state, and local: -4.4.
Fiscal year: 2005;
Federal only: -2.6%;
Federal, state, and local: -3.1%.
Fiscal year: 2006;
Federal only: -1.9%;
Federal, state, and local: -2.3%.
Fiscal year: 2007;
Federal only: -1.2%;
Federal, state, and local: -1.9%.
Fiscal year: 2008;
Federal only: -2.9%;
Federal, state, and local: -4.1%.
Fiscal year: 2009;
Federal only: -3.4%;
Federal, state, and local: -4.8%.
Fiscal year: 2010;
Federal only: -3.4%;
Federal, state, and local: -4.6%.
Fiscal year: 2011;
Federal only: -3.7%;
Federal, state, and local: -4.8%.
Fiscal year: 2012;
Federal only: -3.8%;
Federal, state, and local: -4.9%.
Fiscal year: 2013;
Federal only: -4.2%;
Federal, state, and local: -5.4%.
Fiscal year: 2014;
Federal only: -4.6%;
Federal, state, and local: -5.8%.
Fiscal year: 2015;
Federal only: -4.81%;
Federal, state, and local: -6.1%.
Fiscal year: 2016;
Federal only: -5.2%;
Federal, state, and local: -6.6%.
Fiscal year: 2017;
Federal only: -5.5%;
Federal, state, and local: -7%.
Fiscal year: 2018;
Federal only: -5.8%;
Federal, state, and local: -7.3%.
Fiscal year: 2019;
Federal only: -5.9%;
Federal, state, and local: -7.5%.
Fiscal year: 2020;
Federal only: -6.2%;
Federal, state, and local: -7.8%.
Fiscal year: 2021;
Federal only: -6.5%;
Federal, state, and local: -8.2%.
Fiscal year: 2022;
Federal only: -7%;
Federal, state, and local: -8.8%.
Fiscal year: 2023;
Federal only: -7.4%;
Federal, state, and local: -9.3%.
Fiscal year: 2024;
Federal only: -8%;
Federal, state, and local: -9.9%.
Fiscal year: 2025;
Federal only: -8.5%;
Federal, state, and local: -10.4%.
Fiscal year: 2026;
Federal only: -9%;
Federal, state, and local: -11.1%.
Fiscal year: 2027;
Federal only: -9.5%;
Federal, state, and local: -11.7%.
Fiscal year: 2028;
Federal only: -10.1%;
Federal, state, and local: -12.2%.
Fiscal year: 2029;
Federal only: -10.6%;
Federal, state, and local: -12.91%;
Fiscal year: 2030;
Federal only: -11.3%;
Federal, state, and local: -13.6%.
Fiscal year: 2031;
Federal only: -11.9%;
Federal, state, and local: -14.4%.
Fiscal year: 2032;
Federal only: -12.4%;
Federal, state, and local: -15%.
Fiscal year: 2033;
Federal only: -13%;
Federal, state, and local: -15.7%.
Fiscal year: 2034;
Federal only: -13.6%;
Federal, state, and local: -16.3%.
Fiscal year: 2035;
Federal only: -14.2%;
Federal, state, and local: -17%.
Fiscal year: 2036;
Federal only: -4.85%;
Federal, state, and local: -17.8%.
Fiscal year: 2037;
Federal only: -15.3%;
Federal, state, and local: -18.4%.
Fiscal year: 2038;
Federal only: -16%;
Federal, state, and local: -19.1%.
Fiscal year: 2039;
Federal only: -16.5%;
Federal, state, and local: -19.8%.
Fiscal year: 2040;
Federal only: -17.2%;
Federal, state, and local: -20.5%.
Source: GAO.
Note: federal data are from GAO‘s Alternative simulation.
[End of figure]
Not Just a U.S. Challenge:
* Financial market stress in other major industrial nations.
* Public debt levels in other major industrial countries have also
increased dramatically.
* Projections show many countries on a path of rising debt to
GDP ratios.
Moving Forward:
* Budget Controls.
* Creation of Commission.
* Continued Public Education, Discussion, and Debate.
[End of section]
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Implementation:
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act:
* Signed February 17, 2009:
* Purpose:
- Preserve/create jobs and promote recovery;
- Assist those most hurt by the recession;
- Invest in infrastructure;
- Stabilize state and local government budgets;
* Total cost (tax and spending): $862 billion, including over
$626 billion in additional spending (CBO Estimate).
Figure: Projected Versus Actual Federal Outlays to States and
Localities Under the Recovery Act:
[Refer to PDF for image: vertical bar graph]
Year: 2010;
Estimated: $48.9 billion;
Actual Federal outlays as of March 31, 2010: $52.9 billion.
Year: 2011;
Estimated: $107.7 billion;
Actual Federal outlays as of March 31, 2010: $50.9 billion.
[$103.8 billion in actual Federal Outlays as of March 31, 2010]
Year: 2011;
Estimated: $63.4 billion.
Year: 2012;
Estimated: $23.3 billion.
Year: 2013;
Estimated: $14.4 billion.
Year: 2014;
Estimated: $9.1 billion.
Year: 2015;
Estimated: $5.7 billion.
Year: 2016;
Estimated: $2.5 billion.
Source: GAO analysis of data from CBO, Recovery.gov and Federal Funds
Information for States.
[End of figure]
Figure: GAO's Monitoring of Selected States:
[Refer to PDF for image: map of the U.S.]
The following states are highlighted on the map:
1. Arizona;
2. California;
3. Colorado;
4. Florida;
5. Georgia;
6. Illinois;
7. Iowa;
8. Massachusetts;
9. Michigan;
10. Mississippi;
11. New Jersey;
12. New York;
13. North Carolina;
14. Ohio;
15. Pennsylvania;
16. Texas;
17. Washington, D.C.
Source: GAO analysis.
[End of figure]
Recovery Act: GAO's Reporting Objectives:
GAO's reports on states and localities focus on:
* Use of funds;
* Safeguards and internal controls;
* The impact of funds.
GAO also comments on jobs created and retained as reported
by recipients.
Recovery Act Challenges for Officials at All Levels of Government:
* Expectations for transparency and accountability;
* Qualified personnel need to implement proper accountability;
* Close and ongoing coordination needed.
GAO Recommendations:
GAO has made 28 recommendations to 5 federal agencies (DOT,
HUD, Education, DOL, and OMB) regarding:
* Accountability and Transparency;
* Reporting on Impact and Guidance;
* Resource Allocation and Capacity.
Single Audit: GAO Recommendations:
Leverage Single Audit as an effective oversight tool:
* Move to earlier reporting on internal controls.
* Focus on Recovery Act programs.
* Give relief for low-risk programs.
* Fund more timely, effective Single Audits.
Single Audits: GAO Matter for Congressional Consideration:
* Amending the Single Audit Act or enact new legislation that provides
for more timely internal control reporting, as well as audit coverage
for smaller Recovery Act programs with high risk.
* Create mechanisms to provide additional resources to support those
charged with carrying out the Single Audit and related audits.
OMB Single Audit Pilot Project: Interim Internal Control Reporting:
Single Audit Internal Control Project:
* Encourage auditors top identify and communicate significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses for selected Recovery Act
programs 3 months earlier than current 9-month timeframe.
* 16 states volunteered to participate.
Coverage:
- About 16 percent of Recovery Act obligations;
- About 23 percent of Recovery Act outlays.
[End of section]
Emergency Economic Stabilization Experience:
Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP):
* Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 created $700
billion TARP in October 2008.
* GAO given statutory oversight role.
* GAO's TARP reports' recommendations follow 3 themes:
- Monitoring the use of funds to meet the Act's objectives;
- Articulating a better communication strategy;
- Ensuring effective Treasury management.
Status of Troubled Asset Relief Program Outstanding Balances:
* As of April 9, 2010, Treasury had disbursed about $381 billion of
the almost $700 billion in program funds, and had received repayments
of about $181 billion.
* A total of about $198 billion remains outstanding (see table below).
Table: Status of TARP Funds as of April 9, 2010 (dollars in billions):
Program: Capital Purchase Program
Gross Outstanding Balance: $66.7[A].
Program: AIG;
Gross Outstanding Balance: $47.5.
Program: Targeted Investment Program;
Gross Outstanding Balance: $0.0.
Program: Consumer & Business Lending Initiative: Term Asset-backed
Securities Loan Facility & Small Business and Community Lending
Initiative;
Gross Outstanding Balance: $0.1.
Program: Automotive Industry Financing Program;
Gross Outstanding Balance: $75.1.
Program: Public-Private Investment Program;
Gross Outstanding Balance: $8.2.
Program: Totals;
Gross Outstanding Balance: $197.6.
[A] Amount outstanding for CPP excludes about $2.3 billion which
Treasury has written off.
[End of table]
Status of U.S. Government Ownership of Selected Companies:
Figure: U.S. Government Ownership (Common Equity) Percentages:
[Refer to PDF for image: horizontal bar graph]
Company: AIG;
U.S. Government Ownership (Common Equity): 79.8%.
Company: GM;
U.S. Government Ownership (Common Equity): 60.8%.
Company: GMAC;
U.S. Government Ownership (Common Equity): 56.0%.
Company: Citigroup;
U.S. Government Ownership (Common Equity): 27.1%.
Company: Chrysler;
U.S. Government Ownership (Common Equity): 9.9%.
AIG, GM, and Chrysler”As of Sept. 30, 2009;
GMAC and Citigroup ” As of Dec. 31, 2009.
All percentages relate to TARP, except for AIG which relates to the
U.S. Government's beneficial interest in a trust. Also, the
percentages only represent common equity and do not reflect additional
financial instruments held by the U.S. Government in these entities
(e.g., preferred stock, warrants, and direct loans).
[End of figure]
GAO's Ongoing and Future Monitoring Efforts:
* Capital Purchase Program,
* Home Affordable Modification Program,
* Automobile Industry Financing Program,
* AIG,
* Small Business Lending Initiatives,
* Stress tests, and,
* Decision to Extend TARP.
Examples of Need for Transformation:
* Financial Regulation;
* Postal Service.
Modernizing The U.S. Financial Regulatory System:
Financial Regulation: A Framework for Crafting and Assessing
Proposals to Modernize the Outdated U.S. Financial Regulatory
System:
* Explains the origins of the current financial regulatory system.
* Describes market developments and changes that pose challenges to
the current system.
* Presents an evaluation framework that Congress and others can use to
craft or evaluate potential regulatory reform efforts.
(GAO-09-216, Jan. 8, 2009)
Financial Regulatory System Outdated:
Risks posed by:
* Emergence of large, complex, and interconnected financial
conglomerates.
* Less-regulated entities are playing increasingly critical roles in
the financial system.
* New and complex products pose challenges to system stability and
consumer protection.
Crafting or Assessing Regulatory Reform Proposals:
GAO Framework ” 9 Essential Characteristics:
* Clearly defined regulatory goals in statute;
* Appropriately comprehensive;
* Systemwide focus;
* Flexible and adaptable;
* Efficient and effective;
* Consistent consumer and investor protections;
* Regulators provided with independence, prominence, authority, and
accountability;
* Consistent financial oversight;
* Minimal taxpayer exposure.
U.S. Postal Service Financial Viability:
* The Postal Service's business model is not viable due to its
inability to reduce costs sufficiently in response to continuing mail
volume and revenue declines.
* Mail volume is projected to decline by about 27 billion pieces over
the next decade, while revenues will stagnate, and costs will rise.
* Given its financial problems and outlook, the Postal Service cannot
support its current level of service and operations.
Figure: Actual and Projected Total Mail Volume, Fiscal Years 1971
through 2020:
[Refer to PDF for image: line graph]
Fiscal year: 1971;
Mail pieces: 87.0 billion.
Fiscal year: 1972;
Mail pieces: 87.2 billion.
Fiscal year: 1973;
Mail pieces: 89.7 billion.
Fiscal year: 1974;
Mail pieces: 90.1 billion.
Fiscal year: 1975;
Mail pieces: 89.3 billion.
Fiscal year: 1976;
Mail pieces: 89.8 billion.
Fiscal year: 1977;
Mail pieces: 93.2 billion.
Fiscal year: 1978;
Mail pieces: 96.9 billion.
Fiscal year: 1979;
Mail pieces: 99.8 billion.
Fiscal year: 1980;
Mail pieces: 106.3 billion.
Fiscal year: 1981;
Mail pieces: 110.1 billion.
Fiscal year: 1982;
Mail pieces: 114.0 billion.
Fiscal year: 1983;
Mail pieces: 119.4 billion.
Fiscal year: 1984;
Mail pieces: 131.5 billion.
Fiscal year: 1985;
Mail pieces: 140.1 billion.
Fiscal year: 1986;
Mail pieces: 147.4 billion.
Fiscal year: 1987;
Mail pieces: 153.9 billion.
Fiscal year: 1988;
Mail pieces: 161.0 billion.
Fiscal year: 1989;
Mail pieces: 161.6 billion.
Fiscal year: 1990;
Mail pieces: 166.3 billion.
Fiscal year: 1991;
Mail pieces: 165.9 billion.
Fiscal year: 1992;
Mail pieces: 166.4 billion.
Fiscal year: 1993;
Mail pieces: 171.2 billion.
Fiscal year: 1994;
Mail pieces: 178.0 billion.
Fiscal year: 1995;
Mail pieces: 180.7 billion.
Fiscal year: 1996;
Mail pieces: 183.4 billion.
Fiscal year: 1997;
Mail pieces: 190.9 billion.
Fiscal year: 1998;
Mail pieces: 196.9 billion.
Fiscal year: 1999;
Mail pieces: 201.6 billion.
Fiscal year: 2000;
Mail pieces: 207.9 billion.
Fiscal year: 2001;
Mail pieces: 207.5 billion.
Fiscal year: 2002;
Mail pieces: 202.8 billion.
Fiscal year: 2003;
Mail pieces: 202.2 billion.
Fiscal year: 2004;
Mail pieces: 206.1 billion.
Fiscal year: 2005;
Mail pieces: 211.7 billion.
Fiscal year: 2006;
Mail pieces: 213.0 billion.
Fiscal year: 2007;
Mail pieces: 212.2 billion.
Fiscal year: 2008;
Mail pieces: 202.7 billion.
Fiscal year: 2009;
Mail pieces: 177.1 billion.
Fiscal year: 2010;
Mail pieces: 166.1 billion.
Fiscal year: 2011;
Mail pieces: 164.0 billion.
Fiscal year: 2012;
Mail pieces: 164.6 billion.
Fiscal year: 2013;
Mail pieces: 164.6 billion.
Fiscal year: 2014;
Mail pieces: 161.6 billion.
Fiscal year: 2015;
Mail pieces: 158.6 billion.
Fiscal year: 2016;
Mail pieces: 155.5 billion.
Fiscal year: 2017;
Mail pieces: 153.3 billion.
Fiscal year: 2018;
Mail pieces: 151.4 billion.
Fiscal year: 2019;
Mail pieces: 150.0 billion.
Fiscal year: 2020;
Mail pieces: 148.9 billion.
Source: USPS.
Projected fiscal year 2020 volume: About 150 billion mail pieces, the
lowest level since fiscal year 1986.
[End of figure]
* Without major changes in its operations, the Postal Service projects
that annual financial losses will escalate over the next decade to
$33 billion in fiscal year 2020.
Figure: USPS Actual and Projected Net Income (Loss), Fiscal Years 2000
through 2020:
[Refer to PDF for image: vertical bar graph]
Fiscal year: 2002;
Actual: -$0.68 billion.
Fiscal year: 2003;
Actual: $3.87 billion.
Fiscal year: 2004;
Actual: $3.07 billion.
Fiscal year: 2005;
Actual: $1.45 billion.
Fiscal year: 2006;
Actual: $0.9 billion.
Fiscal year: 2007;
Actual: -$5.14 billion.
Fiscal year: 2008;
Actual: -$2.81 billion.
Fiscal year: 2009;
Actual: -$3.79 billion.
Fiscal year: 2010;
Projected: -$7.8 billion.
Fiscal year: 2011;
Projected: -$11.75 billion.
Fiscal year: 2012;
Projected: -$15.14 billion.
Fiscal year: 2013;
Projected: -$16.99 billion.
Fiscal year: 2014;
Projected: -$19.77 billion.
Fiscal year: 2015;
Projected: -$22.56 billion.
Fiscal year: 2016;
Projected: -$25.6 billion.
Fiscal year: 2017;
Projected: -$24.62 billion.
Fiscal year: 2018;
Projected: -$26.98 billion.
Fiscal year: 2019;
Projected: -$30.11 billion.
Fiscal year: 2020;
Projected: -$33.07 billion.
Source: USPS.
[End of figure]
Action by Congress and the Postal Service urgently needed to
facilitate progress:
(1) more aggressive action needed to realign Postal Service
operations and its workforce while increasing revenues within
its current authority, using the collective bargaining process to
address wages, benefits, and workforce flexibility; and;
(2) Congress needs to address legal restrictions and resistance to
broader changes in the postal network and workforce.
The longer it takes for Congress and the Postal Service to address
these challenges, the more difficult they will be to overcome.
[End of section]
On the Web:
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Contact:
Chuck Young, Managing Director, Public Affairs:
YoungC1@gao.gov (202) 512-4800:
U.S. Government Accountability Office:
441 G Street NW, Room 7149:
Washington, D.C. 20548:
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[End of presentation]
