The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a systemic problem with information technology (IT) management, according to a June 22, 2016 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. The report follows up on recommendations made by GAO following the agency’s February, 2015 designation of the IT system as a high-risk area. It highlights the ongoing need for VA to overhaul its IT to better ensure the quality and safety of veterans’ healthcare. Despite billions of dollars being spent over the past several years on managing and modernizing IT systems, including $3.9 billion in fiscal year 2015, major problems remain unresolved.
Next on Hotel Hell: City of Baltimore
For eight consecutive years, the city-owned and operated Hilton Baltimore has lost money, $5.2 million in 2015. Baltimore’s economy has not been strong recently, and the riots following the Freddie Gray incident haven’t had a positive impact on the city’s tourist business. However, the Hilton was losing money well before the recent troubles. Instead of making $7 million a […]
Let the USDA Catfish Inspection Program Off The Hook!
The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) catfish inspection program has already been called out on nine separate occasions, February 2011, March 2011, May 2012, February 2013, April 2013, April 2014, December 2014, February 2015, and April 2015, by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as a program that duplicates another catfish inspection program operating at the Food & Drug Administration. With the release of its April 2016 report on duplication, the GAO once again highlighted the problem.