DOGE Gets Boost From GAO Report: $162 Billion In Improper Payments
The U.S. Government Accountability Office released its annual report highlighting the amount of improper payments found in the previous fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2024. In it, the GAO reports $162 billion in waste, or as the reports states, improper payments in 16 agencies across 68 different programs. Approximately 84% of these improper payments ($135 billion) were the result of overpayments. The GAO estimates the total amount of improper payments since FY 2003 at $2.8 trillion and the actual amount may be much higher.
The GAO report states, “….improper payment estimates do not represent the full extent of government-wide improper payments.” It further states, “….the $162 billion total represents a small subset of all federal programs and does not include certain programs that agencies have determined are susceptible to significant improper payments.” In short, improper payments are worse than the numbers suggest.
Agencies Excluded From GAO Report
Which agencies are more susceptible to improper payments and were not included in the numbers above? The list includes: the Department of Health and Human Services’ Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; 2) the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Public and Indian Housing’s Tenant-Based Rental Assistance; and 3) the Small Business Administration’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program.” HHS reports that it cannot determine the improper payments because it does not have the authority to obtain the information it needs for its TANF program. In 2022, the GAO recommended that Congress grant HHS the authority to require states to report the data the agency needs to estimate and report on improper payments. As of January 2025, Congress had not acted on the recommendation.
The GAO reports that the largest percentage of improper payments were found in Medicare and Medicaid.
The GAO report states, “….improper payment estimates do not represent the full extent of government-wide improper payments.” It further states, “….the $162 billion total represents a small subset of all federal programs and does not include certain programs that agencies have determined are susceptible to significant improper payments.” In short, improper payments are worse than the numbers suggest.
Agencies Excluded From GAO Report
Which agencies are more susceptible to improper payments and were not included in the numbers above? The list includes: the Department of Health and Human Services’ Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; 2) the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Public and Indian Housing’s Tenant-Based Rental Assistance; and 3) the Small Business Administration’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program.” HHS reports that it cannot determine the improper payments because it does not have the authority to obtain the information it needs for its TANF program. In 2022, the GAO recommended that Congress grant HHS the authority to require states to report the data the agency needs to estimate and report on improper payments. As of January 2025, Congress had not acted on the recommendation.
The GAO reports that the largest percentage of improper payments were found in Medicare and Medicaid.
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