The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) quietly released a list this week with the names of its recently classified reports. But some in Congress aren’t too happy about it. The publication of the list took about a year of negotiations between the GAO and Congress.
As the Federation of American Scientists notes, quoting an anonymous Congressional staffer, the release of this list, “was not necessarily universally desired by everyone in Congress.” But you can bet that this is a rather diplomatic way of putting it.
The list is just names and dates of reports that have been published by the GAO — the agency that’s charged with keeping American government agencies themselves accountable in cases of vulnerability and malfeasance. Like that time in 2010 when they revealed the EPA’s Energy Star program was a scam. The GAO set up a fake company and got Energy Star certification for a gas-powered alarm clock and an “air purifier” that was just a space heater with a feather duster taped to it. Seriously.
The content of this new list covers everything from Iran sanctions to Navy drone systems to fears over the Department of Defence’s access to cutting-edge microelectronics. We can’t read the reports, but the titles themselves give clues to what the GAO has been working on.
Other reports include titles like, “Information Security: FAA Needs to Address Weaknesses in Air Traffic Control Systems,” and “Defence Infrastructure: Improvements in DOD Reporting and Cybersecurity Implementation Needed to Enhance Utility Resilience Planning.”
It’s all sensitive stuff, no doubt. But lists like these can be invaluable to journalists and researchers working on important national security stories. And even if these particular GAO reports can’t be declassified anytime soon, the release and continual update of this list could help historians of the future in tracking down information.
“This list is intended to keep Congress, federal agencies, and the public informed of the existence of these products,” the GAO website says. “The list consists of all such classified or controlled products issued since September 30, [2015] and will be updated each time a new report is issued.”
Below is the list of classified and restricted report titles which have been released as of October 16, 2015:
Kabul: Camp Sullivan Mishap Related to HESCO Security Barriers
GAO-15-708RSU: Published: September 28, 2015
Information Security: GAO Review of State-Based Marketplace Security and Privacy – 1
GAO-15-804RSU: Published: September 22, 2015
Information Security: GAO Review of State-Based Marketplace Security and Privacy – 2
GAO-15-805RSU: Published: September 22, 2015
Information Security: GAO Review of State-Based Marketplace Security and Privacy – 3
GAO-15-806RSU: Published: September 22, 2015
Nuclear Nonproliferation: DOE Made Progress to Secure Vulnerable Nuclear Materials Worldwide, but Opportunities Exist to Improve Its Efforts
GAO-15-501C: Published: August 3, 2015
Defence Infrastructure: Improvements in DOD Reporting and Cybersecurity Implementation Needed to Enhance Utility Resilience Planning
GAO-15-547SU: Published: July 23, 2015
Littoral Combat Ship: Knowledge of Survivability and Lethality Capabilities Needed Prior to Making Major Funding Decisions
GAO-15-361C: Published: July 7, 2015
Management Report: Improvement Needed in the Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s Information Systems Controls
GAO-15-411RSU: Published: June 25, 2015
Military Readiness and Metrics
GAO-15-504RC: Published: June 23, 2015
Arctic Planning: DOD Expects to Play a Supporting Role to Other Federal Agencies and Has Efforts Under Way to Address Capability Needs and Update Plans
GAO-15-615C: Published: June 19, 2015
Force Structure: Preliminary Observations on Air Force A-10 Divestment
GAO-15-600RC: Published: June 19, 2015
Library of Congress: Information Security Review
GAO-15-575SU: Published: June 18, 2015
Diplomatic Security: State Department Should Better Manage Risks to Residences and Other Soft Targets Overseas
GAO-15-512SU: Published: June 18, 2015
U.S. Cyber Command: Actions Needed to Improve DOD’s Management and Control of Cyberspace Operations
GAO-15-456C: Published: June 18, 2015
Iran Sanctions: Executive Branch Has Established Processes to Impose and Waive Sanctions on Financial Transactions Including Certain Purchases of Iranian Petroleum Products
GAO-15-682SU: Published: June 17, 2015
Iran Sanctions: Executive Branch Has Established Processes to Address Exceptions and Remittances Related to Purchases of Iranian Crude Oil
GAO-15-622C: Published: June 17, 2015
Combating Terrorism: Steps Taken to Mitigate Threats to Locally Hired Staff, but State Department Could Improve Reporting on Terrorist Threats
GAO-15-458SU: Published: June 17, 2015
Personnel Security Clearances: Funding Estimates and Government-Wide Metrics Are Needed to Implement Long-Standing Reform Efforts
GAO-15-179SU: Published: April 23, 2015
Insider Threats: DOD Should Strengthen Management and Guidance to Protect Classified Information Systems
GAO-15-357C: Published: April 22, 2015
Combating Terrorism: State Should Review How It Addresses Holds Placed During the Foreign Terrorist Organisation Designation Process
GAO-15-439SU: Published: April 21, 2015
Regional Web Interaction Program: DOD Has Established Measures and Controls to Oversee U.S. Central Command’s Program
GAO-15-383C: Published: April 16, 2015
Defence Technologies: Future DOD Access to Leading-Edge Microelectronics is Uncertain
GAO-15-422RSU: Published: April 15, 2015
Management Report: Areas for Improvement in Federal Reserve Bank’s Information Systems Controls
GAO-15-369RSU: Published: April 3, 2015
Prepositioned Stocks: Additional Information and a Consistent Definition Would Make the Annual Report More Useful
GAO-15-187C: Published: March 26, 2015
Information Security: IRS Needs to Continue Improving Controls over Financial and Taxpayer Data
GAO-15-336SU: Published: March 19, 2015
Confidential Informants: Updates to Policy and Additional Guidance Would Improve Oversight by DOJ and DHS Agencies
GAO-15-242SU: Published: March 5, 2015
Interagency Coordination: DoD and State Need to Clarify DoD roles and Responsibilities to Protect U.S. Personnel and Facilities Overseas in High-Threat Areas
GAO-15-219C: Published: March 4, 2015
Critical Infrastructure Protection: DHS and State Need to Improve Their Process for Identifying Foreign Dependencies
GAO-15-233C: Published: February 26, 2015
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty: State Informs Congress of Russian Compliance through Reports and Briefings
GAO-15-318RSU: Published: February 25, 2015
Homeland Security: Action Needed to Better Assess Cost Effectiveness of Security Enhancements at Federal Facilities
GAO-15-186SU: Published: February 24, 2015
Homeland Security: Actions Needed to Better Manage Security Screening at Federal Buildings and Courthouses
GAO-15-109SU: Published: January 30, 2015
Information Security: FAA Needs to Address Weaknesses in Air Traffic Control Systems
GAO-15-204SU: Published: January 29, 2015
Aviation Security: TSA Should Take Additional Actions to Obtain Stakeholder Input when Modifying the Prohibited Items List
GAO-15-135SU: Published: December 15, 2014
Triton Unmanned Aircraft System: Assessment of the Navy’s Acquisition Strategy and Program Progress
GAO-15-99SU : Published: December 12, 2014
Nuclear Weapons: DOD Plan for Implementing Nuclear Reductions Generally Addresses Statutory Requirements but Lacks Some Detail
GAO-15-90RC: Published: December 11, 2014
Military Strategy: Improved Sequencing and Additional Details Could Enhance the Value of DOD’s Reports to Congress
GAO-15-46C: Published: November 28, 2014
Information Security: James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation Needs to Address Program and Privacy Weaknesses
GAO-15-140SU: Published: November 20, 2014
Information Security: National Endowment for the Humanities Needs to Address Program and Privacy Weaknesses
GAO-15-139SU: Published: November 20, 2014
Information Security: National Capital Planning Commission Needs to Address Program and Privacy Weaknesses
GAO-15-138SU: Published: November 20, 2014
Information Security: Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Needs to Address Program and Privacy Weaknesses
GAO-15-137SU: Published: November 20, 2014
Information Security: International Boundary Commission, U.S. and Canada, Needs to Address Program and Privacy Weaknesses
GAO-15-136SU: Published: November 20, 2014
Information Security: Federal Trade Commission Needs to Address Program Weaknesses
GAO-15-76SU: Published: November 20, 2014
Supply Chain Security: CBP Needs To Enhance Its Guidance and Oversight of High-Risk Maritime Cargo Shipments
GAO-15-18SU: Published: November 13, 2014
Federation of American Scientists; photo via AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File