A new GAO Report notes that both DHS and FEMA "have taken steps to streamline the application and award processes and have enhanced their use of risk management for allocating grants." However, the report concludes that "better project information and coordination could help FEMA identify and mitigate the risk of unnecessary duplication among grant applications." The report also finds that while "FEMA has proposed consolidating the majority of its various preparedness grant programs into a single, comprehensive preparedness grant program called the National Preparedness Grant Program (NPGP) in fiscal year 2013," such changes could also "create new challenges. For example, allocations under the NPGP would rely heavily on a state’s risk assessment, but grantees have not yet received guidance on how to conduct the risk assessment process. FEMA has established a website to solicit input from stakeholders on how best to implement the program."

Click here to view the GAO Report (PDF, 25 Pages, 431 KB)