GAO Seeks Final DOE, State Dept Strategies to Manage Unobligated Balances

The Government Accountability Office recommends the departments of Energy and State finalize their strategies to manage the unobligated balances in two separate accounts as part of GAO’s study into the use of public funds.

GAO said in a report published Friday the unobligated balances for fiscal years 2012 to 2014 are in DOE’s Western Area Power Administration construction, rehabilitation, operation and maintenance account and State’s consular and border security programs.

The report noted that DOE and the State Department, as well as the Commerce Department and NASA, used the unobligated balances to support operations during the 2013 sequestration and government shutdown.

DOE and the State Department have concurred with the report’s recommendations, GAO said.