Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Justice

What GAO Found

In May 2024, GAO identified 15 priority recommendations for the Department of Justice (DOJ). Since then, DOJ has implemented one of those recommendations. Specifically, within DOJ, the Executive Office for Immigration Review developed a strategic workforce plan and took steps to implement it, such as conducting an agencywide skills gap analysis and setting goals and measures to evaluate the agency's progress towards its human capital goals. By taking these steps, the Office should be better positioned to address current and future staffing needs for overseeing immigration courts.

In May 2025, GAO identified three additional priority recommendations for DOJ, bringing the total number to 17. The 17 recommendations fall into the following six areas:

• Management of the federal prison system,
• Countering domestic terrorism,
• Efforts to combat illicit opioid use,
• Efforts to combat money laundering,
• Information technology and cybersecurity, and
• Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program.

DOJ's continued attention to these issues could lead to significant improvements in government operations.

Why GAO Did This Study

Priority open recommendations are the GAO recommendations that warrant priority attention from heads of key departments or agencies because their implementation could save large amounts of money; improve congressional and/or executive branch decision-making on major issues; eliminate mismanagement, fraud, and abuse; or ensure that programs comply with laws and funds are legally spent, among other benefits. Since 2015, GAO has sent letters to selected agencies to highlight the importance of implementing such recommendations.

For more information, contact Jason L. Bair, bairj@gao.gov.