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The Administration, through the work of the Government Accountability and Transparency Board (GATB), provides strategic direction
to the Federal Government on ways to increase Federal spending transparency. The GATB's strategic direction has focused on
integrating systems that collect and display spending data, ensuring the reliability of those data, and broadening the deployment
of cutting-edge technologies that can identify and prevent fraud. In December 2011, the GATB submitted to the President its
initial report, containing key recommendations for concrete steps the Federal Government should take to enhance transparency
and accountability. First, the GATB recommended expanding the use of cutting-edge tools that can help detect and prevent waste,
fraud and abuse, and creating a centralized platform for ensuring accountability in spending across the U.S. Government. To
advance this cause, the Recovery Board has partnered with the GATB to initiate pilots with both agencies and Inspectors General
on how best to deploy new forensic and analytical capabilities government-wide. In addition, OMB and Treasury launched the
President's Do Not Pay tool to help Federal agencies prevent the types of improper payments that have plagued government for
too long - including pension payments to the deceased and payments to fraudulent contractors. On April 12, 2012, OMB issued
memorandum M-12-11 directing agencies to use this "Do Not Pay List" solution as a centralized source for checking eligibility
before making a payment, in order to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. As of February 2013, Federal agencies are on track to
meet the statutory deadline that by June 2013 all Federal agencies will review as appropriate all payments and awards for
all programs through Do Not Pay, based on the requirements in the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act
of 2012 (IPERIA). Collectively, these solutions are moving us closer to the GATB's vision of a cutting-edge technology to
drive government-wide spending accountability. Second, the GATB recommended working to create a single electronic collection
system for grant related data to eliminate system redundancies, and reduce recipients' burden of reporting to multiple agencies.
To advance this idea, OMB and Federal agencies are working with the Recovery Board to explore the opportunities to leverage
Recovery.gov as a model for displaying the type of spending data currently displayed on USAspending.gov. OMB is also working
closely with the General Services Administration (GSA) in its efforts to consolidate the Integrated Award Environment (IAE)
into the System for Award Management (SAM). In addition, the GATB is currently working with OMB and Federal agencies such
as Treasury, DOD, GSA, and the Department of Health and Human Services(HHS) to develop new methods for standardizing and improving
the collection and display of Federal financial assistance and contract data. In upcoming months, the Administration will
look to engage with civil society organizations and other key stakeholders, such as state governments, to chart the vision
for improving information collection and display on USAspending.gov going forward. Finally, OMB has continued to collaborate
with the Recovery Board and Federal agencies, including Treasury, to identify and implement opportunities to consolidate existing
government-wide reporting requirements to reduce reporting burden and provide one consistent and comprehensive one-stop resource
for Federal award spending. Third, the GATB identified steps needed to ensure that each award reported on USAspending.gov
can be uniquely identified in order to provide uniformity and consistency of data and enhance transparency of government spending.
This effort is critical to ensure that recipients who are reporting subawards are easily able to identify their award, while
also ensuring that the data we provide to the public are more reliable, easier to use, and more meaningful in tracking how
Federal dollars are spent. A unique award identification requirement is not the sole key to uniformity and consistency of
data on USAspending.gov. Based on the collaboration with the GATB, agency leadership, Inspector General community, Congress
and other interested stakeholders, data reliability and quality of Federal spending information must be achieved. To achieve
data reliability and quality, in addition to following through on the three existing GATB recommendations, OMB has developed
a new Statement of Spending. This new Statement makes transparent information about where and how Federal agencies spend tax
dollars part of agencies' annual audited financial statements. OMB piloted this new statement with a number of agencies in
their financial reports that were submitted in November 2012. Forthcoming guidance to agencies will outline how to leverage
the accountability framework provided by agency annual financial statements including statements of spending to provide similar
assurances to the quality of financial data published on USAspending.gov. With the shared goals of transparency and accountability
to the American people, the Administration has applied the authorities granted by statute to accomplish these outcomes. The
Administration, through its work under the GATB, Federal agencies, inspectors general and in close concert with Congress,
recipients of Federal funds, civil society, and other stakeholders will continue to improve transparency in Federal spending,
ensure accountability of taxpayer dollars, and drive efficiencies in Federal spending. The Federal Government will continue
to implement these efforts in an effective and cost-efficient manner, with appropriate resources made available to accomplish
the Administration's goals for transparency and accountability in Federal spending.
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On June 13, 2011, the President furthered his commitment to Federal spending transparency in Executive Order 13576, which
establishes the new Government Accountability & Transparency Board (GATB). Within six months of its establishment, the GATB
will provide a report to the President recommending concrete steps that can be taken to achieve the goals of the Executive
Order. The report will focus on integrating systems that collect and display spending data, ensuring the reliability of those
data, and broadening the deployment of cutting-edge technologies that can identify and prevent fraud.
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