GAO High Risk is JTL

Last week the Government Accountability Office placed the Census Bureau’s 2010 census effort on its high risk list. As I have noted elsewhere on this blog, this is a case of risk management JTL â€" Just Too Late. The GAO really needs to change the name of its High Risk List to the Very Big Problem List, since nearly every one of the programs on its list is one in serious trouble. As highlighted by Census Bureau Director Steve Murdock in relationship to the issues that landed it on the GAO High Risk List, “I cannot overemphasize the seriousness of this problem." (My emphasis.)

If the GAO really wants to do some real good, it needs to make a clear distinction between projects or programs in trouble and those headed for trouble.

Speaking of High Risk Lists, isn’t it about time for the fiscal 2008 first quarter OMB High Risk List to be published? I am really curious to see whether the fiscal 2007 fourth quarter improvement rate has continued.