Program Consolidation: Budgetary Implications and Other Issues
(Testimony, 05/23/95, GAO/T-AIMD-95-145).

The federal government runs a host of programs that often are
duplicative and overlapping, reducing the efficiency and the
effectiveness of government services.  Program consolidation is a
promising alternative.  During the past year, GAO issued several reports
documenting fragmentation and duplication in education programs.  This
testimony discusses some of the issues that GAO believes are important
to efforts to consolidate education programs, emphasizing grant program
consolidations.  However, Congress has also shown great interest in
program consolidations and streamlining across many areas of the federal
budget--from defense and international affairs to transportation and
welfare.  Some consolidations will undoubtedly bring together activities
that are entirely federal in nature. Yet many program consolidations
being debated would merge smaller, more narrowly defined federal grant
programs into larger programs of state and locally run federal
assistance.  It is expected that the new programs will operate as
partnerships with state and local governments in which federal funding
will be reduced.  Accordingly, this testimony stresses the budgetary and
other implications of grant consolidations for the federal government.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-AIMD-95-145
     TITLE:  Program Consolidation: Budgetary Implications and Other 
             Issues
      DATE:  05/23/95
   SUBJECT:  Federal agency reorganization
             Block grants
             Federal/state relations
             Community development programs
             Accountability
             Employment or training programs
             Educational programs
             Program management
             Defense operations
             Cost control
IDENTIFIER:  DOD Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Program
             Strategic Petroleum Reserve
             SPR
             Commodity Supplemental Food Program
             USDA Emergency Food Assistance Program
             USDA Soup Kitchen/Food Bank Program
             
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