GAO Finds No Duplication Between NASA, Other Agencies

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) looked at a variety of NASA programs to determine if they duplicated work in other agencies and found none that did. The study was requested by Congress in the 2008 NASA Authorization Act.

The Act directed GAO to look at all NASA programs and activities with a FY2009 funding level of $50 million or above. GAO identified 33 of 38 NASA programs that met that threshold and then focused on areas within the Science Mission Directorate, the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, and the Office of Education. It excluded “space operations and exploration missions that are unique to NASA.” It then “judgmentally selected” a subset of projects and activities to compare with similar activities in other organizations. GAO’s conclusion was that:

“We found no apparent duplication among the selected projects or activities. Although we did not look at all programs within NASA, policies, procedures and mechanisms are in place that facilitate the avoidance of duplication by engaging in collaboration and coordination between NASA and other federal agencies.”

Representative Bart Gordon (D-TN), chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee, released a statement saying that:

“While I strongly believe that NASA should be given the resources and tools necessary to do all the things this nation has asked it to do, I don’t view investing in NASA as a blank check. This Committee is cognizant of its responsibility for ensuring that NASA is being a good steward of the resources given to it by American taxpayers…” “”This GAO report provides concrete confirmation that NASA is not engaging in duplicative activities and is appropriately coordinating with other federal agencies.”