Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Transportation

Summary

What GAO Found In June 2025, GAO identified 21 priority recommendations for the Department of Transportation (DOT). Since then, DOT has implemented three of those recommendations. In June 2026, GAO identified an additional six priority recommendations and removed the priority status from two recommendations, bringing the total to 22. GAO is highlighting the following three areas that warrant timely and focused attention: Addressing workforce gaps, Improving grants management, and Integrating emerging technologies. Addressing GAO's recommendations in these areas would enhance DOT's efforts to: assess and address its mission-critical staffing and skills gaps; strengthen implementation of its grant programs, which provide billions of dollars yearly to improve the nation's infrastructure; and develop comprehensive plans to ensure the safe integration of emerging technologies—such as drones and automated vehicles—into the nation's transportation systems. Taking action to implement all of GAO's open priority recommendations would help enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of operations across DOT. 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 make progress toward addressing a high risk or duplication issue, among other benefits. Since 2015, GAO has sent letters to selected agencies to highlight the importance of implementing such recommendations. For more information, contact Heather Krause at KrauseH@gao.gov.