In  this role, the office is responsible for (1) developing a national drug  control policy, (2) developing and applying specific goals and  performance measurements to evaluate the effectiveness of national drug  control policy and National Drug Control Program agencies’ programs, (3)  overseeing and coordinating the implementation of the national drug  control policy, and (4) assessing and certifying the adequacy of the  budget for National Drug Control Programs. ONDCP and Other Federal Agencies Have Not Achieved 2010 Strategy Goals; ONDCP Has Established a Mechanism to Monitor Progress

		Our 2013 Analysis Found Lack of Progress toward Achieving National Strategy Goals; ONDCP’s 2015 National Strategy Shows Progress Still Needed

In our March 2013 report, we found that ONDCP and other federal  agencies had not made progress toward achieving most of the goals  articulated in the 2010 National Drug Control Strategy. In the Strategy,  ONDCP established seven goals related to reducing illicit drug use and its  consequences by 2015. As we reported in March 2013, our analysis  showed that of the five goals for which primary data on results were  available, one showed progress and four showed either no change or  movement away from the 2015 goals. According to data available to date, the Strategy  shows progress toward achieving one goal, no progress on three goals,  and mixed progress on the remaining three goals. Overall, none of the  goals in the 2010 Strategy have been fully achieved. ONDCP Established a System to Monitor Progress toward Goals

In March 2013, we reported that ONDCP established the PRS to monitor  and assess progress toward meeting Strategy goals and objectives and  issued a report (the PRS report) describing the system with the 2012  Strategy update. At that time, the system was still in its  early stages and ONDCP had not issued its first report on the results of  the system’s performance measures. We also reported  that these plans should help increase accountability for improving results  and enhance the system’s effectiveness as a mechanism to monitor  progress toward Strategy goals and objectives and assess where further  action is needed to improve progress. ONDCP Has Assessed the Extent of Overlap and Duplication across Federal Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Programs and Identified Opportunities for More Coordination

ONDCP has assessed the extent of overlap and potential for duplication  across federal drug abuse prevention and treatment programs and  identified opportunities for increased coordination, as we recommended in  March 2013. ONDCP concurred with our recommendation and has implemented it. In  July 2014, ONDCP published an assessment of drug abuse prevention  and treatment programs in its fiscal year 2015 Budget and Performance  Summary, which was released with the annual Strategy. The assessment found that  these programs generally serve distinct beneficiaries in distinct settings,  which helps prevent overlap and duplication. However, ONDCP found that programs that provide drug abuse  prevention and treatment services to support efforts to address  homelessness would benefit from greater coordination. ONDCP Does Not Hold HIDTAs Accountable for Coordination and Has Not Assessed Opportunities to Help Reduce Potential Overlap

Our April 2013 report found that ONDCP, DHS, and DOJ did not hold  HIDTAs or the four other types of field-based information sharing entities  we reviewed—Joint Terrorism Task Forces, Federal Bureau of  Investigation Field Intelligence Groups, RISS centers, and state and  major urban area fusion centers—accountable for coordinating with one  another or assessing opportunities for further enhancing coordination to  help reduce the potential for overlap and achieve efficiencies. Specifically,  we found that while the five types of field-based entities have distinct  missions, roles, and responsibilities, their activities can overlap. Similarly, our April 2013 report found that ONDCP, DHS, and DOJ had  not assessed opportunities to implement practices that were identified as  enhancing coordination. Since our April  2013 report, the agencies have taken steps to address them. In July 2015, the subcommittee met and agreed to modify  its 2015 work plan to address the collection, analysis, and reporting of  data pertaining to field-based information sharing entities. ONDCP Has Connected the Systems That Deconflict Operations, Reducing Risks to Officer Safety and Inefficiencies

ONDCP has connected each of the systems that HIDTAs use to  deconflict operations, an action that can reduce risks to officer safety and  inefficiencies. Accordingly, we recommended that the Director of ONDCP work  with the appropriate HIDTA officials to develop milestones and time  frames for actions needed to make SAFETNet interoperable in order to  prevent unnecessary delays in reducing risks to officer safety and  lessening the burden on law enforcement agencies that are currently  using multiple systems to notify agencies when they are conducting  conflicting enforcement actions.
Why GAO Did This Study

ONDCP is responsible for coordinating the implementation of drug control policy across the federal government and funds HIDTAs that aim to support the disruption and dismantlement of drug-trafficking and money-laundering organizations.
This statement addresses the extent to which ONDCP (1) has achieved Strategy goals and has mechanisms to monitor progress, (2) has assessed overlap and potential duplication across federal drug abuse prevention and treatment programs and identified coordination opportunities, (3) holds HIDTAs accountable for coordination with other field-based information sharing entities and has assessed opportunities for coordination, and (4) has connected existing systems to coordinate law enforcement activities.
This statement is based on a March 2013 report ( GAO-13-333 ), an April 2013 report ( GAO-13-471 ), and selected updates as of November 2015. For the updates, GAO analyzed ONDCP documents on progress toward Strategy goals and drug abuse prevention and treatment programs and contacted ONDCP and HIDTA officials.

What GAO Found

GAO reported in March 2013 that the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and other agencies had not made progress toward achieving most of the goals in the 2010 National Drug Control Strategy (the Strategy) and ONDCP had established a new mechanism to monitor and assess progress. In the Strategy, ONDCP established seven goals related to reducing illicit drug use and its consequences to be achieved by 2015. As of March 2013, GAO's analysis showed that of the five goals for which primary data on results were available, one showed progress and four showed no progress. GAO also reported that ONDCP established a new monitoring system intended to provide information on progress toward Strategy goals and help identify performance gaps and options for improvement. At that time, the system was still in its early stages, and GAO reported that it could help increase accountability for improving progress. In November 2015, ONDCP issued its annual Strategy and performance report, which assess progress toward all seven goals. The Strategy shows progress in achieving one goal, no progress on three goals, and mixed progress on the other three goals. Overall, none of the goals in the Strategy have been fully achieved.
ONDCP has assessed the extent of overlap and potential for duplication across federal drug abuse prevention and treatment programs and identified opportunities for increased coordination, as GAO recommended in March 2013. According to ONDCP's July 2014 assessment, these programs generally serve distinct beneficiaries in distinct settings, which helps prevent overlap and duplication. However, ONDCP found that programs that provide drug abuse prevention and treatment services to address homelessness would benefit from greater coordination. ONDCP noted that it was taking steps to address this issue.
GAO reported in April 2013 that ONDCP-funded High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Investigative Support Centers and four other types of field-based information sharing entities had overlapping analytical and investigative support activities. However, ONDCP and the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Justice (DOJ)—the federal agencies that oversee or provide support to the five types of field-based entities—were not holding entities accountable for coordination or assessing opportunities to implement practices that could enhance coordination, reduce unnecessary overlap, and leverage resources. ONDCP agreed with GAO's recommendations to work with DHS and DOJ to develop measures and assess opportunities to enhance coordination of field-based entities. Since July 2015, the agencies have worked through an interagency committee to make plans for collecting data on field-based collaboration, but have not yet fully addressed GAO's recommendations.
ONDCP has connected each of the systems that HIDTAs use to coordinate law enforcement activities, as GAO recommended in April 2013. Specifically, GAO reported in 2013 that HIDTAs and Regional Information Sharing System centers operated three systems that duplicate the same function—identifying when different law enforcement entities may be conducting a similar enforcement action, such as a raid at the same location—resulting in some inefficiencies. In May 2015, ONDCP completed connecting all three systems, which helps reduce risks to officer safety and potentially lessens the burden on law enforcement agencies that were using multiple systems.

What GAO Recommends

GAO has made prior recommendations to ONDCP to assess overlap in drug prevention and treatment programs; develop measures and assess opportunities to enhance coordination of field-based entities; and connect existing coordination systems. ONDCP concurred and reported actions taken or underway to address them. GAO is not making new recommendations in this testimony.