GAO urges HHS, USDA, GSA to tighten lab equipment disposal controls

The Government Accountability Office issued four recommendations directing the Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the General Services Administration to address gaps in the disposal of federal laboratory equipment. The recommendations call for policy revisions, a standardized reporting mechanism, and regular biosecurity risk assessments.

GAO analysis of GSA data for fiscal years 2022 through 2025 shows that HHS and USDA sold 1,316 pieces of unneeded laboratory equipment. Among those, GAO identified nine pieces - freeze dryers and mass spectrometers - listed on the Commerce Control List that were sold to individuals and companies in the United States and Canada, some appearing to be resellers. The agencies did not report these items to GSA as required by federal regulations.

The report attributes the reporting failure to two factors: HHS policy is silent on the requirement, and GSA's property management system lacks a dedicated field for indicating Commerce Control List status. Without such mechanisms, GSA and prospective buyers may be unaware of export-control obligations, creating national-security risks.

GAO also demonstrated the vulnerability by using fictitious identities, including a nonprofit, to acquire four pieces of equipment that experts said could pose a biosecurity threat. The agency concluded that HHS and USDA have not systematically assessed biosecurity risks associated with equipment disposal, focusing instead on decontamination.

Both HHS and USDA indicated agreement with the recommendations and plan to implement them, while GSA's recommendation remains open pending confirmation of action. The agencies' forthcoming policy changes and system updates will determine how effectively the identified risks are mitigated.