Featuring interviews with GAO officials on significant issues and new reports, the Watchdog Report is recorded, hosted, and produced by GAO staff.
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There are more than a thousand facilities across the U.S. that treat, store, or dispose of various types of hazardous waste. Some of these facilities are located in areas increasingly prone to flooding, extreme weather events, or wildfires. What…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspects drug manufacturers here and overseas to ensure the safety and quality of drug sold in the United States. But FDA paused many of its in-person inspection efforts during COVID-19 because of travel…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Early in the pandemic, the federal government prioritized swiftly distributing checks to businesses and workers to help meet the urgent needs they face because of economic disruptions. But this quick action put billions of dollars at increased risk…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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When military service members and their families move to a new base, they are subject to the whims of the housing markets they enter and leave. Trying to rent or buy a home when housing markets and competition are in flux can have a significant…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Radioactive materials are commonly used for medical, industrial, or research purposes. But in the hands of terrorists, even in small amounts, they can be used to make a dirty bomb. In a new report, we looked at federal efforts to prevent radioactive…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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The effects of climate change have cost the federal government and taxpayers billions of dollars. These costs will likely increase in the future, even if actions are taken to address climate change. What should the federal government be doing to…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Banks that loaned money for commercial real estate venturesmay be feeling the pinch, as many offices and business spaces continueto sit vacant in the wake of COVID-19. A period of rising interest rateshas added to these concerns. We talk to GAO…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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People with disabilities may experience domestic violence at a rate five times higher than those without disabilities. But domestic violence centers may struggle to provide assistance to these survivors. GAO's Elizabeth Curda, an expert on…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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In a new report, we found that Black girls are disciplined much more often and more harshly than other children in public schools. GAO’s Jackie Nowicki tells us more.Oleh Government Accountability Office
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China is the world's largest investor in international infrastructure financing and development. Through its initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative, China has expanded its influence with other countries. And this may pose significant…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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The Department of Defense maintains a stockpile of critical materials that are essential to national defense and civilian life. This stockpile includes metals like titanium, which is used to prevent corrosion of weapons, and lithium used in…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Over the last 30 years, the Navy has assigned fewer personnel to ships. The goal was to reduce costs. But there have been concerns that fewer sailors has made it harder to maintain ships. And it could also have broader consequences for Navy…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Food insecurity among American Indian and Alaska Nativehouseholds is significantly greater than it is for all U.S. households.In recent years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has committed toremoving barriers that Tribes face when trying to…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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The Department of Defense plans to spend big bucks modernizing the IT systems it uses for everything from health care and human-capital needs, to logistics and contracting. Congress asked GAO to look at whether DOD's efforts are meeting costs…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault often flee their homes to get away from their attackers. This can result in survivors having unstable housing situations. And for those who receive government assistance, such as rental housing…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Having police in schools has been the subject of considerable debate in recent years. Police can make students and teachers feel safer. But there are also concerns that students aren't being treated equally--that some students are being…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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The Department of Energy is one of the largest federal research funding agencies. While this research funding is important, so is ensuring that companies that have licensing agreements with DOE are meeting U.S. manufacturing requirements, and that…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Several high-profile cases at multiple colleges have raised concerns about how schools are protecting student athletes from sexual harassment and violence. In a new report, we looked at some of the barriers athletes faced when reporting sexual…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Each year, GAO provides a quick look assessing the Department of Defense's major weapons programs. We look at things like investments, schedules, and practices for acquiring and developing weapons systems. This year's assessment comes at a…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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In recent years, more veterans have sought treatment for mental health conditions. Providing them with timely access to this care is a top priority for the Department of Veterans Affairs. But the VA has struggled to meet this growing demand for…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Title IX prohibits discrimination in education programs based on sex. It's probably best known for its role in sports--helping to increase girls' and women's participation in athletics. But even after 50 years since its passage by…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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After the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a new worldwide health emergency--a global outbreak of Mpox, which may be better known as monkeypox. That outbreak once again highlighted the need for a strong federal response to public health emergencies. But…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Our new report estimates, for the first time, the direct financial losses from fraud across federal programs and operations. GAO looked at a recent 5-year period and is estimating annual losses from fraud to be between $233 and $521 billion dollars…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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The F-35 Lightning II aircraft is the military's most advanced stealth fighter. It's the Department of Defense's most ambitious and costly weapons system. The military currently has about 600 of these jets with plans to buy nearly…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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The first Move Over law originated in 1996 in South Carolina. Today, every state has its own law. But despite this, many drivers don’t know about them. We learn more about efforts to get the word out from GAO’s Elizabeth "Biza" Repko.Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Lack of Sleep Among Active Duty Military Contributes to Millions of Dollars in Damage and Service Member Deaths
We expect our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines to be combat ready. But sleep deprivation and fatigue can dramatically reduce readiness, and fatigue has been connected to accidents that have resulted in deaths, as well as hundreds of millions of…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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At-home testing tools may aid early detection of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and be more cost effective for patients. In a new report, a Science & Tech Spotlight, we looked at the status of this at-home…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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U.S. commercial airline traffic dropped 96% during peak pandemic times. In response, the federal government (the taxpayers) provided $132 billion in financial assistance to the industry and related businesses. Today, the industry has largely…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Congress has approved $113 billion dollars in aid for Ukraine. Today, GAO is issuing the first in a series of reports--requested by Congress--about the use and oversight of this assistance. Today’s report specifically looks at defense and security…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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We're seeing more deepfakes on social media and in the news. These are videos, audio or images that have been manipulated using artificial intelligence. What's being done to combat these fakes? We find out from GAO's Brian Bothwell.Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Head Start is an important program that supports earlylearning and development in young children (from birth to 5), who livein poverty. Nearly 800,000 young children were enrolled in Head Startprograms during the 2021-2022 school year. But many…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Serving in the military, especially combat, may carry a psychological cost for active-duty service members. If left untreated, behavioral health conditions--such as mental health and substance use disorders-- can worsen with consequences for the…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Here at GAO, we recognize economic trends can changequickly and have major impacts on Americans. We publish reports andprovide technical assistance to Congress to help members understandthese emerging issues and their potential policy options. On…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Many pregnant people take prenatal vitamins to promote healthy pregnancies and babies. But these widely used supplements are not subject to the same scrutiny for safety and labeling as prescription drugs. For a new report, we looked at whether some…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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The U.S. and its allies face growing cyber threats from adversaries and individuals looking to undermine our democracies, institutions, and economies. These include threats from nations like China and Russia. In a new report, we looked at recent…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Medicaid is the government's program that helps low income, medically needy, populations receive health care services. Within Medicaid, managed care allows beneficiaries to receive these services from a network of approved providers. Spending…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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As weather-related events--like hurricanes and wildfires--become more frequent and severe, meteorologists and others are looking for new ways to forecast these events. GAO's Brian Bothwell joins us to share his new report on the role artificial…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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GAO publishes reports and provides technical assistance to Congress to help members understand the emerging technology and science issues and potential policy options. We recently named a new chief scientist to help lead this work. Met our new Chief…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Cyber-based attacks on federal systems have become more damaging and disruptive. Federal agencies are required to secure their IT systems from these attacks. GAO's Jennifer Franks joins us to look at our new report on the federal government…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Radioactive materials are commonly used for medical, industrial and research purposes. But after use, what's being done to ensure radioactive materials are disposed of safely. In a new report, we look at these concerns. GAO's Allison…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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At the beginning of the pandemic, we heard a lot about shortages of hospital beds, ventilators, testing supplies, as well as doctors and nurses. GAO has reported heavily on the impacts of not being prepared for a pandemic. But in a new report, we…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Parents know that the first few years of a child's life include so many critical milestones. During those first few years, it's critical to identify any developmental delays a child might have and provide early intervention services. The…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Some foreign governments have harassed, abducted, threatened, or even assassinated U.S.-based individuals in an effort to silence their criticism. Prominent examples of transnational repression like this include the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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As NASA Plans Its Return to the Moon, Greater Visibility Into Spending Could Help Address Cost Concern
When NASA launched Artemis I last November, it used the world's most powerful rocket. The same rocket design, or Space Launch System, will be used in the Artemis II and III missions, with the goal of returning Americans to the moon for the…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Greenhouse gas emissions are a major contributor to climate change. The largest source of emissions in the U.S. is transportation occurring on our nation’s roadways, which are owned and run by state and local governments. We learn more about the…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Businesses are increasingly shifting their legal structuresfrom corporations-- that are subject to corporate income taxes--topartnerships. This shift has made it more difficult for the IRS toidentify taxable income and catch potential tax cheats…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Unemployment Insurance programs saw unprecedented increases in demand during the pandemic. But despite this increase, many Americans were extremely frustrated when they tried to apply facing delays and other issues in accessing this essential safety…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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The federal government has 500 million square feet of office space, which costs billions of dollars each year to lease, operate and maintain. But many of these buildings are under-occupied. This is a long standing problem, but one that increased…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Every year, GAO sends letters to federal agencies highlighting our recommendations from past reports that we think should be prioritized because they would have an immediate high impact on the most pressing challenges facing their agencies and…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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Artificial intelligence could transform national defense and security. The Department of Defense has designated it a top priority in its modernization efforts. What are DOD's plans to gain AI technology and capabilities? We'll learn more…Oleh Government Accountability Office
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