Government Accountability Office (GAO) Podcast: Watchdog Report

For decades, the Department of Energy has been working to clean up dangerous nuclear waste left behind by U.S. nuclear weapons production and energy research. But finding space to dispose of this waste is an obstacle. We'll get an update on DOE…

After a natural disaster, the Small Business Administration helps homeowners and businesses recover by providing loans. While this funding is important, it is not unlimited. And in some cases, survivors may have received duplicate benefits. How is…

The financial services sector is increasingly using artificial intelligence to automate services and decisions. While this could provide benefits for consumers, it also comes with some risks. We learn more about this issue from GAO's Michael…

The Department of Veterans Affairs processed about 2 million disability benefits claims in fiscal year 2023. Navigating the claims process can be difficult. And veterans may use representatives, who are accredited by the VA, to help them. But how…

Fraud in federal programs is a significant and persistent problem. Some fraud is perpetrated by private companies that obscure their ownership information when competing for government contracts or applying for other federal benefits. In a new…

About 25% of college students face food insecurity. Over the years, efforts have been made to better connect students with food assistance programs. A recent change may help identify those who qualify and connect them to SNAP. We'll get an…

Drug shortages are a serious public health concern. They can delay or limit a patient's access to effective care, with potentially dire consequences for their health. Over the summer, the Food and Drug Administration was tracking more than 100…

Increasingly, Americans are falling victim to more frequent and sophisticated scams. Technology is helping to fuel this increase. And it's costing Americans a lot of money. We'll learn about federal efforts to combat a growing number of scams and…

On this special episode of the Watchdog Report, we'll listen in on a conversation between GAO Director Cardell Johnson and his team, who worked on a new report that looks at some of the challenges Hurricane Hunters are facing as weather events…

Protecting federal buildings and facilities from growing threats is a big, important job. We recently tested security at some of these facilities. We learn more about our undercover investigation and findings from GAO's Dave Marroni

Criminal organizations and terrorist groups use money laundering to carry out their crimes, including human and drug trafficking. Federal agencies work together to investigate these activities and have developed several strategies to combat these…

Artificial intelligence could be used to improve services and utilities we use every day—such as electricity, water, transportation, banking, and more. But AI could also make these systems more vulnerable to cyber threats. In a new report, we looked…

To prevent the federal government from defaulting on its debt when it neared the debt limit in 2023, Congress voted to suspend the debt ceiling through this coming January 1. With that deadline looming, the decision of how to address national debt…

The Navy maintains a fleet of large amphibious warfare ships that are primarily used for important Marine Corps missions. But the Navy has struggled to keep these ships available for operations and training. In some cases, ships have been…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Banks that loaned money for commercial real estate ventures may be feeling the pinch, as many offices and business spaces continue to sit vacant in the wake of COVID-19. A period of rising interest rates has added to these concerns. We talk to GAO…

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…

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.

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…

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…

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…

Food insecurity among American Indian and Alaska Native households is significantly greater than it is for all U.S. households. In recent years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has committed to removing barriers that Tribes face when trying to…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

Head Start is an important program that supports early learning and development in young children (from birth to 5), who live in poverty. Nearly 800,000 young children were enrolled in Head Start programs during the 2021-2022 school year. But many…

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…

Here at GAO, we recognize economic trends can change quickly and have major impacts on Americans. We publish reports and provide technical assistance to Congress to help members understand these emerging issues and their potential policy options. On…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…