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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Businesses are increasingly shifting their legal structures from corporations-- that are subject to corporate income taxes--to partnerships. This shift has made it more difficult for the IRS to identify taxable income and catch potential tax cheats…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The U.S. Coast Guard plans to acquire 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters to help continue its mission--patrolling for homeland security, law enforcement, and search and rescue operations. But construction of these ships faces delays, increasing costs and…

Nuclear weapons, along with other military weapon systems, are increasingly relying on software and other information technology to operate. But this increased reliance may make nuclear weapons and the systems they rely on more vulnerable to…

Social Security makes up a substantial percentage of the retirement income for many older Americans. But significant financial challenges threaten the government's ability to continue paying benefits in full. GAO's Kris Nguyen discusses…

Funding to support small businesses and their employees, who were impacted by the pandemic, totaled over $1 trillion. While this assisted more than 10 million businesses, some of it went to those who sought to defraud the government. We'll…

Widespread cancellations and delays seemed commonplace during the last holiday travel season. But while airlines are taking actions to address the causes of these disruptions, larger obstacles may lie ahead, including concerns about major shortages…

Noncompete agreements have historically been applied to highly skilled workers and executives with access to company secrets and other proprietary information. But recently these contracts used more broadly, with as many as 38% of workers saying…

The Department of Defense's budget makes up about half of all federal discretionary spending. But the DOD's financial statements have long been the source of scrutiny. For example, DOD is the only major federal agency that has never…

To combat child trafficking, the U.S. partners with other countries through Child Protection Compacts. We'll find out more from GAO's Chelsa Kenney, who looked at what is known about how well these partnerships work.

U.S. agencies sometimes provide funding to foreign businesses and other entities when it helps support U.S. trade and other goals. This financial support includes entities located in China. GAO's Kim Gianopoulos tells us more on this podcast.

Fusion energy has long promised to be a potentially transformative source of energy that avoids some of the risks and environmental impacts that other energy sources produce. But the advancement of this technology still faces fundamental challenges…

Food prices generally increase by about 2 percent each year. But from 2021 to 2022, food prices rose by 11 percent, the largest annual increase in over 40 years. What caused this major increase, and what can be done about it? We'll find out…

Regenerative medicine is an emerging field of health care that has the potential to cure previously untreatable diseases, repair or replace human cells, tissue or organs, and save lives. While the promise is vast, the workforce needed at all levels…

The United States and its global partners are experiencing a massive wave of cybercrimes. Here in the U.S., federal law enforcement have received record numbers of complaints in recent years, which include a wide array of Internet based scams…

American farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers are increasingly facing the impacts of climate change. Federal insurance programs can help offset some of these financial impacts. But as extreme weather events increase, so does the…

The IRS relies heavily on outdated computer software and hardware to perform its day-to-day operations. This includes things that would impact taxpayers, such as processing tax returns and refunds, and collecting taxes. We find out about IRS's…

COVID-19 has underscored the importance of being able to rapidly develop, manufacture, and distribute medical countermeasures--such as drugs, vaccines and testing supplies. But in the early days of the pandemic, the Department of Health and Human…

Who owns a nursing home is often an important factor impacting the quality of care residents living in that home receive. For nursing homes that participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs, ownership information is shared with the public so that…

Pediatric cancer is among the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States. But there have been relatively few new drugs approved for treatments. What are the efforts to expand research for developing new treatments? We find…

The U.S. Navy plays a critical role in U.S. national defense, as well as world commerce and keeping the seas open to trade. It faces a number of obstacles in maintaining and operating its fleet of ships. We recently looked at these issues and found…

Commercial and personal use of drones is expected to grow rapidly over the next several years. How is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responding to this increase and making sure drones are being used safely? We'll find out from GAO…

When Medicaid and Medicare programs pay for nursing home or hospice care, the government requires participating hospitals, nursing homes and hospice providers to protect individuals from abuse or neglect. But federal requirements may differ, leaving…

Broadband and 5G technology are important technologies used in daily activities across the U.S. Yet, millions of Americans lack access to them. Congress recently approved over $42 billion to accelerate efforts to expand access. But do we have the…

Reports of sexual exploitation of children online increased by 35% during COVID-19. To address this alarming trend, federal agencies have efforts underway to combat online exploitation. Today, we'll find out more about these efforts and some of…

Paying for college is one of the biggest financial decisions students and their families make. In FY 2022, the Department of Education provided $112 billion in federal student financial aid to more than 10 million students. But there are concerns…

The Department of Defense and its industrial base depend on information technology systems and electronic data to do their work. But these systems are attractive targets for hackers and other U.S. adversaries. So how does the DOD respond to these…

The Veterans Community Care Program was created to improve veterans' access to health care. Under the program, veterans can receive health care services through community providers when they face challenges accessing care at VA facilities. But…

Reports about teacher shortages in K-12 public schools grew during COVID-19. But this is actually a long-standing issue. Why are so many educators leaving the profession and why is it hard to recruit new teachers? We'll find out more from GAO…

Ransomware and other cyberattacks on public schools increased dramatically during the pandemic as schools across the nation increased their reliance on IT to deliver instruction to students. Now that classes are back in-person, what vulnerabilities…

Last December, President Biden called on the federal government to transition its fleet of more than 600,000 non-military cars, trucks, busses and other vehicles from conventional fuels to electricity by 2035. What steps have been taken so far? We’…

Each year, hundreds of women die in the U.S. from complications during pregnancy and childbirth. While the number of deaths has increased steadily, in 2021, during COVID, it reached more than a thousand. What factors have contributed to this growing…

The media industry plays an important role in educating and entertaining the public-from producing movies and television programs to publishing books and providing news coverage. But this industry has long been criticized for its lack of diversity…

Before the pandemic, Medicare only paid for telehealth services under limited circumstances-for example, when access to in-person care is limited by location. But during COVID-19, the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees Medicare…

Privacy has become a more significant issue in recent years as new technologies collect and share more and more personal data. The federal government is among those collecting large amounts of personal data, including taxpayer information. How do…

At the onset of the pandemic, steps were taken to protect elderly residents living in nursing homes from the spread of COVID-19. This included, for example, limiting visitors and isolating some residents. But these steps may have had unintended…