Government Accountability Office (GAO) Podcast: Watchdog Report
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Government Accountability Office (GAO) Podcast: Watchdog Report
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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Sanctions and Export Controls on Russia
In the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, the United States
and its allies responded with wide-ranging sanctions and export controls
on Russ...
What are DOD's Unfunded Priorities?
The U.S.'s defense budget makes up about half of all federal discretionary spending. But even so, there are billions of dollars in "unfunded prioritie...
GAO Is Nonpartisan. Here’s How We Do It
On this special episode of the podcast, we sit down with GAO's Chief Quality Officer Tim Bowling to discuss how GAO protects our fact-based, nonpartis...
How GAO Serves Congress
On this special episode of the podcast, we sit down with GAO’s Managing Director of Congressional Relations Nikki Clowers to discuss how GAO serves Co...
Which Critical Government IT Systems Are Most In Need of Modernization?
Each year, the federal government spends more than $100 billion on IT systems and cyber-related investments. About 80% of this funding goes to operati...
IRS’s Efforts to Improve Customer Service and the Taxpayer Experience
The IRS has a long-standing goal of improving its taxpayer
services and experiences. But many Americans still struggle to connect
with the...
Our 2025 Assessment of NASA's Major Projects
NASA plans to invest billions this year on major projects, including those that would return American astronauts to the moon. For our annual report on...
Are Efforts to Reduce Emissions through Road Projects Working, Cost Effective?
Cars, trucks and other vehicles are a major source of emissions that have had serious consequences on air quality and people's health. One study estim...
Ukraine Nuclear Security and Safety Efforts
Under harsh conflict conditions, Ukrainians have struggled to operate nuclear power plants and to secure nuclear and radioactive materials from potent...
U.S. Army's Efforts to Modernize Artillery, Missiles for a New Era of Warfare
The U.S. Army is shifting its focus from counterinsurgency-style warfare to large scale combat operations. And with this shift comes an urgent need fo...
Mental Health Screenings for Military Service Members Transitioning to Civilian Life
This transition from military to civilian life can be difficult for many. Suicide rates among veterans are about 2.5 times higher during that first ye...
A New Nuclear Waste Cleanup Plan Could Save Billions
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 r...
SBA Disaster Loans—Limiting Duplication of Assistance
After a natural disaster, the Small Business Administration helps homeowners and businesses recover by providing loans. While this funding is importan...
The Financial Sector is Increasing Its Use of Artificial Intelligence. What’s the Risk?
The financial services sector is increasingly using artificial intelligence to automate services and decisions. While this could provide benefits for...
Veterans Benefits--Program to Help Vets with Disabilities Claims Needs Better Oversight
The Department of Veterans Affairs processed about 2 million disability benefits claims in fiscal year 2023. Navigating the claims process can be diff...
To Fight Fraud, Inspectors General Need Help Identifying Companies’ Ownership
Fraud in federal programs is a significant and persistent problem. Some fraud is perpetrated by private companies that obscure their ownership informa...
Improving College Students’ Access to Food Assistance
About 25% of college students face food insecurity. Over the years, efforts have been made to better connect students with food assistance programs. A...
How is FDA working to Prevent Drug Shortages?
Drug shortages are a serious public health concern. They can delay or limit a patient's access to effective care, with potentially dire consequences f...
As Scams Become More Costly and Sophisticated, What is Needed to Protect Consumers?
Increasingly, Americans are falling victim to more frequent and sophisticated scams. Technology is helping to fuel this increase. And it’s costing Ame...
Hurricane Hunters from NOAA and the Air Force Face the Growing Storm
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 n...
We Went Undercover to Test Federal Building Security
Protecting federal buildings and facilities from growing threats is a big, important job. We recently tested security at some of these facilities. We...
Federal Efforts to Combat Criminals' Illicit Financial Activities
Criminal organizations and terrorist groups use money laundering to carry out their crimes, including human and drug trafficking. Federal agencies wor...
Artificial Intelligence Could Improve Critical Infrastructure Services, But It Comes with Risks
Artificial intelligence could be used to improve services and utilities we use every day—such as electricity, water, transportation, banking, and more...
As Debt Limit Deadline Looms, What is Needed to Avoid A Default and Its Potential Widespread Consequences?
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 throug...
The Poor Condition of the Navy's Amphibious Fleet And Its Impacts on Marines
The Navy maintains a fleet of large amphibious warfare ships that are primarily used for important Marine Corps missions. But the Navy has struggled t...
Hundreds of Hazardous Waste Facilities May Face Risks from Climate Change
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...
FDA's Foreign Inspections of Drug Manufacturers Have Not Rebounded to Pre-Pandemic Levels
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspects drug manufacturers here and overseas to ensure the safety and quality of drug sold in the United State...
Federal Efforts to Recover Overpayments of COVID-19 Relief
Early in the pandemic, the federal government prioritized swiftly distributing checks to businesses and workers to help meet the urgent needs they fac...
Military Service Members and Families Struggle with Housing in Increasingly Competitive Markets
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...
Preventing A Dirty Bomb
Radioactive materials are commonly used for medical, industrial, or research purposes. But in the hands of terrorists, even in small amounts, they can...
Climate Change is Costly--What can the Federal Government Do to Reduce Its Exposure?
The effects of climate change have cost the federal government and taxpayers billions of dollars. These costs will likely increase in the future, even...
Banks with Commercial Real Estate Lending Portfolios Feel the Pinch
Banks that loaned money for commercial real estate ventures
may be feeling the pinch, as many offices and business spaces continue
to sit...
People with Disabilities May Face Barriers Accessing Domestic Violence Assistance
People with disabilities may experience domestic violence at a rate five times higher than those without disabilities. But domestic violence centers m...
Nationally, Black Girls Receive More Frequent and Severe Discipline in Schools
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 Nowick...
China’s Foreign Investments Significantly Outpace the United States’
China is the world's largest investor in international infrastructure financing and development. Through its initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative,...
Is DOD stockpiling enough critical materials for our national defense?
The Department of Defense maintains a stockpile of critical materials that are essential to national defense and civilian life. This stockpile include...
Sailor Shortages and Lack of Training May Leave Navy Ships in Disrepair
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...
USDA Programs that Support Tribal Households' Food Security May Not be Meeting Needs
Food insecurity among American Indian and Alaska Native
households is significantly greater than it is for all U.S. households.
In recent...
DOD's Back Office IT--We Looked At Costs and Cybersecurity Risks
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 logi...
For Those Fleeing Domestic Violence, Rental-Assisted Housing Transfers Could Be Months Away
Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault often flee their homes to get away from their attackers. This can result in survivors having unstabl...