Air Service to Small Communities Continues to Face Challenges

How GAO is Fighting Fraud and Reducing Improper Payments in Government Spending

The federal government loses hundreds of billions of dollars to fraud each year and millions more to payment errors—also known as improper payments. GAO helps f…

What a Recent Rule Change Means for Corporate Transparency

Drug cartels and other illegal enterprises often use shell companies to hide their dealings and launder money. To combat this activity, many countries have requ…

GAO Has Found New Ways to Save the Federal Government Billions of Dollars

Over the years, GAO’s work has helped save taxpayers billions of dollars by reducing duplication, overlap and fragmentation in programs. Each year, we issue a r…

Preventing Fraud in Medicare

Medicare is the biggest spending area for the U.S. government and the largest federal health program. Due to the sheer size of Medicare, there are risks of frau…

Water Recycling Program Could Help Drought-Stricken Communities

In some parts of the United States, growing populations and prolonged droughts are straining water supplies. Large-scale water recycling could offer these commu…

USPS’s Financial Condition Struggles Under an Unsustainable Business Model

The U.S. Postal Service is a quintessentially American institution. But during the last 20 years or so, USPS has struggled financially with rising costs and dec…

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 important, it is n…

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 information when …

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 Americans a l…

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 new report …

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 work together…

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 through this com…

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 are locate…

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 face because …

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 to rent o…

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 if action…

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 vacant in the wake of …

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, China has…

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 includes metals l…