Government Accountability Office (GAO) Podcast: Watchdog Report

By Government Accountability Office

What's Government Accountability Office (GAO) Podcast: Watchdog Report about?

Featuring interviews with GAO officials on significant issues and new reports, the Watchdog Report is recorded, hosted, and produced by GAO staff.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Podcast: Watchdog Report episodes:

04.18.2024
Mpox Response Highlights the Risks of Repeating Past Mistakes
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…
04.16.2024
Our First-Of-A-Kind Estimate of Fraud in the Federal Government
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...
04.15.2024
F-35 Costs More and Maybe Used Less
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…
04.04.2024
Each State has Its Own Move Over Law, But Many Drivers Don't Know About Them
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...
03.26.2024
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…
03.25.2024
At-Home Testing Tools for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases
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…
03.18.2024
COVID-19 Battered the Aviation Industry, Is the US Prepared if it Happens Again?
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…
03.13.2024
Oversight of Defense and Security Assistance to Ukraine
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…
03.11.2024
Combating Deepfakes
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.
02.27.2024
Is Head Start--An Important Program for Children in Poverty--Reaching All Who Need It?
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…
02.06.2024
Active-Duty Military Can Face Long Wait Times for Even Urgent Mental Health Care
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…
01.29.2024
Meet Our New Chief Economist
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…
01.11.2024
We Tested Prenatal Supplements to See What's in Them--Here's What We Found
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…
01.11.2024
The Growing Need for Cyber Diplomacy
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…
12.14.2023
Spending Under Medicaid Managed Care is Growing Rapidly--Here's Why
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…
12.14.2023
Artificial Intelligence in Severe Weather and Wildfire Modeling
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…
12.04.2023
Meet GAO’s New Chief Scientist
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…
12.04.2023
Federal Response to Cyber-based Attacks
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…
11.30.2023
High-Risk Radioactive Material Disposal
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…
11.07.2023
Public Health Preparedness--Building and Maintaining Infrastructure Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic
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...
10.05.2023
Early Childhood Development--Challenges Providing and Accessing Services
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…
10.03.2023
What More Should the U.S. Do to Prevent Transitional Repression?
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…
10.03.2023
What More Should the U.S. Do to Prevent Transitional Repression?
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…
09.07.2023
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...
08.03.2023
State and Local Efforts to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Vehicles
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…
07.27.2023
Shift from Corporations to Partnerships Causes Challenges for IRS Audits
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…
07.24.2023
Unemployment Insurance Delays Caused by Old Computer IT
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…
07.13.2023
Underused Federal Office Spaces
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…
07.05.2023
Our Priority Recommendations for the Department of Homeland Security
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…
06.29.2023
Department of Defense Efforts to Acquire Artificial Intelligence
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…
06.20.2023
U.S. Coast Guard's Offshore Patrol Cutters Efforts Are Delayed And More Expensive Than Planned
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…
06.12.2023
Nuclear Weapons Cybersecurity
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…
05.18.2023
Social Security Reform
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…
05.18.2023
Fraud in Small Business COVID-19 Relief Programs
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…
05.17.2023
Aviation Workforce--Concerns about Future Pilot and Mechanic Shortages
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…
05.16.2023
What Do Noncompete Agreements Mean for Lower-Wage Workers and the Economy?
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…
05.15.2023
Department of Defense Financial Management Challenges
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…
04.17.2023
Child Trafficking and Child Protection Compacts
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.
04.12.2023
U.S. Funding of Entities Located In China
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.
03.30.2023
Fusion Energy
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…
03.28.2023
Food Prices Increases
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...
03.23.2023
Regenerative Medicine Workforce
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…
03.01.2023
The U.S. Led Fight Against Global Cybercrime
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…
02.16.2023
Climate Change--Building Greater Resilience in Agriculture
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…
02.07.2023
IRS’s Reliance on Aging Technology Impacts Taxpayers, and Modernization Plans are Incomplete and Delayed
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…
02.02.2023
Planning for the Next Public Health Emergency and Medical Countermeasure Development
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…
02.02.2023
Nursing Home Ownership Can Affect the Quality of Care, And Clearer Information Could Help Families' Decision-making
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…
01.31.2023
Efforts to Promote Pediatric Cancer Research
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...
01.31.2023
Navy Ship Maintenance and Operation Costs Grew as Use Shrank
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...
01.26.2023
FAA Tackles Increased Drone Use
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…

What's Government Accountability Office (GAO) Podcast: Watchdog Report about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Podcast: Watchdog Report episodes:

Mpox Response Highlights the Risks of Repeating Past Mistakes

Our First-Of-A-Kind Estimate of Fraud in the Federal Government

F-35 Costs More and Maybe Used Less

Each State has Its Own Move Over Law, But Many Drivers Don't Know About Them

Lack of Sleep Among Active Duty Military Contributes to Millions of Dollars in Damage and Service Member Deaths

At-Home Testing Tools for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases

COVID-19 Battered the Aviation Industry, Is the US Prepared if it Happens Again?

Oversight of Defense and Security Assistance to Ukraine

Combating Deepfakes

Is Head Start--An Important Program for Children in Poverty--Reaching All Who Need It?

Active-Duty Military Can Face Long Wait Times for Even Urgent Mental Health Care

Meet Our New Chief Economist

We Tested Prenatal Supplements to See What's in Them--Here's What We Found

The Growing Need for Cyber Diplomacy

Spending Under Medicaid Managed Care is Growing Rapidly--Here's Why

Artificial Intelligence in Severe Weather and Wildfire Modeling

Meet GAO’s New Chief Scientist

Federal Response to Cyber-based Attacks

High-Risk Radioactive Material Disposal

Public Health Preparedness--Building and Maintaining Infrastructure Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic

Early Childhood Development--Challenges Providing and Accessing Services

What More Should the U.S. Do to Prevent Transitional Repression?

What More Should the U.S. Do to Prevent Transitional Repression?

As NASA Plans Its Return to the Moon, Greater Visibility Into Spending Could Help Address Cost Concern

State and Local Efforts to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Vehicles

Shift from Corporations to Partnerships Causes Challenges for IRS Audits

Unemployment Insurance Delays Caused by Old Computer IT

Underused Federal Office Spaces

Our Priority Recommendations for the Department of Homeland Security

Department of Defense Efforts to Acquire Artificial Intelligence

U.S. Coast Guard's Offshore Patrol Cutters Efforts Are Delayed And More Expensive Than Planned

Nuclear Weapons Cybersecurity

Social Security Reform

Fraud in Small Business COVID-19 Relief Programs

Aviation Workforce--Concerns about Future Pilot and Mechanic Shortages

What Do Noncompete Agreements Mean for Lower-Wage Workers and the Economy?

Department of Defense Financial Management Challenges

Child Trafficking and Child Protection Compacts

U.S. Funding of Entities Located In China

Fusion Energy

Food Prices Increases

Regenerative Medicine Workforce

The U.S. Led Fight Against Global Cybercrime

Climate Change--Building Greater Resilience in Agriculture

IRS’s Reliance on Aging Technology Impacts Taxpayers, and Modernization Plans are Incomplete and Delayed

Planning for the Next Public Health Emergency and Medical Countermeasure Development

Nursing Home Ownership Can Affect the Quality of Care, And Clearer Information Could Help Families' Decision-making

Efforts to Promote Pediatric Cancer Research

Navy Ship Maintenance and Operation Costs Grew as Use Shrank

FAA Tackles Increased Drone Use