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…

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…

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.