Follow WatchBlog via Email
-
Recent Posts
- We’ve Moved! Continue following the WatchBlog at GAO.gov/blog
- What is the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and How Does It Protect Consumers from Hazards?
- The 2021 High Risk List—Which Programs Are At High Risk of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse? (videos)
- Pregnant Women in Federal Custody—A Uniquely Vulnerable Population
- Medicaid in Times of Crisis, and An Introduction to Our New Special Product—The Health Care Capsules
- How the Small Business Administration Partners with Historically Black Colleges and Universities
- Rural Hospital Closures Create More Distance Between Residents and Care
- Vaccine Distribution, Supply Chain, Testing Still Present Challenges in Federal Pandemic Response
- Move Over! How Are Governments Trying to Protect First Responders From Roadside Crashes? (video)
- How GAO’s Recommendations Can Help the New Congress and President
Categories
- About GAO
- Agriculture and Food
- Auditing and Financial Management
- Budget and Spending
- Business Regulation and Consumer Protection
- Collections
- Communications
- Coronavirus
- disaster assistance
- Disaster Assistance
- Duplication and Cost Savings
- Economic Development
- Education
- Employment
- Energy
- Equal Opportunity
- Financial Markets and Institutions
- Fiscal Outlook and The Debt
- Fraud
- Government Operations
- Graphic
- Health Care
- High Risk List
- Homeland Security
- Housing
- Human Capital
- Infographic
- Information Management
- Information Security
- Information Technology
- Interactive graphic
- International Affairs
- Justice and Law Enforcement
- Key Issues
- Mission Team
- National Defense
- Natural Resources and Environment
- OGC
- Podcast
- Quick Look
- Racial Disparities
- Recovery Act
- Retirement Security
- Science and Technology
- Space
- Tax Policy and Administration
- Technology Assessment
- Topics
- Trade
- Transportation
- Veterans
- Video
- Worker and Family Assistance
Author Archives: WatchBlog
COVID-19 Vaccines and the Lessons Learned from H1N1
As the federal government responds to the coronavirus pandemic, we here at GAO have been monitoring the response efforts—including reviewing COVID-19 vaccine development and authorization. Today’s WatchBlog explores our past work on vaccine distribution and lessons learned from the H1N1 … Continue reading
Recent Cyberattacks Further Highlight Need For Action
Recent high-profile and widespread cyberattacks on federal agencies and national infrastructure have further highlighted the need for the government to address this attack and prevent future ones. However, these threats and the challenges in addressing them are long-standing and have … Continue reading
Posted in About GAO, Collections, High Risk List
Tagged Chuck Young, cyber attack, cyber threat, cyberattacks, cybersecurity, Department of Homeland Security, information and communication, information management, information security, Information technology and cybersecurity, ITC, national security
Leave a comment
Protecting Federal Research from Foreign Influence
Federally-funded researchers may face conflicts of interest if they receive funding or other benefits from foreign entities, which may be looking to gain access to that research. One such example was highlighted in May 2020, when a former researcher at … Continue reading
Celebrating 100 Years of Making Government Work Better for You
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Government Accountability Office. Over the past century, the independent “congressional watchdog” has been presenting the facts on government oversight—pointing out where the federal government is doing well and where … Continue reading
Getting in Fiscal Shape — How Changing Future Spending and Revenue Could Improve Government Finances (interactive graphic)
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused economic turmoil and resulted in unprecedented federal spending to address the public health and economic crisis. However, even before the pandemic, the federal government was on an unsustainable fiscal path caused by an imbalance in … Continue reading
Why Do Banks Share Your Financial Information and Are They Allowed To?
In a word: yes. If you’ve ever applied for a loan, you know that banks and credit unions collect a lot of personal financial information from you, such as your income and credit history. And it’s not uncommon for lenders … Continue reading
Posted in About GAO, Business Regulation and Consumer Protection, Collections
Tagged Alicia Puente Cackley, Consumer Financial Protection, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Consumer privacy, Financial Markets and Community Investment, FMCI, Information technology and cybersecurity, Nick Marinos
Leave a comment
Why is CDC Screening Fewer People for Breast and Cervical Cancer?
About 265,000 women in the U.S. were diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer in 2017, according to the most recently available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early screening and detection of cancer, followed by prompt treatment, … Continue reading
How GAO Can Help in a Congressional and Presidential Transition
The 117th Congress and the incoming Presidential administration will be taking office in a time that presents significant challenges to the government. These include the coronavirus pandemic and its far-reaching public health and economic effects; the evolving issues around race … Continue reading
Posted in About GAO, Collections
Tagged Congress, congressional transition, Coronavirus, DOF, duplication, economic recovery, election, fiscal health, fragmentation, high risk list, overlap, pandemic, pandemic response, presidential transition, priority recommendations, race, transition
Leave a comment
Continued Surge in COVID Cases Highlights Need for Urgent Federal Action
COVID-19 cases have been increasing since mid-September, further highlighting the importance of federal public health and economic response efforts. Today’s WatchBlog looks at our fourth report on the federal pandemic response, which describes the status of ongoing efforts and outlines … Continue reading
Posted in About GAO, Collections, Coronavirus
Tagged Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Coronavirus, Department of Labor, FDA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Food and Drug Administration, IRS, Nikki Clowers, pandemic, pandemic response
Leave a comment
Mapping Global Food Insecurity (Interactive Map)
Nearly 690 million people in the world are undernourished. Poor nutrition can cause a number of health complications including stunting—a condition where poor nutrition in-utero or in early childhood causes a child to be too short for their age. Stunting … Continue reading