Author Archives: gao_watchblog

Traveling Quickly but Safely This Summer

Curious how to pack for your next trip, or how to get into one of those TSA Pre ✔TM lines at the airport? For National Travel and Tourism Week, today’s WatchBlog highlights our recent reports on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security … Continue reading

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Contractors in Iraq & Afghanistan

At the peak of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the number of military contractors sometimes met or exceeded the number of U.S. military personnel in service. Since then, contracted support in these areas has decreased, but contractors continue to … Continue reading

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GAO’s Strategic Issues Team

GAO’s workforce is organized largely by subject area, with most employees working in 1 of 14 mission teams. Today, we’ll spotlight the Strategic Issues (SI) team, which focuses on helping Congress and federal agencies address the governance and management challenges … Continue reading

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Combating Sexual Assault in the Military

Thousands of military servicemembers have reported experiencing sexual assaults. Beyond the serious and long-lasting implications for the victims, sexual assault in the military can also negatively affect unit readiness, cohesion, and morale. For Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the WatchBlog shares … Continue reading

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Safe and Clean Water

Safe, clean water is essential for human and environmental health. However, our supply of clean water is at risk from pollution and droughts, like the current one in California. And, even when clean water is available at the source, aging … Continue reading

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A Policymaker’s Duplication and Cost Savings Toolkit

On Tuesday’s WatchBlog, we highlighted our new guide on assessing fragmentation, overlap, and duplication, as identified in our duplication and cost savings reports. We looked at what analysts should do, but congressional decision makers and executive branch leaders are also … Continue reading

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Effects of IRS Challenges on Taxpayers

For most people, today is the last day to file your taxes. IRS has faced many challenges this filing season, including finding better ways to help taxpayers, combating identity theft refund fraud, and navigating new health insurance tax reporting requirements—while … Continue reading

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An Analyst’s Duplication and Cost Savings Toolkit

For 5 years, our annual reports have identified areas of fragmentation, overlap, and duplication in the federal government, as well as opportunities to achieve cost savings or enhance revenue. We also track how agencies and Congress address these proposed actions. … Continue reading

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Projecting the Future of Federal Finances: Long-Term Fiscal Simulations

Since 1992, we have prepared long-term fiscal simulations to show federal deficits and debt under different sets of policy assumptions. Our latest update shows that the federal government continues to face a long-term fiscal sustainability challenge.

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Coordinating Programs Serving Those with Serious Mental Illness

Each year, the first full week of April marks National Public Health Week—a time to highlight issues that are important to improving health across the country. Within the week, each day has a theme, and today’s theme is “Building Broader … Continue reading

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