Skip to content
TeamCOG
TeamCOG
Citizens Observing Government
Try
Reports Agencies Topics Broadcasts Newsroom About Subscribe
Spending

Topic: Spending

FEDE U.S. Government Accountability Office · Audits audits

Military Installations: Remote and Isolated Locations Face Challenges Delivering Critical Support Services

What GAO Found Remote and isolated military installations are often away from population centers or located in austere environments, making the delivery of critical support services, such as health care or housing, challenging. GAO found that while remote and isolated installations consistently faced challenges in areas such as recruiting and retaining civilian personnel, the causes and severity of those challenges differed by location. For example, in Alaska, Eielson Air Force Base had the most vacant positions (428) while Fort Greely and Clear Space Force Station had no vacant critical support services positions. In 2024, the Department of Defense (DOD) issued guidance for designating ins.

CABI U.S. Government Accountability Office · Audits audits

Maternal Health: Information on and Federal Oversight of Mortality Review Committees

What GAO Found The U.S. faces a maternal mortality crisis, with mortality rates that exceed every other high-income country. More than 600 women die during pregnancy or from causes aggravated by pregnancy each year in the U.S.; over 80 percent of these deaths are preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To help prevent these kinds of deaths, CDC provides funding for Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs). These committees, typically supported and maintained by state and local health agencies, identify factors contributing to pregnancy-related deaths and make recommendations to patients and their families, providers, hospitals, or state policymake.

FEDE U.S. Government Accountability Office · Audits audits

K-12 Education: Actions to Improve Oversight of Key Federal Programs and Address High Chronic Absenteeism

What GAO Found All states that receive funding under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA) are required to develop statewide accountability systems. Thirty-six states have chosen to include indicators related to chronic absenteeism in their statewide accountability systems. ESEA also has certain chronic absenteeism reporting requirements for all states, regardless of whether a state includes chronic absenteeism in its accountability system. In 2026, the Department of Education discontinued its most comprehensive monitoring of ESEA’s programmatic and fiscal requirements. The ESEA provision intended to improve oversight of funds does not explicitly d.

CABI U.S. Government Accountability Office · Audits audits

Drug Scheduling: While DEA Decisions Have Aligned with Recent HHS Recommendations, Both Need Comprehensive Policies

What GAO Found Under the Controlled Substances Act, substances that pose a risk of abuse and dependence are placed in categories—referred to as schedules. To carry out certain scheduling actions, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is required to obtain a scheduling recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) based on a scientific and medical evaluation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Evaluations and recommendations from HHS or DEA are not required for substances scheduled through legislation. Of the 208 substances for which DEA took scheduling actions from 2020 through 2025, DEA considered HHS evaluations and recommendations for all 95 substance.

FEDE U.S. Government Accountability Office · Audits audits

Veterans Health Care: Information on Eligibility for and Use of Dental Benefits

What GAO Found More than 9 million enrolled veterans are eligible to receive health care services through the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) each year. Veterans who meet certain requirements (such as having a 100 percent service-connected disability or being former prisoners of war) are also eligible to receive VA dental benefits. According to VA, about 26 percent of VHA-enrolled veterans were eligible to receive dental benefits as of February 2026. According to VHA data, the number of veterans eligible for VA dental benefits increased from fiscal years 2020 through 2025, resulting in an overall increase of approximately 70 percent from fiscal year.

FEDE U.S. Government Accountability Office · Audits audits

West Bank and Gaza: State Should Incorporate Leading Practices and Lessons Learned into Anti-Terrorism Oversight

What GAO Found The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated $624 million in Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance for the West Bank and Gaza for fiscal years (FY) 2022-2024. This assistance funded 37 prime awards for sectors including water infrastructure and education, as well as debt relief payments to a Palestinian Authority creditor. With a few exceptions, USAID complied with its anti-terrorism policies and procedures. State took over administration of this ESF funding from USAID in July 2025. All 37 awards have ended except for support to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network. U.S.-Funded Neonatal Intensive Care Training for East Jerusalem Hospital Network State’s Bur.

FEDE U.S. Government Accountability Office · Audits audits

National Nuclear Security Administration: Use of Line Items in Management and Operating Contracts Could Be Improved

What GAO Found The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has traditionally used a single, all-encompassing management and operating (M&O) contract at each of its sites to acquire work performed, including to subcontract for construction services. Beginning in 2014, NNSA introduced individual contract line item numbers (line items) to some contracts to increase the visibility of specific efforts. Line items capture information about separately identifiable goods and services that the government seeks to acquire within the scope of the overall contract. Since introducing individual contract line items in 2014, NNSA has minimally used line items to separate contract deliverables, esp.

FEDE U.S. Government Accountability Office · Audits audits

Tribal Water Infrastructure: Opportunities Exist to Improve Federal Assistance

What GAO Found As part of the federal government’s efforts to support Tribes and tribal members’ health and to help prevent disease, an Indian Health Service (IHS) program provides Tribes with technical and financial assistance to build drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in tribal communities. Through this program, IHS staff work closely with Tribes to identify their needs and design and build water projects. Several U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs also provide assistance for tribal water projects, and the three agencies often work together and with Tribes. Selected Agencies’ Funding for Tribal Water Projects, Fiscal Ye.

FEDE U.S. Government Accountability Office · Audits audits

Telecommunications: Better Information Sharing Needed to Ensure Compliance with Foreign-Sourced Equipment Prohibitions

What GAO Found Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 prohibits federal agencies from procuring covered telecommunications and surveillance equipment and services from five specific Chinese companies (and their affiliates or subsidiaries) or awarding contracts to companies that use such equipment and services. Following implementation in fiscal year 2019, agencies reduced spending with the five companies through fiscal year 2025 with no spending in three of those fiscal years. As of March 2026, GAO found that nearly 90 percent of companies with active government contracts in fiscal year 2025 represented publicly that they do not use equipme.

FEDE U.S. Government Accountability Office · Audits audits

Federal Real Property: GSA Should Publicize Accessibility Complaint Process for Its Office Buildings

What GAO Found The General Services Administration (GSA) owns and leases thousands of office buildings, which are used by federal employees and the public. The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA) requires that certain GSA office buildings be accessible to individuals with physical disabilities. According to GSA officials and documentation, GSA reviews alteration, leasing, and construction projects throughout the design process for compliance with its ABA Accessibility Standard. The U.S. Access Board (Board), an independent federal agency, enforces the ABA by addressing complaints of potential violations of applicable ABA standards. The Board generally relies on complaints rather than i.

FEDE U.S. Government Accountability Office · Audits audits

Global Aging: Key Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy and Federal Agencies

What GAO Found Many countries, including the U.S., are experiencing an increase in both the number and the proportion of older adults in their populations. According to the World Health Organization, the share of the global population aged 60 and over is expected to more than double from one billion in 2020 to 2.1 billion by 2050. As countries experiencing population aging take steps to address the domestic effects, experts told GAO that global population aging may also affect the U.S. GAO identified three broad U.S. foreign policy interests that may be affected by aging abroad: national security, economic competitiveness, and global health and humanitarian assistance (see figure). Effects..

FEDE U.S. Government Accountability Office · Audits audits

Federal Real Property: Funding and Other Challenges Have Hindered Progress Under a Temporary Disposal Process

What GAO Found The Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 (FASTA) established a temporary process to reduce the inventory of federal civilian real property and the time it takes to dispose of such property. FASTA created the Public Buildings Reform Board (Board) to recommend properties for disposal for approval in each of several rounds. Once approved, the General Services Administration (GSA) takes a primary role in implementation. FASTA also established a fund to help with disposal costs. The last year of FASTA implementation is underway, with two approved rounds—2019 and 2025—and a final round expected to be released before the Board ceases operations in December 2026. As of August.