Government Accountability Office (GAO) Podcast: Watchdog Report Podcast
1) Water Recycling Program Could Help Drought-Stricken Communities
In some parts of the United States, growing populations and prolonged droughts are straining water supplies. Large-scale water recycling could offer these communities a solution to their shortages. In...Show More
2) Mexican Crime Organizations and the Synthetic Drug Crisis
Thousands of Americans die each year after overdosing on illicit synthetic drugs, including synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Transnational criminal organizations have played a central role in fueling ...Show More
3) USPS’s Financial Condition Struggles Under an Unsustainable Business Model
The U.S. Postal Service is a quintessentially American institution. But during the last 20 years or so, USPS has struggled financially with rising costs and declining revenues from mail volumes. What&...Show More
4) FDA's Efforts to Recall Faulty Medical Devices Limited by Insufficient Staffing
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for overseeing the safety of medical devices sold in the U.S. and issuing recalls when they're found to be unsafe. But recent headlines and h...Show More
FDA's Efforts to Recall Faulty Medical Devices Limited by Insufficient Staffing
0:00 | Dec 12th, 2025
5) Sanctions and Export Controls on Russia
In the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, the United States and its allies responded with wide-ranging sanctions and export controls on Russia. What impact have these actions had on Russia's econom...Show More
6) What are DOD's Unfunded Priorities?
The U.S.'s defense budget makes up about half of all federal discretionary spending. But even so, there are billions of dollars in "unfunded priorities" that could impact the military&#...Show More
7) GAO Is Nonpartisan. Here’s How We Do It
8) How GAO Serves Congress
On this special episode of the podcast, we sit down with GAO’s Managing Director of Congressional Relations Nikki Clowers to discuss how GAO serves Congress.
9) Which Critical Government IT Systems Are Most In Need of Modernization?
Each year, the federal government spends more than $100 billion on IT systems and cyber-related investments. About 80% of this funding goes to operating and maintaining existing IT, including old syst...Show More
10) IRS’s Efforts to Improve Customer Service and the Taxpayer Experience
The IRS has a long-standing goal of improving its taxpayer services and experiences. But many Americans still struggle to connect with the IRS or report having a bad experience when they do. What is t...Show More