The federal government reported an estimated $236 billion in “improper payments” during the most recently completed fiscal year (FY 2023). Such payments are essentially payment errors that can be the result of many things—including overpayments, inaccurate recordkeeping, or even fraud.Payment errors are a long-standing issue for the federal government. Over the last 20 fiscal years, it has made an estimated $2.7 trillion in such improper payments.| www.gao.gov
Each year, media outlets, businesses, and members of the public file hundreds of thousands of requests for government records on a wide range of topics—from consumer safety to national security. Their ability to access these records is protected under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).| www.gao.gov
The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is the Department of Defense’s most ambitious weapons program and plays a crucial role in DOD’s ability to meet current and future U.S. national security goals. At the same time, the F-35 has been plagued by mounting costs and delays resulting in what some have called a staggering price tag of more than $2 trillion over several decades.| www.gao.gov
High prices at the grocery store can hit struggling Americans especially hard. Those receiving federal assistance to pay for food—more than 41 million people in 2021—might wonder whether or how their benefits change as a result of inflation, the pandemic, and other factors that have driven up food prices.| www.gao.gov
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) establishes a legal right for individuals and organizations to request access to government information. In FY 2019, federal agencies reported that they processed nearly 878,000 FOIA requests for government information, an increase of 32% since FY 2012.| www.gao.gov
Note: This post was updated on September 25 to include videos of our experts' testimonies from September 24.Numerous delays and tech issues plagued the rollout of a new federal financial aid application that was meant to simplify the process for students.Millions of students apply each year for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Information from these applications helps determine students’ eligibility for loans, work-study, and grants—such as Pell ...| www.gao.gov
In recent years, cyberattacks on K-12 schools have increased. Not only do these attacks disrupt educational instruction and school operations, they also impact students, their families, and teachers. The scale and number of attacks increased during COVID-19 as more schools moved to remote learning and increased their reliance on IT services.| www.gao.gov
Shortages of affordable housing are a long-standing challenge in the United States. High interest rates and low inventory are contributing to this issue, as is the growing number of millennials, who are looking for larger homes to raise families. For low-income Americans, the hunt for affordable housing can be especially tough. Increasing the supply of housing is one way to address shortages and provide more affordable options. Today’s WatchBlog post looks at our recent work on efforts to e...| www.gao.gov
Last year, U.S. consumers saw the largest annual increase in food prices since the 1980s. While food prices generally increased about 2% in prior years, they increased about 11% from 2021 to 2022. Inflation contributed to the increase. But there were other factors—like global disruptions to the food supply chain—that may have had a greater impact. And not everyone felt this increase the same way.| www.gao.gov
The cybersecurity breach of SolarWinds’ software is one of the most widespread and sophisticated hacking campaigns ever conducted against the federal government and private sector. In today’s WatchBlog post, we look at this breach and the ongoing federal government and private-sector response. This information is based on publicly disclosed information from federal and private industry sources. We here at GAO are currently conducting a comprehensive review of the breach with plans to issu...| www.gao.gov
