Reports & Testimonies

Some rural school districts struggle to provide science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Many face challenges attracting certified teachers, accessing materials, and busing students to field trips far away. Yet some rural districts have found innovative ways to share resources, connect STEM lessons to local environments, and help students explore related careers. For example, some have teamed up with university research centers or nonprofits...

Comparative clinical effectiveness research compares the success and outcomes of available treatment options for various diseases and conditions. Findings from this research can provide important information on more effective treatments. The Department of Health and Human Services shares these research findings with the public and helps to apply the findings in health care settings. But we found that HHS hasn’t done a thorough evaluation of...

The Federal Aviation Administration certifies pilots, mechanics, and others. If certificate holders violate certain laws, regulations, or orders, FAA can act to suspend or revoke their certificates, among other things. If certificate holders dispute the action and win, they may be entitled to recover some legal costs from FAA. If they agree to settle, FAA requires them to waive that right. Pilot organizations and others...

We testified on Veterans Affairs' IT reform efforts before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization. It is based primarily on the following report: Government Reorganization: Key Questions to Assess Agency Reform Efforts

Organized groups of individuals working together have defrauded public programs, as was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such groups comprised almost half of those convicted of COVID-19 fraud. These groups include organized criminal enterprises, groups organized around particular programs, and clusters of individuals exploiting new opportunities. These groups have used technology, program knowledge, and other means to commit fraud on a large scale against government...

Serious mental illnesses affected 14.6 million adults in 2023. Left untreated, such illnesses can lead to issues like poor health and higher medical costs. Assisted outpatient treatment can help adults with serious mental illnesses who can't live safely on their own. It can include medication and referrals for social services. But it is controversial because it's court-ordered and involuntary. HHS awards grants to organizations to...

Satellites are used for GPS, weather forecasts, and more. Generally, satellites have to be small and tough enough to withstand launch. Repairing or upgrading them involves sending people to space—so they usually aren't made to be serviced. In-space robotic servicing could change this and open the door to other advances, like in-space assembly and manufacturing. But the technology is mostly unproven in space. Companies and...

The Department of Defense's space operations and other activities, including exercises, are aimed at deterring and preparing for potential conflict. DOD emphasizes that collaborating with the nation's allies and other partners is critical to achieving its goals. DOD collaborates closely with allies and partners but has trouble carrying out the work. For example, the U.S. Space Force doesn't have enough people in some units to...

The Department of Energy is required to annually submit to Congress a forward-looking energy program that includes estimates of funding needed for the current year and the next 4 years of its activities. This can help ensure greater transparency for DOE's nearly $50 billion budget. DOE hasn't fully complied with the requirement; reporting has been incomplete and inconsistent. For example, DOE: Didn't explain how proposed...

The State Department's National Passport Information Center is a call center that provides information to the public about passport services. In 2023, the center experienced periods of extremely high call volumes, and customers experienced longer-than-usual wait times to speak to call agents. In response, the center took steps to address staffing, infrastructure, and technology factors that affected wait times. For instance, it increased its call...

The Federal Aviation Administration conducts research to support its mission to run the world's safest, most efficient aerospace system. In fiscal year 2019, Congress directed FAA to spend 70% of its research and development funding on safety projects, including projects researching aircraft fuels, fire safety, and how to prevent ice from forming on aircraft. Although FAA reports annually on its research and development programs, it...

"Automatic stabilizers" adjust federal spending and taxes when there is an economic downturn. These adjustments can help keep the economy afloat and mitigate harmful effects. An example of an automatic stabilizer is when unemployment is high and incomes fall, and more people become eligible for a government benefit like Medicaid. Automatic stabilizers are more effective when they're timely, temporary, targeted, and predictable. We used these...

In fiscal year 2025, NASA planned to invest about $74 billion in its major projects to continue exploring Earth, the moon, and beyond. This is our 17th annual assessment of these projects. In the last year, four of 18 major projects had cost overruns—when costs incurred are more than NASA planned for. And three had schedule delays. Since 2009, most major projects that completed the...

The Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense provide health care to over 18 million veterans and servicemembers. The two departments may share health care resources, like surgery services, through sharing agreements, which help improve access to health care and lower costs. There were 185 such agreements as of April 2025 in areas like mental health and orthopedics. However, we found that the departments...

The 5 permanently-inhabited U.S. territories borrow through financial markets to fund priorities like infrastructure projects. Every 2 years, we examine the territories' public debt and review their economic conditions. The territories face challenges to economic growth, which can make it harder for them to secure or repay debt. These include the high cost of importing goods and energy, population loss, and extreme weather events that...