# WatchBlog: Official Blog of the U.S. Government Accountability Office

- Lack of Sleep Has Left Our Military Less Combat Ready and More Prone to Accidents with Dire Consequences Lack of sleep among active duty service members has led to fatal accidents and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to ships, vehicles, and aircraft. Many service members reported slower reflexes and responses, lower cognitive function, and...
- For World Health Day (April 7), We Look At U.S. Efforts to Promote Global Wellness When it comes to communicable diseases, it turns out, it is a small world after all. Serious diseases like COVID-19, AIDS, and mpox (previously known as monkeypox) can move quickly around the globe—threatening lives and livelihoods. The U.S. plays an...
- If Used by Drivers Correctly, Advanced Vehicle Technologies Could Save Lives. But They Could Also Cost Owners More to Repair New cars are increasingly equipped with advanced vehicle technologies that could help reduce crashes and fatalities. But drivers may turn off these technologies, may not understand the correct way to use them, or can over-rely on them, which could...
- What’s the Status of U.S. Assistance to Ukraine? Our First Reports on Oversight Efforts The war in Ukraine has had devastating consequences—creating a humanitarian crisis, threatening Ukraine’s democracy, and exacerbating global challenges, such as food insecurity. Congress has approved $113 billion in response to the Ukraine crisis...
- Federal Government Made $236 billion “Improper Payments” Last Fiscal Year 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—include overpayments...
- The U.S. Now Has a National Cybersecurity Strategy, but Is It as Strong as It Could Be? In February, Change Healthcare, the largest health care payment processer in the United States, was the victim of a ransomware attack that disrupted services across the country. The attack threatened health care workers’ paychecks, impacted the...
- FOIA Backlogs Hinder Government Transparency and Accountability 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...
- The Legacy of Oppenheimer’s Nuclear Research at Los Alamos With 13 Academy Award nominations, Oppenheimer is favored to win big at this year’s Oscars on Sunday. The compelling film dramatizes one man’s struggle living with his legacy—J. Robert Oppenheimer, the “father of the atomic bomb.” But the real-life...
- The Mismatch between Mental Health Care Access and Demand During hard times, mental health care can be a crucial resource to help with everyday challenges and stresses for people with behavioral health conditions—mental health and substance use disorders. But increasing demand for these services has led to...
- Is the FAA Ready for More Space Travelers? Planning your dream vacation? In the coming years, you may be able to check off a visit to space from your bucket list. The commercial space industry is rapidly growing, and more commercial launches have people onboard than ever before. But those...