GAO News

Laser Incidents Reported by U.S. Pilots Hit Record in 2021

The number of reported incidents involving aiming of lasers at U.S. airplanes hit a record in 2021, according to a federal government report, which also said regulators should do more to address the problem. The Government Accountability Office said the …

Neither Rain Nor Sleet But Dog Bites: Post Office Workers’ Injury Claims

The cost of workers’ compensation for the United States Postal Service (USPS) for fiscal year 2012 was $3.7 billion, a 68 percent increase from the $2.2 billion reported in fiscal year 2009. There were 32,213 reported injuries in fiscal year …

Federal Watchdog Issues Report on Gas Pipeline Safety

Federal regulators must account for response times in the data they collect from transmission operators on natural gas pipeline incidents, a congressional watchdog agency said this week. The U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a report that the Pipeline and …

More Transparency Urged for U.S. Financial Oversight Units

The new U.S. financial risk council should publicly share more details about its closed-door meetings on emerging risks to markets, a congressional watchdog report has found. The Government Accountability Office said the Financial Stability Oversight Council, a group made up …

Do Safety Incentives Discourage Workers from Reporting Injuries?

Many employers are in the dark over whether their safety incentive programs encourage or discourage the reporting of injuries and illnesses by their employees, or if they have no effect. But a new report says employers, and the federal officials …

U.S. Treasury Could See $15 Billion Profit from AIG Bailout: GAO

U.S. taxpayers could see a profit from the 2008 bailout of American International Group Inc. (AIG), according to a Congressional report. “When all the assistance is considered, the amount the federal government ultimately takes in could exceed the total support …

Federal Risk Retention Law Needs Clarification: Congressional Report

The federal law governing risk retention groups should be clarified to reduce the number of disagreements between RRG managers and state regulators and to clarify the coverage RRGs may offer, a Congressional report advises. The Government Accountability Office said varying …

9 Alternatives to Individual Health Insurance Mandate; Will They Work?

There are alternatives to the controversial federal government mandate that requires almost everyone to purchase health insurance, although experts are divided over how effective the alternatives might be in helping to expand coverage to the more than 50 million uninsured …