Federal taxes help pay for everything from Social Security to national defense. But we estimate that as much as $304 billion in tax revenue is lost to fraud each year. How is this fraud committed and what can be done to prevent it? Today’s WatchBlog…
Knowing who owns a company provides transparency into where its funds are coming from and where they are going. Sometimes, drug cartels and fraudsters may disguise a company’s ownership to help them launder money or even access federal funding they…
The Department of Defense (DOD) relies on IT systems to support its day-to-day operations—including human capital, health care, contracting, and financial management. DOD plans to spend billions to update and maintain these IT systems. That’s a lot…
Not having access to safe drinking water and plumbing risks all kinds of health problems—everything from gastrointestinal illnesses to skin and respiratory tract diseases. Most of the United States has had access to clean water for decades. But…
Each year, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a national suicide prevention helpline, gets millions of calls, texts, and chats from people in crisis. When people face hard times, the crisis line can provide lifesaving support. But a cyberattack…
When your car breaks down, there are typically a couple shops in town you can take it to. When an Army tank or a big truck needs repairs, two depots primarily perform this work—the Anniston Army Depot in Alabama and Red River Army Depot in Texas…
Every flight you’ve ever taken has relied on aircraft mechanics to maintain the plane and its engines. Sometimes, your flight might even be delayed because of maintenance. The commercial airline industry has a strong demand for mechanics. With…
In 2017, Puerto Rico experienced the longest blackout in U.S. history—11 months—after two hurricanes knocked out its power grid. Almost a decade later, millions of Puerto Ricans continue to experience rolling blackouts and other uncertainties as the…
Every year, millions of families face difficult decisions about how to care for aging parents or relatives. One of the hardest questions that comes up is how to pay for this care. Federal Medicare and Medicaid programs may offer support. But…
The Iran war is causing the greatest disruption in global oil supplies ever. As part of a coordinated international action, the United States is responding by drawing from the government’s emergency crude oil reserve—the Strategic Petroleum Reserve…
