[On November 5, 2024] Americans voted for members of the 119th Congress and a new president. Representatives and senators will be sworn in on Friday, January 3. As they take office, our nation faces many significant challenges—including those that threaten national security, financial stability, public health, and more. Our work here at GAO highlights some of these issues and how they can be addressed. Today’s WatchBlog post looks at some of these issues, which are highlighted on our new Congressional and Presidential Transition webpage. The federal government facilitates programs and policies meant to protect national security and defense, public health and safety, and citizens’ rights. It also delivers services and has programs that encourage economic growth. People expect these things from their government, and the government strives to meet these expectations. But our work has often found that the government may not have what it needs to maintain its operations in a rapidly changing world while addressing serious domestic and global challenges…