U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)'s video: Finding the Source of Chemical Weapons Using Forensic Technologies

Despite an international ban on their use, chemical weapons have been used over the past 10 years in assassinations and on civilian populations. When a chemical weapon is used, investigators may use forensic technologies to detect that it was used, identify the chemical, and help attribute it to a likely source. Challenges to such investigations include small or degraded samples. These can result if investigators can’t reach a site soon enough after an attack, or if it takes a long time to get samples to a lab. We present 6 policy options to help decision makers address this and other challenges. Check out the report: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105439 Get transcript: https://www.gao.gov/assets/830/828758.txt Learn more about GAO: gao.gov/about Check out the WatchBlog: gao.gov/blog Check out our Podcasts: gao.gov/podcast Follow GAO on Social Media: Twitter.com/usgao Instagram.com/usgao LinkedIn.com/company/us-government YouTube.com/usgao Facebook.com/usgao Flicker.com/photos/usgao General Information: The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. Often called the "congressional watchdog," GAO investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars. Mission: Our Mission is to support the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and ensure the accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people. We provide Congress with timely information that is objective, fact-based, nonpartisan, non-ideological, fair, and balanced. Disclaimer: The U.S. GAO does not promote or endorse any non-Government or commercial content appearing on this page.