Government Accountabiltiy Office (GAO)

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. The head of GAO, the Comptroller General of the United States, is appointed to a 15-year term by the President from a slate of candidates Congress proposes.

GAO's 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. It provides Congress with timely information that is objective, fact-based, nonpartisan, nonideological, fair, and balanced.

GOA's Core Values of accountability, integrity, and reliability are reflected in all of the work GAO does. It operates under strict professional standards of review and referencing; all facts and analyses in its work are thoroughly checked for accuracy. In addition, GAO's audit policies are consistent with the Fundamental Auditing Principles (Level 3) of the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions.

GAO's Work is done at the request of congressional committees or subcommittees or is mandated by public laws or committee reports. It also undertakes research under the authority of the Comptroller General. It supports congressional oversight by

• auditing agency operations to determine whether federal funds are being spent efficiently and effectively;
• investigating allegations of illegal and improper activities;
• reporting on how well government programs and policies are meeting their objectives;
• performing policy analyses and outlining options for congressional consideration; and
• issuing legal decisions and opinions, such as bid protest rulings and reports on agency rules.

The GAO advises Congress and the heads of executive agencies about ways to make government more efficient, effective, ethical, equitable and responsive.

GAO's work leads to laws and acts that improve government operations, saving the government and taxpayers billions of dollars.

GAO

1921

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Seal_of_the_United_States_Government_Accountability_Office.svg/1200px-Seal_of_the_United_States_Government_Accountability_Office.svg.png

Government Accounting Office.

Source: Government Accountability Office (GAO).

GAO

GAO

Medium: Logo

English

Organization

GAO, Government Accountability Office, Congress, Watchdog, Accountability, Oversight, Efficiency

United States