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Director Name

Michelle Sager

Managing Director,
Strategic Issues

Areas of Expertise:

  • Managing Director of the Strategic Issues team

Michelle Sager is the Managing Director of GAO's Strategic Issues team. She oversees work on government-wide governance, strategy, performance, and resource issues—including the High Risk program and the annual Duplication, Overlap and Fragmentation reports. 

Michelle first joined GAO in 1998. Her work at GAO has included a broad range of policy issues including intergovernmental, evidence-based policy, open data, budget, regulatory, international trade, and postsecondary education. Michelle left GAO in 2016 to accept a position as Director of the Economic Opportunity Division in the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices. She returned to GAO in 2018. Her prior experience also includes adjunct faculty, and legislative staff positions.

Michelle earned a doctorate degree in public policy and a master’s degree in international commerce and policy from George Mason University. Michelle earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and political science from Truman State University.

Michelle can be reached by email at sagerm@gao.gov or by phone at 202-512-6806.

How To Get Off Our High Risk List
The 2021 High Risk Update
2018 Update to GAO's State and Local Government Fiscal Outlook Model
2015 Update to GAO's State and Local Fiscal Outlook Model