GAO: Evolving and Innovating to Meet Congressional Needs
Fast Facts
For the last 5 years, our work yielded an average of $145 in financial benefits for every $1 invested in us, as well as an annual average of more than 1,200 other improvements.
In this testimony before the Committee on House Administration's Subcommittee on Modernization, U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro discusses how we achieve our results, including:
Understanding congressional priorities and needs and evolving national issues
Recruiting and retaining a talented, motivated multi-disciplinary workforce
Continuing to modernize our products and services
Growing our science, technology, and cybersecurity expertise to meet evolving needs
GAO Headquarters
Highlights
What GAO Found
For the last 5 years, GAO’s work yielded an average of $145 in financial benefits for every $1 invested in it. Over the past decade, GAO has delivered an annual average of about $81 billion in financial benefits. In addition, GAO regularly delivers over 1,200 other benefits annually that improve services to the American people, strengthen public safety, and make government work better. GAO’s work is in high demand: each year approximately 90 percent of standing committees submit hundreds of requests for studies, and legislation and committee reports require hundreds more.
GAO accomplishes these results by:
Why GAO Did This Study
GAO is a force multiplier to help Congress meet its constitutional responsibilities. Through its oversight, GAO improves the performance and accountability of the federal government for the American people. GAO’s work spans the full reach of the federal government, including both domestic and international activities and mandatory and discretionary spending.
GAO has continuously evolved to meet the needs of Congress. From its initial focus on financial management matters, GAO has evolved into a multi-disciplinary professional services organization. Located in the legislative branch, GAO is an independent agency that provides Congress with objective, nonpartisan, and evidence-based information, analysis, and recommendations. As Congress’s oversight responsibilities have evolved, GAO has actively modernized its work products and services to benefit its congressional clients and the American people.
This testimony describes how GAO’s impactful products, wide-ranging services, and multi-disciplinary workforce help the government save money and be more efficient and effective.
For more information, contact A. Nicole Clowers at (202) 512-4400 or clowersa@gao.gov.