Government Accountability Office
Some of the key events about Government Accountability Office
- 1921Established as the General Accounting Office to improve government financial management after World War I
- 1921Failed to prevent the Veterans' Bureau scandal involving corruption and misuse of funds
- 1946Expanded role to include auditing of government agencies and programs
- 1946Criticized for inadequate oversight of wartime contracts and spending during World War II
- 1967Faced accusations of political bias in its investigations of the Vietnam War
- 1970Began conducting program evaluations to assess the effectiveness of federal programs
- 1974Gained authority to access federal agency records for audits and evaluations
- 1976Criticized for insufficient scrutiny of nuclear power plant safety regulations
- 1983Questioned for its handling of investigations into defense contractor fraud
- 1986Issued first high-risk list identifying federal programs vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse
- 1995Criticized for inadequate oversight of the savings and loan crisis cleanup
- 2002Faced controversy over its delayed reporting on Enron's accounting practices
- 2004Changed name to Government Accountability Office to better reflect its mission
- 2007Established the Center for Audit Excellence to promote good governance globally
- 2008Questioned for insufficient warnings about the impending financial crisis
- 2010Launched FraudNet, a system for reporting allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse
- 2014Developed the Duplication and Cost Savings web portal to track government efficiency efforts
- 2014Criticized for failing to prevent widespread fraud in disability benefits claims
- 2019Faced backlash for not providing timely access to documents related to the Trump administration's Ukraine dealings
- 2020Provided critical oversight of the federal government's COVID-19 pandemic response
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
Government Accountability Office Latest news
GAO Report: SEC Mineral Rule Ineffective in Reducing Congo Violence
Education Department Launches Beta Test for Revamped FAFSA
House Set to Pass Stopgap Bill, Averting Shutdown and Boosting Secret Service
Congress Set to Pass Temporary Spending Bill, Averting Shutdown
House Speaker Seeks Democratic Aid to Avert Government Shutdown
Congress Reaches Deal to Avert Government Shutdown Until Mid-December
Trump to Endorse Musk-Inspired Government Efficiency Commission
Senate Bill for 66 New Federal Judges to Cost $349M Over Decade: CBO
Nonpartisan Group Proposes Five-Point Plan to Enhance Federal Government
Pentagon's Hypersonic Weapon Progress Lacks Transparency, GAO Reports
GAO Report: SEC Mineral Rule Ineffective in Reducing Congo Violence
U. S. watchdog finds no evidence of decreased violence in DRC due to SEC conflict minerals rule. Report highlights ongoing armed group control of mines and potential spread of violence around gold mining sites.
Education Department Launches Beta Test for Revamped FAFSA
The U. S. Education Department initiates beta testing for the 2025-2026 FAFSA, aiming to prevent last year's rollout issues. The move comes amid criticism and ongoing challenges from the previous cycle.
House Set to Pass Stopgap Bill, Averting Shutdown and Boosting Secret Service
U. S. House poised to approve temporary funding measure, preventing government shutdown and allocating $231 million to Secret Service. Speaker Mike Johnson seeks Democratic support amid Republican divisions.
Congress Set to Pass Temporary Spending Bill, Averting Shutdown
Congress prepares to approve a stopgap measure to fund federal agencies until December 20, 2024, avoiding a potential government shutdown. The bill includes additional funding for the Secret Service amid recent security concerns.
House Speaker Seeks Democratic Aid to Avert Government Shutdown
Speaker Mike Johnson prepares to pass funding bill with Democratic support as GOP majority falters. The move highlights ongoing party divisions and sets stage for post-election budget sprint.
Congress Reaches Deal to Avert Government Shutdown Until Mid-December
Congressional leaders agree on short-term spending bill, preventing potential shutdown. Measure funds agencies for three months, includes additional allocations for Secret Service and disaster relief.
Trump to Endorse Musk-Inspired Government Efficiency Commission
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is set to announce support for a government efficiency commission, backed by Elon Musk, aimed at reducing federal waste. The proposal comes amid ongoing economic concerns.
Senate Bill for 66 New Federal Judges to Cost $349M Over Decade: CBO
A U. S. Senate-approved bill to add 66 federal judges would cost $349 million over 10 years, says the Congressional Budget Office. The bipartisan JUDGES Act aims to address court staffing shortages and rising caseloads.
Nonpartisan Group Proposes Five-Point Plan to Enhance Federal Government
The Partnership for Public Service outlines a vision for improved government operations, focusing on leadership, workforce, accountability, technology, and customer service. The plan aims to address public trust issues.
Pentagon's Hypersonic Weapon Progress Lacks Transparency, GAO Reports
GAO audit reveals Pentagon's insufficient reporting on hypersonic weapons development challenges. Despite $12 billion investment since 2018, US lags behind Russia and China in operational deployment.