GAO Strategic Planning, Performance, and Accountability
Archive of Past Plans and Reports on GAO's Operations
Strategic Planning
GAO's Updated Strategic Plan 2004-2009 for Serving the Congress is now available.
Full Document (PDF, 258 pages) Accessible TextGAO's mission, general goals and objectives, means and strategies, and methods for evaluating its performance. Also, detailed information on the 21 objectives in GAO's strategic plan: the performance goals, key efforts, and potential outcomes for each objective.
Strategic Plan Supplements
Full Document (PDF, 174 pages)GAO's Strategic Plan Framework
Full Document (PDF, 1 page)GAO: The Human Capital Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2004-2006
Full Document (PDF, 36 pages)Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2002-2007
Full Document (PDF, 65 pages) Accessible TextGAO's mission, general goals and objectives, means and strategies, and methods for evaluating its performance; updated every 2 years. (GAO-02-430SP, June 2002).
Strategic Supplements Page
More information on the 21 objectives in GAO's strategic plan: the performance goals, key efforts, and potential outcomes for each objective. (June 2002).
GAO's Strategic Plan Framework (June 2002)
Full Document (PDF, 1 page)Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2000-2005
Full Document (PDF, 78 pages)Describes the GAO's mission, general goals and objectives, strategies, and methods for evaluating its performance; updated every 2 years; (spring 2000).
Executive Summary
Full Document (PDF, 14 pages)
Framework Diagram
Full Document (PDF, 1 page)Strategic objective plans detailing performance goals, key efforts, and potential outcomes for each objective in the main strategic plan:
- Health Care Needs and Financing
Full Document (PDF, 12 pages)- Retirement Income Security
Full Document (PDF, 10 pages)- Social Safety Net
Full Document (PDF, 12 pages)- Education/Workforce Issues
Full Document (PDF, 13 pages)- Effective System of Justice
Full Document (PDF, 11 pages)- Community Investment
Full Document (PDF, 15 pages)- Natural Resources and Environmental Protection
Full Document (PDF, 12 pages)- Physical Infrastructure
Full Document (PDF, 14 pages)- Diffuse Security Threats
Full Document (PDF, 12 pages)- Military Capabilities and Readiness
Full Document (PDF, 12 pages)- Advancement of U.S. Interests
Full Document (PDF, 12 pages)- Global Market Forces
Full Document (PDF, 12 pages)- Fiscal Position of the Government
Full Document (PDF, 11 pages)- Government Financing and Accountability
Full Document (PDF, 10 pages)- Governmentwide Management Reform
Full Document (PDF, 13 pages)- Economy, Efficiency, and Effectiveness Improvements in Federal Agencies
Full Document (PDF, 9 pages)- Maximize the Value of GAO
Full Document (PDF, 31 pages)Following the Federal Dollar
Full Document (PDF, 25 pages)A strategic plan for GAO (April 1997, GAO/OCG-97-3).
Performance and Accountability
Performance and Accountability Highlights 2004
Full Document (PDF, 25 pages) Accessible TextPerformance and Accountability Report 2004
Full Document (PDF, 182 pages) Accessible TextPerformance Plan for Fiscal Year 2005 (May 2004)
Full Document (PDF, 55 pages) Accessible TextPerformance and Accountability Highlights 2003
Full Document (PDF, 54 pages) Accessible TextPerformance and Accountability Report 2003
Full Document (PDF, 162 pages) Accessible TextPerformance Plan for Fiscal 2004 (July 2003)
Full Document (PDF, 52 pages) Accessible TextPerformance and Accountability Highlights 2002
Full Document (PDF, 45 pages) Accessible TextPerformance and Accountability Report 2002
Full Document (PDF, 172 pages) Accessible TextPerformance and Accountability Highlights 2001
Full Document (PDF, 38 pages) Accessible Text
Short version of GAO's annual report on its performance and finances and its plans for fiscal 2003 (GAO-02-429SP, spring 2002).
Performance and Accountability Report for 2001 / Performance Plan for 2003
Full Document (PDF, 126 pages) Accessible TextFull-length version of GAO's annual report detailing its performance and finances for the fiscal year just ended and its plans for the coming year (GAO-02-428SP, February 27, 2002). Revised performance plan for fiscal 2003 PDF (May 2003).
Presents GAO's fiscal 2000 performance and financial information and its fiscal 2002 performance plans. Highlights PDF and full-length report PDF (March 30, 2001). Revised performance plan for fiscal 2002 PDF (February 2002).
Accountability Report for 1999 / Performance Plan for 2001
Presents GAO's fiscal 1999 financial information and details of its activities in one document PDF and its performance plan for fiscal 2001 in a second document PDF (spring 2000). Revised performance plan for fiscal 2001 PDF (March 2001).
In the years before federal agencies began issuing performance and accountability reports, the Comptroller General instead issued annual reports that described GAO's activities and finances: 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986.
Related Publications
Case Study: Strategic Planning at the U.S. General Accounting Office
Full Document (PDF, 31 pages)An examination by a graduate student in public administration at The George Washington University of GAO's efforts to craft its previous strategic plan (April 2001).
Action Plan: How GAO Will Strengthen Its Strategic Planning Process
Full Document (PDF, 2 pages)GAO's response to the suggestions in the case study above (August 2001).
See the current plans and reports on GAO's operations.