Welcome to GAO

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is known as "the investigative arm of Congress" and "the congressional watchdog." GAO supports the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities and helps improve the performance and accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people. Read More About GAO

Recently Issued Products

  • Latest Reports & Testimonies
  • Latest Legal Decisions & Opinions
  • Latest Comptroller General Presentations

Recently released reports and testimonies are listed below. Our congressional requesters may hold reports up to 30 days before making them publicly available, so some may have earlier issue dates.

Reports & Testimonies

November 26, 2008

Human Capital: Diversity in the Federal SES and Processes for Selecting New Executives
GAO-09-110,  November 26, 2008

November 25, 2008

Northern Border Security: DHS's Report Could Better Inform Congress by Identifying Actions, Resources, and Time Frames Needed to Address Vulnerabilities
GAO-09-93,  November 25, 2008
Defense Management: Preliminary Observations on DOD's Plans for Developing Language and Cultural Awareness Capabilities
GAO-09-176R,  November 25, 2008

November 24, 2008

Foreign Assistance: Continued Efforts Needed to Strengthen USAID's Oversight of U.S. Democracy Assistance for Cuba
GAO-09-165,  November 24, 2008
Confirmation of Political Appointees: Eliciting Nominees' Views on Management Challenges within Agencies and across Government
GAO-09-194,  November 17, 2008
Wildland Fire Management: Interagency Budget Tool Needs Further Development to Fully Meet Key Objectives
GAO-09-68,  November 24, 2008
Federal Farm Programs: USDA Needs to Strengthen Controls to Prevent Payments to Individuals Who Exceed Income Eligibility Limits
GAO-09-67,  October 24, 2008

November 21, 2008

Small Business Administration: Agency Should Assess Resources Devoted to Contracting and Improve Several Processes in the 8(a) Program
GAO-09-16,  November 21, 2008
Department of Labor: Better Cost Assessments and Departmentwide Performance Tracking Are Needed to Effectively Manage Competitive Sourcing Program
GAO-09-14,  November 21, 2008
Highway Safety Improvement Program: Further Efforts Needed to Address Data Limitations and Better Align Funding with States' Top Safety Priorities
GAO-09-35,  November 21, 2008
Federal Judgeships: General Accuracy of District and Appellate Judgeship Case-Related Workload Measures
GAO-08-928T,  June 17, 2008
Foreign Assistance: State Department Foreign Aid Information Systems Have Improved Change Management Practices but Do Not Follow Risk Management Best Practices
GAO-09-52R,  November 21, 2008
Defense Acquisitions: Timely and Accurate Estimates of Costs and Requirements Are Needed to Define Optimal Future Strategic Airlift Mix
GAO-09-50,  November 21, 2008

November 20, 2008

Approaches to Mitigate Freight Congestion
GAO-09-163R,  November 20, 2008
Department of Homeland Security: Billions Invested in Major Programs Lack Appropriate Oversight
GAO-09-29,  November 18, 2008
Contract Management: DOD Developed Draft Guidance for Operational Contract Support but Has Not Met All Legislative Requirements
GAO-09-114R,  November 20, 2008
Health Information Technology: More Detailed Plans Needed for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Redesigned BioSense Program
GAO-09-100,  November 20, 2008
International Environmental Oversight: U.S. Agencies Follow Certain Procedures Required by Law, but Have Limited Impact
GAO-09-99,  November 20, 2008

November 19, 2008

Department of Homeland Security: A Strategic Approach Is Needed to Better Ensure the Acquisition Workforce Can Meet Mission Needs
GAO-09-30,  November 19, 2008
Mandate on the Department of Defense's Contract Award Procedures for Directed Spending Items
GAO-09-113R,  November 19, 2008
State and Local Fiscal Challenges: Rising Health Care Costs Drive Long-term and Immediate Pressures
GAO-09-210T,  November 19, 2008

November 18, 2008

Nuclear Safety: Department of Energy Needs to Strengthen Its Independent Oversight of Nuclear Facilities and Operations
GAO-09-61,  October 23, 2008
Defense Acquisitions: Status of the Safety, Performance, and Reliability of the Expeditionary Fire Support System
GAO-09-189R,  November 18, 2008

November 17, 2008

Federal Real Property: Government's Fiscal Exposure from Repair and Maintenance Backlogs Is Unclear
GAO-09-10,  October 16, 2008
Financial Audit: Securities and Exchange Commission's Financial Statements for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2007
GAO-09-173,  November 14, 2008
The Comptroller General, the head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), issues decisions in various areas of federal law. These decisions are prepared by GAO's Office of General Counsel, and are identified by a numbering system beginning with B-(number); each decision carries its own B-number and date.

Latest Legal Decisions & Opinions

November 26, 2008

Celadon Laboratories, Inc.--Costs
B-298533.2,  November 07, 2008

November 25, 2008

Burchick Construction Company
B-400342,  October 06, 2008
CCITE/SC
B-400782,  November 21, 2008

November 21, 2008

Aegis Defence Services Limited
B-400093.4, B-400093.5,  October 16, 2008
Smith & Wesson, Inc.
B-400479,  November 20, 2008
Major Contracting Services, Inc.
B-400616,  November 20, 2008

November 20, 2008

Coronet Machinery Corporation--Costs
B-400197.2,  November 18, 2008

November 18, 2008

Maryland State Department of Education
B-400583, B-400583.2,  November 07, 2008

November 14, 2008

Exec Plaza, LLC--Costs
B-400107.3,  October 24, 2008
ASRC Research & Technology Solutions, LLC
B-400217, B-400217.2,  August 21, 2008
Presentations and Testimonies from Acting Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro
 

Latest Comptroller General Presentations

November 13, 2008

Highlights of a Forum: Ensuring Opportunities for Disadvantaged Children and Families
GAO-09-18SP, November 13, 2008

November 3, 2008

Transforming DOD Business Operations, Defense Finance 2008 Conference

GAO-09-160CG, October 27, 2008

The Upcoming Transition: GAO's Efforts to Assist the 111th Congress and the Next Administration, Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service, City College of New York
GAO-09-159CG, October 23, 2008

Upcoming Transition Includes Key Information Technology Challenges, INPUT Fed Focus 2009 Conference

GAO-09-158CG, October 21, 2008

September 24, 2008

The Upcoming Transition: GAO's Efforts to Assist the 111th Congress and the Next Administration, before the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
GAO-08-1174T  September 24, 2008

September 19, 2008

The Role of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, House Democracy Assistance Commission, Members of Parliament from Afghanistan, Liberia & Timor-Leste
Washington, D.C.
GAO-08-1171CG, September 18, 2008

September 11, 2008

The Upcoming Transition: GAO's Efforts to Assist the 111th Congress and the Next Administration, before the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Work Force, and the District of Columbia, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
GAO-08-1153T, September 10, 2008

August 7, 2008

The Role of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, House Democracy Assistance Commission, Members of Parliament from Indonesia, Kenya, Macedonia & Ukraine
Washington, DC
GAO-08-1089CG, July 31, 2008

July 31, 2008

Highlights of a Forum Convened by the Comptroller General of the United States: Enhancing U.S. Partnerships in Countering Transnational Terrorism
GAO-08-887SP, July 31, 2008

July 23, 2008

Securing, Stabilizing, and Rebuilding Iraq: Progress Report: Some Gains Made, Updated Strategy Needed, before the House Committee on Armed Services
GAO-08-1021T  July 23, 2008

July 11, 2008

Preparing the Accountability Profession for 21st Century Challenges, Institute of Internal Auditors’ 2008 International Conference
San Francisco, CA
GAO-08-1017CG, July 8, 2008

June 30, 2008

Highlights of the Joint Forum on Tax Compliance: Options for Improvement and Their Budgetary Potential
GAO-08-703SP, June 30, 2008

June 26, 2008

Fiscal Year 2007 U.S. Government Financial Statements: Sustained Improvement in Financial Management Is Crucial to Improving Accountability and Addressing the Long-Term Fiscal Challenge, before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
GAO-08-926T  June 26, 2008

June 17, 2008

Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: Long-Term Federal Fiscal Challenge Driven Primarily by Health Care, before the Senate Committee on Finance
GAO-08-912T  June 17, 2008

June 5, 2008

Fiscal Year 2007 U.S. Government Financial Statements: Sustained Improvement in Financial Management Is Crucial to Improving Accountability and Addressing the Long-Term Fiscal Challenge, before the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
GAO-08-847T  June 5, 2008

May 22, 2008

Auditing and Advising in a Time of Transition, 17th Biennial Forum of Government Auditors
Philadelphia, PA
GAO-08-842CG, May 21, 2008

May 21, 2008

Combating Terrorism: U.S. Efforts to Address the Terrorist Threat in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas Require a Comprehensive Plan and Continued Oversight, before the Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
GAO-08-820T, May 20, 2008

April 30, 2008

Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request: U.S. Government Accountability Office, before the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Senate Committee on Appropriations
GAO-08-707T, April 30, 2008

April 18, 2008

Working to Improve Accountability in an Evolving Environment, Maryland Association of CPAs' Government and Not-for-Profit Conference
College Park, MD
GAO-08-720CG, April 18, 2008

April 17, 2008

Highlights of a Forum Convened by the Comptroller General of the United States: Improving the Federal Government's Financial Management Systems
GAO-08-447SP, April 16, 2008

April 15, 2008

Highlights of a Forum Convened by the Comptroller General of the United States: Strengthening the Use of Risk Management Principles in Homeland Security
GAO-08-627SP, April 15, 2008

April 10, 2008

Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request: U.S. Government Accountability Office, before the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, House Committee on Appropriations
GAO-08-616T, April 10, 2008