About GAO
Why Work for GAO
Often called the “congressional watchdog,” GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that advises Congress about ways to make government more efficient, effective, ethical, equitable, and responsive.
Returning more than a hundred dollars in savings for every dollar of our budget, we support oversight of taxpayer dollars by:
- auditing federal spending;
- investigating allegations of illegal and improper activities;
- reporting on agency program and policy effectiveness;
- analyzing policy and outlining options for Congress;
- issuing legal decisions and opinions, such as bid protest rulings and reports on agency rules.
Check out our video about GAO.
You may have heard of us, but do you know what we do?
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Our People are Our Strength
We strive for a workplace that values, respects, and treats all employees fairly and a culture that fosters diversity and inclusion.
GAO’s support of diversity has been top-ranked among mid-sized federal agencies since 2011, and has ranked in the top 5 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government every year since 2005
Read more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Work/life balance offerings include
- flexible work schedules
- teleworking opportunities
- continuous learning
- formal mentoring and development programs
- a pay system that rewards performance
Our Work Takes Us Everywhere
GAO has around 3,000 employees. Our 11 field offices and headquarters in Washington, DC, position us to cover whatever the government has done, is doing, or thinking about doing anywhere in the world. GAO work spans the entire federal government.
Read more about our locations and our teams.
When We Talk, Others Listen
GAO is integral to government decision making. We make hundreds of recommendations each year, testify frequently at congressional hearings, and are cited regularly in the national press. On average, roughly 80% of our recommendations are implemented over a four-year period, improving government services and saving billions of taxpayer dollars annually.