U.S. Government Accountability Office

The U.S. Government Accountability Office, frequently called and better known by its acronym GAO, was previously named the General Accounting Office.

The GAO is the nonpartisan, investigative arm of the U.S. Congress. It was founded in 1921, and its mission is "to support the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and ensure the accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people." The GAO conducts audits and authors reports, at the request of members of Congress, to meet legislative and Congressional committee requirements, or under the authority of its head, the Comptroller General.

Personnel

 * Acting Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro (as of March 2008)
 * Former Comptroller General David M. Walker (November 1998 - March 2008)

Contact information
Government Accountability Office 441 G St., NW Washington, DC 20548

Phone: (202) 512-3000 Email: webmaster@gao.gov Website: http://www.gao.gov

Related SourceWatch articles

 * David M. Walker

External articles

 * John W. Dean, "The General Accounting Office Drops Its Suit Against Vice President Cheney: Given This Development, What's Next?," FindLaw, February 14, 2003.
 * Matt Crenson, GAO Chief Warns Economic Disaster Looms, Assoicated Press, October 28, 2006.
 * David M. Walker, Foresight For Government. The Futurist, March-April, 2007.
 * Kyle Almond, "One man's campaign against federal debt," CNN, March 29, 2007.