GAO’s Role

GAO’s role has been to support the Congress in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and assure accountability of government for the benefit of the American people
We do this in four fundamental ways:
- Oversight–preventing and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse
- Insight–making government more efficient and effective
- Foresight–examining the role of government
- Adjudication–bid protest resolution, legal opinions (e.g. appropriations law)

GAO’s role has been to support the Congress in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and assure accountability of government for the benefit of the American people