This piece originally appeared in The Hill.
In their latest effort to cut perceived government waste, House Republicans have proposed slashing the Government Accountability Office’s annual budget by nearly 50 percent. It’s the latest political challenge in 2025 for the congressional watchdog agency, which has historically enjoyed strong bipartisan support. But rather than cutting GAO, lawmakers should modernize the agency to better serve Congress.
GAO’s team of more than 3,500 workers conducts reviews and provides reform recommendations to Congress and federal agencies. Its work routinely improves executive agency operations and informs legislation.
GAO is a rare institution in Washington that reports measurable financial savings. Last year, it estimated that its work yielded $67.5 billion in savings — $76 for every dollar of its $900 million budget. That’s why the office has long had backers in both political parties and is widely considered the government’s most effective cost-cutting agency.
