The Comptroller General heads the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), which monitors government spending and holds it accountable. The Comptroller General is appointed by the President for a 15-year term and has the responsibility of testifying before the legislature and providing written audits. The GAO has audit powers to investigate financial transactions and may refuse to sign incomplete or inaccurate reports. The Comptroller General must be politically credible, highly experienced, and not pose a security risk or have a conflict of interest.
The Comptroller General is the head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in the United States. The GAO is often referred to as the federal government’s watchdog because it is responsible for monitoring how funds are used and for holding the government publicly accountable for its financial activities. Similar positions are found in other governments that use GAO-like agencies to oversee government activities in the interests of accountability and transparency.
The GAO has existed since 1921, when the legislature determined that such an agency was necessary to keep the government operating efficiently and effectively. By law, the Comptroller General is appointed by the President of the United States for a 15-year term. If the Comptroller General needs to vacate the office, he or she will appoint an Interim Comptroller to step in so that the GAO is not left without a leader.
One responsibility of the Comptroller General is to testify before the legislature on matters relating to government spending. The legislature may request that the Comptroller attend the hearings or the Comptroller may indicate that he or she has a report that needs to be filed with Congress. In addition, the Comptroller General provides written audits of government spending, provided to the President, Congress, and other key members of government.
The Government Accountability Office maintains extensive records and has audit powers that allow it to investigate whether it considers certain financial transactions to be inefficient or suspicious. GAO may refuse to sign reports it deems to be incomplete or inaccurate. Lack of endorsement by the Comptroller General and the GAO may indicate that there is reason to believe that an agency, activity or document is not as transparent and accurate as it should be.
To become Comptroller General, someone needs to be politically credible as well as highly experienced. Many have backgrounds in accounting, economics and related fields, as well as years of experience working in the Office of Government Accountability in various capacities. Because the Controller General relies on very confidential information, he must also not pose a security risk or have a conflict of interest. When a new Comptroller General needs to be appointed, a Congressional Committee meets to develop a list of nominees which is sent to the President, and the President returns with the name of the person he believes should be appointed to the position.
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