04-23-2017, 06:20 PM
(04-23-2017, 06:12 PM)wildcats forever Wrote: I do wonder how much weight the GAO carries. Who/or what can stymie the changes it recommends? Is anyone even listening?
Well, that is an interesting question. The short answer is: it depends. The GAO's assessments are non-partisan themselves, but the agenda is set by Congress. So of course, the programs looked into will be different depending on the congressional make up. Then, what happens with the findings is also up to Congress, since the GAO is a part of the legislative branch. The GAO has no authority in itself to mandate anything. It is up to Congress to implement policy changes based on the findings.
So, the weight the GAO carries is dependent on whether Congress likes their findings, really. Then, of course, it also depends on the way the executive views the findings, as well. It's a lot of fun, really. Hard to believe this is what I want to do with my life.
"A great democracy has got to be progressive, or it will soon cease to be either great or a democracy..." - TR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
