Congressional Oversight: The General Accounting Office (Testimony,
03/30/95, GAO/T-OCG-95-4).

GAO is committed to being a model government agency of the future--one
that is smaller and at the same time achieves efficiencies through
effective use of technology and quality management principles.  GAO
began downsizing in 1992, when it had a staff of about 5,325.  GAO now
proposes further reductions that would bring its staff level to 3,975 by
1997--a cumulative 25-percent reduction from the 1992 level.  At that
size, GAO would employ fewer workers than at any time since the late
1930s. Despite the downsizing, GAO's productivity remains high.  The
agency's work led to $19 billion in measurable financial savings in
fiscal year 1994 alone.  GAO generated $43 dollars in financial benefits
for every dollar appropriated that year. GAO's carefully phased
reduction plan would allow the agency to meet its core audit,
evaluation, and investigatory responsibilities while yielding personnel
savings of $130 million annually.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-OCG-95-4
     TITLE:  Congressional Oversight: The General Accounting Office
      DATE:  03/30/95
   SUBJECT:  Audits
             Investigations into federal agencies
             Oversight by Congress
             Reductions in force
             Budget cuts
             Agency missions
             Cost effectiveness analysis
             Accountability
             Financial management

             
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