United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office National Security and International Affairs Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1994-07-13 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:NSIAD-94-187 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-94-187 P0b002ee18037bc82 f:ns94187 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-94-187 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-94-187 NSIAD-94-187 Privacy law Confidential records Disclosure law Information disclosure Personnel records Inspectors General Investigations into federal agencies Public officials Records management Presidential transition Letter Report NSIAD GAO was asked to review an investigative report prepared by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of State regarding the retrieval of files on Bush Administration political appointees. The OIG report concluded that the Clinton Administration staff in the State Department White House Liaison Office had retrieved and reviewed files containing information on Bush Administration political appointees and that the release of information about these files appeared to violate the Privacy Act. Two officials were fired as a result. GAO's review generally agrees with the OIG's findings and conclusions and supplements the information the OIG developed. The one area where GAO obtained information that the OIG investigation did not address concerned the adequacy of records management at State and other agencies. OIG's investigation focused on determining whether any wrongdoing occurred by Department employees. Although the OIG concluded that State's information management officials did not violate current regulations when they provided records of Bush appointees to the Clinton appointees, GAO believes that weaknesses in records management and controls led to the retrieval and release of information to the press. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-94-187/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-94-187.htm GAO/NSIAD-94-187 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-94-187 Letter Report GAO/NSIAD-94-187; Records Management: Retrieval of State Department's Political Appointee Files; Privacy law Confidential records Disclosure law Information disclosure Personnel records Inspectors General Investigations into federal agencies Public officials Records management Presidential transition