Tag Archives: Office of Management and Budget

Working toward Implementing the DATA Act

Federal agencies spend more than $3.7 trillion a year. But it’s not always easy to get reliable, useful, and consistent information about this spending—information that can help improve oversight, decision making, and transparency. So, Congress passed the Digital Accountability and … Continue reading

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When the Federal Government Makes Improper Payments (podcast)

Federal government agencies made an estimated $137 billion in improper payments in fiscal year 2015. These were payments that shouldn’t have been made at all or were sent in the wrong amount. Here is Beryl Davis, a director in our … Continue reading

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The DATA Act Turns 2

The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014, known as the DATA Act, is 2 years old today. This law is supposed to make it easier to get reliable, standardized information on federal spending. Today’s WatchBlog explores what we’ve found … Continue reading

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Understanding Sequestration

The 2013 budget cuts known as “sequestration” were the first of their kind in more than two decades—and they’ll be with us for years. In fact, sequestration in some form is scheduled to continue annually through 2025, in the hopes … Continue reading

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Tracking Federal Spending with the DATA Act (infographic and podcast)

The federal government spends more than $3.5 trillion dollars a year. But how that money is spent is not always easy to track. Enter the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014. Known as the “DATA Act,” this law is … Continue reading

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Podcast on Federal Agencies’ Customer Service Efforts

Federal agencies provide many types of services to the public, such as border and airport security and visitor education in national parks and forests. But how do they know that these services are meeting people’s needs? Hear our podcast with … Continue reading

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OMB’s Reforms Can Help Agencies Better Manage Federal IT Projects

Information technology (IT) is critical to the health, economy, and security of the nation. As such, federal agencies plan to spend more than $82 billion on IT this fiscal year. However, as we have previously reported and testified, many federal … Continue reading

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How Data, Leadership, and Collaboration Can Improve Government Results

Effective performance management helps the federal government to improve outcomes in areas that affect nearly every aspect of Americans’ lives, from education, healthcare, and housing to national and homeland security. To that end, the Office of Management and Budget released … Continue reading

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Impediments to an Audit Opinion on the Government’s Financial Statements

The Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, annually consolidates individual agency financial statements to provide a comprehensive overview of the federal government’s finances. GAO is required to audit the consolidated … Continue reading

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