Advertising by the Federal Government: An Overview (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised June 23, 2014 |
| Report Number |
R41681 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Kevin R. Kosar, Analyst in American National Government |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Government advertising can be controversial if it conflicts with citizens\' views about the proper\r role of government. Yet some government advertising is accepted as a normal part of government\r information activities.\r It is difficult to calculate the amount of funds spent by the federal government on advertising each\r year. The reasons for this include (1) there is no government-wide definition of what constitutes\r advertising and (2) there is no central authority to which agencies are required to report\r advertising expenses.\r However, an estimate of the federal government\'s expenditures on contracts for advertising\r services can be derived from data in the Federal Procurement Data System. According to these\r data, federal agencies spent $892.5 million on advertising services in FY2013.\r Agencies\' discretion to advertise is limited primarily by restrictions imposed by Congress in\r authorization and appropriations statutes and by the principles set forth in volume 1 of the\r Government Accountability Office\'s (GAO\'s) Principles of Federal Appropriations Law. Any\r oversight of government advertising expenditures rests with agencies\' inspectors general, GAO,\r and Congress.
