Summary: The Government Performance and Results Act arose, in part, out of Congress' frustration that its policy and spending decisions and oversight had been handicapped by a lack of precise information on program goals, performance, and costs. Today, agencies must set multiyear strategic goals and corresponding annual goals, measure their performance, and report on their results. The implementation of the act is now at a critical point. By the end of March, agencies are to publish annual performance reports that, for the first time, will provide an overall picture of the performance of federal programs. The information becoming available as a result of the act also affords an opportunity to reexamine what government does, how it does it, and who benefits. In short, the act has the potential to ensure that the government delivers the results that the American people expect and deserve. The Comptroller General's testimony provides an overview of the act's implementation across the executive branch, discusses how the House of Representatives has used the act to improve program oversight and decisionmaking, and suggests ways to use the act to address some of the critical program and management issues confronting the government.
