Summary: Legislation has been proposed which would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of GAO and would reinforce the credibility of GAO work. GAO is a legislative branch agency responsible to the Congress for auditing and evaluating executive branch agencies, yet it is defined as an executive agency for organization and employee purposes. This presents an organizational conflict of interest, which is clearly visible in the area of personnel management. The proposed legislation would minimize these conflicts of interest by exempting GAO from executive branch administered laws and regulations, while also providing GAO personnel authority similar to other legislative agencies. This bill also provides adequate safeguards for the rights of employees and applicants, and resolves the critical concern of equal opportunity. Due to the rapidly increasing size of the Federal budget, the rising volume of laws, reports, studies and requests, as well as a correspondingly substantial increase in complexity, diversity, and scope of the work, GAO has a compelling need for additional managerial positions. The bill authorizes 10 additional positions to meet this need, and generally gives GAO greater independence and flexibility which will give force and effect to the long-standing policy that it be free from control by the executive branch.
