Government Accountability Office (GAO) Archives

The Robert C. Weaver Federal Building, the current headquarters of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is seen on July 8, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Public housing reps want HUD guidance on facial recognition, GAO says

But the watchdog said the agency has “no plans” to update a September 2023 letter on the technology.

Aug 18, 2025 By Matt Bracken

Close-up of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) sign outside its main headquarters in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)

Watchdog says OMB must prioritize federal IT spending framework, or scrap it

The GAO said in a new report that OMB “must act now to determine the future of” the Technology Business Management framework in the federal government.

Aug 18, 2025 By Miranda Nazzaro

Generative AI use is ‘escalating rapidly’ in federal agencies, GAO finds

The congressional watchdog examined 11 agencies, finding 250 additional generative AI use cases from 2023 to 2024.

Jul 29, 2025 By Miranda Nazzaro

A sign in front of the entrance of the Security Administration’s main campus on March 19, 2025 in Woodlawn, Md. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

SSA’s IT board failed to properly oversee operations investments, watchdog says

The agency did not have defined procedures to review nearly $2 billion in IT investments in fiscal 2024, a fact the GAO called “concerning.”

Jul 28, 2025 By Miranda Nazzaro

People walk past the headquarters of the Small Business Administration in the Southwest Federal Center area on March 24, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

House lawmakers target SBA IT modernization in bipartisan bill

The legislation calls on the agency to implement 2024 GAO recommendations regarding an online certifications platform that was marked by delays and unreliable cost estimates.

Jul 21, 2025 By Matt Bracken

Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office Gene L. Dodaro testifies during a congressional budget hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C on April 29, 2025. (Photo by DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images)

The GAO flagged 10 ‘critical’ legacy IT systems. Years later, most haven’t been modernized

Just three of those 10 modernization projects have been completed, per the GAO, which revealed lackluster planning for most of those that remain.

Jul 17, 2025 By Matt Bracken

Tech upgrades at State passport centers fueled customer service turnaround, GAO says

The watchdog looked at how the National Passport Information Center dealt with a post-pandemic call surge and the selling of fake appointments on social media.

Jul 9, 2025 By Matt Bracken

Nuclear Regulatory Commission has IT recs to address amid Trump ‘reform’ of the agency

The GAO delivered six open priority recommendations to the NRC’s CIO weeks after an executive order called for changes aimed at accelerating the agency’s nuclear permitting process.

Jul 3, 2025 By Matt Bracken

A view of the IRS building in Washington, D.C., on April 17, 2023. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images)

Watchdog pushes IRS on stronger oversight of identity-proofing program

The GAO said the tax agency’s use of ID.me services needs improved documentation, as well as transparency around AI use.

Jun 13, 2025 By Matt Bracken

A sign marks the location of the General Services Administration headquarters building on Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by J. David Ake/Getty Images)

Login.gov has one lingering data-security priority to address, watchdog says

The GAO said GSA’s single sign-on platform still needs to implement a policy for testing backup data.

Jun 3, 2025 By Matt Bracken