U.S. Government Accountability Office (U.S. GAO)

GAO, often referred to as the "congressional watchdog,” is an independent, non-partisan agency that operates on behalf of Congress. It examines how taxpayer dollars are spent and provides Congress and federal agencies with objective, non-partisan, fact-based information to help the government save money and operate more efficiently.

For instance, in fiscal year 2024, GAO identified approximately $67.5 billion in financial benefits for the federal government—representing a return of about $76 for every dollar invested. Over the past six years, the agency has averaged a return on investment of $123 to $1. Additionally, GAO identified 1,232 other benefits that contributed to program and operational improvements across the government. For more information, refer to its press release on fiscal year 2024 performance.