GAO saved the federal government $67.5 billion in fiscal 2024

Recommendations from the Government Accountability Office, an oversight entity that issues nonpartisan reports on how agencies can improve their operations, saved the federal government $67.5 billion in fiscal 2024. That’s $76 for every dollar spent on the agency, according to a performance and accountability report that it published on Nov. 15. 

“In [fiscal] 2025 and beyond, we look forward to continuing to fulfill our mission, serving the Congress and the public and improving the performance of the federal government on issues affecting the lives of all Americans,” Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro wrote in a letter at the start of the report. 

By saving agencies $67.5 billion, GAO exceeded its goal to generate $50 billion in recorded financial benefits for fiscal 2024. However the four-year rate for implementing its past recommendations was 70%, which was a drop from fiscal 2023’s rate of 75% and less than the watchdog’s goal of 80%. 

Still, GAO celebrated that it turned in 100% of its reports and products on time. 

Some notable operational changes in fiscal 2024 across the federal government as a result of GAO recommendations include: 

• Defense Department modified how it identifies potential improper payments, saving $4.8 billion. 
• Social Security Administration updated occupation data that it uses to evaluate work capability when deciding on awarding disability benefits by removing 114 occupations (e.g. telegrapher) that it would cite when denying an application for such benefits. 
• Office of Personnel Management implemented guidance to prevent Federal Employees Health Benefits program benefits from going to ineligible family members. 

GAO reported that its work since 2002 has saved approximately $1.45 trillion and led to nearly 29,500 program and operational changes. 

But the watchdog said that, as of March 2024, nearly 5,500 of its recommendations are unfulfilled. If they were implemented, GAO estimated they could generate $106 to $208 billion in measurable financial benefits. 

Such open recommendations could be a starting point for the incoming Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, which will be a non-governmental entity that advises on ways to improve efficiency and cut wasteful spending. 

However DOGE seems set on more far-reaching reforms. Vivek Ramaswamy, who will co-lead the efficiency initiative with Elon Musk, has said that it would lead to large-scale layoffs of federal employees and severely restrict telework flexibility.