Government Accountability Office rejects DOGE effort to target government watchdog
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has rejected a request from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to assign staff members to the GAO. The GAO stated that it is indeed part of the legislative branch and thus not subject to executive orders issued by the president, including the one cited by DOGE. This decision was confirmed by a spokesperson for the GAO, who highlighted the agency’s independence as an essential government watchdog.The GAO also informed its employees about the situation and emphasized that it would keep relevant congressional committees updated.
The rejection comes amidst an audit of DOGE being conducted by the GAO,following calls from several Democratic lawmakers for a review of DOGE’s activities. senator Patty murray expressed her support for GAO’s independence, urging DOGE and its supporters to refrain from interfering. The office’s staff union expressed confidence in GAO leadership’s commitment to safeguarding its independence. the relationship between GAO and DOGE is complicated by perceptions of redundancy in their functions, raising concerns about potential cuts to the GAO.
Government Accountability Office rejects DOGE effort to target government watchdog
The Government Accountability Office rejected the Department of Government Efficiency‘s attempt to place staffers inside the watchdog.
The GAO told the Washington Examiner that it denied DOGE’s requests to assign a team at the office because the watchdog is part of the legislative branch and, therefore, not subject to the executive order DOGE cited in its attempt to access it.
“I can confirm that GAO has been contacted by DOGE staffers seeking to assign a team to GAO citing the President’s January 20, 2025, Executive Order entitled, ‘Establishing and Implementing the President’s Department of Government Efficiency.’ As a legislative branch agency, GAO is not subject to Executive Orders and has therefore declined any requests to have a DOGE team assigned to GAO,” a GAO spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
NOTUS reported that GAO sent an email to employees just after noon Friday with the same information and saying, “We are not subject to DOGE or executive orders.” The email also noted that GAO has “notified relevant congressional committees and will keep them apprised of any further developments.”
The GAO “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 work more efficiently,” according to their website.
The Washington Examiner reported in April that the GAO was auditing DOGE. The watchdog’s audit had been taking place since March, according to Wired. It came after several Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), called on GAO to review DOGE.
Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) told NOTUS that Elon Musk and DOGE should “get lost.”
“The law is crystal clear: GAO is a legislative branch agency not subject to DOGE or the president’s whims. It is an indispensable, impartial government watchdog, and its independence must remain. My message to Elon and DOGE: get lost,” she said.
The office’s union, IFPTE Local 1921, said it has “full confidence” that the GAO leadership will protect its employees.
“We have full confidence that GAO leadership will protect and defend GAO’s independence, as the comptroller general and executive committee have made clear at prior town halls,” an email obtained by the outlet said.
TRACKING WHAT DOGE IS DOING ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
DOGE may view GAO as redundant, given that the cost-cutting agency is doing much of the same work on a vast scale.
That could mean the GAO is a target for cuts.
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