{"id":2510449,"date":"2025-11-14T05:31:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T10:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-and-trump-on-a-collision-course-over-the-leadership-of-the-gao\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T05:36:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T10:36:16","slug":"senate-and-trump-on-a-collision-course-over-the-leadership-of-the-gao","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-and-trump-on-a-collision-course-over-the-leadership-of-the-gao\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate and Trump on a collision course over the leadership of the GAO"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsenate-and-trump-on-a-collision-course-over-the-leadership-of-the-gao%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2510449&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Teh article discusses the impending retirement of Gene L. Dodaro, the Comptroller General and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), in December, which sets the stage for a potential conflict between President donald Trump and Congress over the agency&#8217;s leadership. Dodaro, who has served in the federal government since 1973, oversees the GAO, a nonpartisan agency established in 1921 to audit government operations, expose waste, and help Congress oversee federal spending.<\/p>\n<p>The GAO has often been a thorn in Trump&#8217;s side during his second term, notably because it <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >frequently highlights improper payments<\/a> and mismanagement within executive agencies. Trump has shown a pattern of opposing government watchdogs, having fired or sidelined numerous inspectors general and ethics officials.The white House also attempted to insert personnel from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) into the GAO, but the agency rejected this, emphasizing its independence as a legislative branch entity.<\/p>\n<p>Trump, by law, has the authority to nominate Dodaro&#8217;s successor, and while the GOP-controlled Senate might seem likely to approve the president&#8217;s nominee, recent Senate actions suggest it may resist weak or partisan picks. Many senators value the GAO&#8217;s fact-based, nonpolitical oversight, and could oppose a nominee who aligns too closely with the White house.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the article notes legal protections that prevent Trump from circumventing the Senate confirmation process, including succession rules and a commission involving congressional leaders to vet nominees. This situation follows a broader pattern of Congress pushing back against trump&#8217;s attempts to install acting officials without senate approval.<\/p>\n<p>the upcoming GAO leadership transition highlights a notable separation-of-powers dispute, reflecting tensions between the executive branch and Congress over accountability and oversight of federal agencies.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Senate and Trump on a collision course over the leadership of the GAO<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_843188\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/about\/comptroller-general\/biography\">Gene L. Dodaro<\/a> is not a household name. He is a mild-mannered man who is rarely seen without a necktie and dark suit, and who speaks in a flat, matter-of-fact tone. He has worked for the federal government <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gene_Dodaro\">since 1973<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, his retirement in December may well set off a separation-of-powers battle royale between President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\">Congress<\/a>. Dodaro is the head of the Government Accountability Office, which has been a thorn in the president&rsquo;s side during his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3880511\/trump-2000-a-person-tariff-dividends\/\">second term<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/3885170\/what-2025-election-results-say-about-both-parties\/\">What November&#8217;s election results say about both parties<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/3885415\/life-legacy-thomas-sowell\/\">As an academic and a polemicist, Thomas Sowell is ruthless in marshaling facts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/magazine\/3884544\/trump-right-failed-public-school-system-means-us-needs-h-1b-talent\/\">Trump is right &mdash; our failed public school system means the US needs H-1B talent<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>And by law, Trump gets to nominate the next Comptroller General, as the GAO&rsquo;s leader is termed.<\/p>\n<p>Long before there was the Department of Government Efficiency, there was the GAO, which regularly publicly exposes governmental cost overruns and failed policies that squander taxpayer dollars. Congress established the nonpartisan agency in 1921 to audit agencies and help lawmakers root out fraud and rein in the federal deficit.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gene L. Dodaro, US comptroller general at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), speaks during a Senate Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch hearing in Washington, D.C. on April 29. (Al Drago\/Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Today, GAO may be best known for its frequent reporting on &ldquo;improper payments&rdquo; flowing from executive agencies, which amounted to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/CZ04dIiUhkc?t=2041s\">more than $160 billion<\/a> last year. The agency&rsquo;s deep-dive investigations of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-democrats-hail-telework-rewards-but-gao-analysis-not-clear-on-benefits\/\" title=\"House Democrats praise telework rewards, but ... analysis lacks clarity on benefits.\">federal agency operations<\/a>, such as the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/products\/gao-24-105737\">use of solitary confinement in federal prisons<\/a>, often stoke <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/ZWfHxEohezM?si=GeLtbjwDUNHbPzzd\">congressional oversight<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has made it a policy to bring to heel government watchdogs his administration views as needlessly interfering in matters best left to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-senator-asks-two-biden-cabinet-members-whether-high-ranking-officials-are-using-encrypted-apps-to-cloak-communications\/\" title=\"GOP Senator Asks Two Biden Cabinet Members Whether \u2018High Ranking\u2019 Officials Are Using Encrypted Apps To \u2018Cloak\u2019 Communications\">executive branch officials<\/a>. Trump has fired or demoted at least 20 inspector generals, whose job it is to uncover illicit doings by executive branch agencies, since returning to office in January. The president also canned the heads of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/02\/10\/trump-removes-government-ethics-office-director-00203418\">Office of Government Ethics<\/a> and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/judge-rules-trump-firing-whistleblower-office-chief-hampton-dellinger-unlawful\/\">Office of Special Counsel<\/a>, both of whom set policies aimed at curbing mischief by federal officials.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, the White House sought to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/fedscoop.com\/gao-watchdog-blocks-doge-from-agency\/\">embed<\/a> a team of individuals from the DOGE in GAO. The agency rebuffed them and released a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/oversightdemocrats.house.gov\/sites\/evo-subsites\/democrats-oversight.house.gov\/files\/evo-media-document\/letter-to-doge-director.5.16.25-002%29_redacted.pdf\">letter<\/a> it sent to DOGE that declared, &ldquo;GAO is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/government-accountability-office-rejects-doge-effort-to-target-government-watchdog\/\" title=\"... rejects DOGE effort to target government watchdog\">legislative branch agency<\/a> that conducts work for Congress. As such, we are not subject to DOGE or Executive Orders.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Repeatedly, the White House has clashed with GAO over its legal opinions faulting various executive agencies for failing to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-trump-could-use-impoundment-to-radically-change-federal-spending-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"How Trump could use impoundment to radically change federal spending - Washington Examiner\">spend congressionally appropriated funds<\/a>. Last month, for example, Dodaro&rsquo;s team <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/products\/b-337204.2\">deemed illegal<\/a> the Federal Emergency Management Agency&rsquo;s &ldquo;withholding, delaying, or effectively precluding the obligation or expenditure of budget authority&rdquo; for a few disaster mitigation and relief programs. Subsequently, Russ Vought, the head of the president&rsquo;s Office of Management and Budget, told executive agency heads that GAO&rsquo;s reports and legal opinions should be considered <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/a11.pdf\">&ldquo;non-binding&rdquo;<\/a> on them.<\/p>\n<p>In September, the clash flared up again. Vought criticized GAO, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/09\/03\/congress\/vought-pocket-rescissions-gao-national-conservatism-conference-00541663\">telling<\/a> a conference of conservatives, &ldquo;We are not big fans of GAO. They are a quasi-legislative independent entity &hellip; something that shouldn&rsquo;t exist.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Dodaro defended his agency in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/09\/03\/congress\/vought-pocket-rescissions-gao-national-conservatism-conference-00541663\">statement<\/a> to the media.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Clearly, Russell Vought does not value transparency and accountability,&rdquo; Dodaro said. &ldquo;GAO&rsquo;s mission is to support Congress in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities. During my tenure as Comptroller General alone, GAO&rsquo;s work has saved taxpayers over $1.2 trillion and resulted in tens of thousands of improvements to how federal programs work.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Dodaro&rsquo;s 15-year term <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/about\/comptroller-general\">expires<\/a> on Dec. 29, and Trump quite probably would prefer he be replaced with someone who would call off GAO&rsquo;s oversight dogs.<\/p>\n<p>At first blush, it might appear the president is likely to get his way. The GOP-controlled Senate has shown itself willing to vote for weak or ill-qualified nominees for high positions. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., for example, was made the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services despite having little management experience and some crank ideas about health.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, a closer look suggests the president may face an uphill battle in the Senate. Republican senators have been willing to deep-six Trump appointees, particularly to low-profile positions. Trump has withdrawn <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wakeuptopolitics.com\/p\/trump-has-withdrawn-a-record-number\">a record high of <\/a>48 nominations this year. In recent weeks, they have forced the withdrawal of nominees to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/10\/29\/congress\/trump-exim-pick-withdrew-nomination-following-scrutiny-over-russia-ties-00629431\">Export-Import Bank<\/a>, and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/corner\/paul-ingrassias-story-is-not-that-exceptional\/\">Office of Special Counsel<\/a>. They also appear to be rejecting Trump&rsquo;s proposed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/10\/28\/congress\/another-doomed-trump-nominee-00625374\">ambassador to Kuwait<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Many, if not most, senators value GAO&rsquo;s work. Unlike, say, communications from lobbyists, interest groups, and their political parties, GAO reports and opinions are factually-based. The agency does not get more money or rewards from helping a legislator understand why fraudsters can <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/products\/gao-24-107461\">rip off<\/a> the federal SNAP food program. GAO&rsquo;s value would be greatly diminished if senators approved a new comptroller general who viewed himself as the president&rsquo;s advocate and defender.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3879555\/mikie-sherrill-win-new-jersey-house-seat-replacement-could-take-a-while\/\">MIKIE SHERRILL WIN KICKS OFF PROCESS TO REPLACE HER IN HOUSE &mdash; HERE&rsquo;S WHY IT COULD TAKE A WHILE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Nor does it appear likely that Trump could circumvent the Senate and install an acting head of GAO. The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/uscode.house.gov\/view.xhtml?path=\/prelim@title31\/subtitle1\/chapter7&amp;edition=prelim\">law<\/a> empowers the GAO deputy director to take over the top position when Dodaro&rsquo;s term ends, and it requires Congress to form a commission headed by the majority and minority leaders of both chambers to propose potential nominees for the president&rsquo;s consideration.<\/p>\n<p>And not to be forgotten is that Congress rebuffed Trump the last time he attempted this maneuver. This spring, his acting appointees were <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/politics\/3427426\/trump-clash-library-of-congress\/\">turned away<\/a> from the Library of Congress and the Copyright Office, with the support of both Senate and House GOP leaders.<\/p>\n<p><em>Kevin R. Kosar (<\/em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/kevinrkosar\"><em>@kevinrkosar<\/em><\/a><em>) is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and edits<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/understandingcongress.org\/\"><em>UnderstandingCongress.org<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senate and Trump clash over GAO leadership as Dodaro retires<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3532,"featured_media":2510450,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WB.Congress.111925.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[15396,50402,5894,3740,3634],"class_list":["post-2510449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-gao","tag-leadership-2","tag-politics","tag-senate","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WB.Congress.111925.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2510449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3532"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2510449"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2510449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2510453,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2510449\/revisions\/2510453"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2510450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2510449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2510449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2510449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}