United States Government Accountability Office
Seal of the U.S. Government Accountability Office | |
Logo of the U.S. Government Accountability Office | |
Flag | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | July 1, 1921 |
| Headquarters | 441 G St., NW Washington, D.C., U.S. 20548 |
| Employees | 3,015 FTEs (2018) |
| Annual budget | $916 million (FY2025) |
| Agency executive |
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| Website | gao.gov |
| Footnotes | |
| Measurable benefits of GAO work total $214.7 billion, a return of $338 for every dollar invested. | |
The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government that provides auditing, evaluative, and investigative services for the United States Congress in an independent and nonpartisan capacity. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. at the US General Accounting Office Building in Judiciary Square, and has a headquarters office annex at the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill.
The GAO is the supreme audit institution of the federal government of the United States. It identifies its core "mission values" as: accountability, integrity, and reliability. It is also known as the "congressional watchdog".
The agency is headed by the comptroller general of the United States. The current Acting Comptroller General is Orice Williams Brown, who has served in the position since December 30th 2025.