FEDERALhearing transcript

Senate Hearing on Reducing Federal Waste and Duplication

Original title: DUPLICATION, WASTE, AND FRAUD IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS

January 1, 2018

government efficiency federal spending GAO waste fraud and abuse budget oversight

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing highlights the oversight mechanisms used to identify federal spending inefficiencies, which have historically resulted in $75 billion in savings over seven years.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Federal Agencies

Agencies are subject to GAO and Inspector General audits to identify and potentially eliminate duplicative programs.

Taxpayers

Taxpayers are affected by the efficiency of federal spending and the reduction of waste in government programs.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2018.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a hearing on April 26, 2017, to review efforts by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Inspectors General to identify and eliminate redundant or wasteful federal programs. The committee discussed the return on investment for oversight activities and heard testimony from government officials and academic experts.

Key Facts

The GAO reported $75 billion in savings over the seven years preceding the hearing due to identifying duplicative programs.
The GAO reported a 112:1 return on investment for its oversight activities.
The hearing was held pursuant to a 2010 amendment by Senator Coburn requiring GAO reports on duplicative programs.
The committee reviewed testimony from four witnesses representing the GAO, the Treasury Department, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the Veterans Health Administration.
The hearing took place on April 26, 2017, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of this hearing?

The hearing was held to examine how federal agencies identify and eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and .

How much money has been saved by these oversight efforts?

According to the hearing, GAO reports on have resulted in $75 billion in savings over a seven-year period.

Why It Matters

This hearing highlights the oversight mechanisms used to identify federal spending inefficiencies, which have historically resulted in $75 billion in savings over seven years.

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Impact of 2010 Coburn Amendment

The hearing highlights how a single legislative amendment in 2010 created a long-term, high-return oversight mechanism for federal spending.

Government Accountability Office

Connected Entities

personKeith D. Repko“Medical Center Director, VA St. Louis Health Care System”Map →

personJ. Russell George“Inspector General for Tax Administration, U.S. Department of the Treasury”Map →

organizationU.S. Government Accountability Office“Federal agency responsible for auditing and investigating government programs”Map →

personRon Johnson“Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs”Map →

personRebecca M. Blank“Chancellor, University of Wisconsin-Madison”Map →

personEugene L. Dodaro“Comptroller General of the United States, U.S. Government Accountability Office”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance60
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz10
Current news / social attention level

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