From the U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov

Transcript for: GAO – The Congressional Watchdog

Description: You may have heard of us, but do you know what we do?

Released: October 2018


>> [GAO logo on blue background] You may have heard of us.

>> [CNN news clip] The Government Watchdog Report now says--

>> [Fox news clip] According to a GAO report--

>> [John Oliver clip] And when the Government Accountability Office 
looked into this a few years ago, their findings were truly troubling.

>> But do you know what we do? [GAO logo appears with a blue 
background.]

>> [CNN news clip of anchor] The Government Accountability Office is a 
nonpartisan watchdog that reports to Congress. 

>> [the front of the capital building as the words “Congressional 
Watchdog” move across the lower third from right to left] Often called 
the congressional watchdog. [GAO logo] GAO is an independent, 
nonpartisan [Page of cartoon images appears with the names of different 
government agencies and programs on signs] agency that helps Congress 
determine which government programs are working well and which are not. 

>> [news clip from Washington Journal- CSPAN]  We make recommendations 
to Congress or to executive branch agencies.

>> [diagram of money feeding a medical bag that is then drained into a 
hospital graphic.] Our work is fact based and objective, examining 
federal programs, facilities, and policies.

>> [Video from Government Matters broadcast] Congress wants the 
Government Accountability Office to keep an eye on that spending.

>> [Fade to page with carton graphics of money, submarine, building, 
and crane] We track government funds to see how much programs are 
costing, if the programs have met their goals, [Fade to a man next to 
an easel with financial report and money graphics] and whether federal 
money has been spent wisely.

>> [Cut to clip of Senator Johnson speaking] You give us the 
information that really can make government more efficient, more 
effective, and accountable.

>> [Graphics of cartoon money and solutions move across the screen] Our 
work leads to laws and other changes that improve government 
operations, saving the government and taxpayers billions of dollars.

>> [Cut to clip of Senator McCaskill speaking] And the important thing 
is you provide information that is objective, that is fact based, 
nonpartisan, fair, and balanced.

>> [Reports scroll across the screen with pictures of the capitol 
rotunda, money, and people] We're a fact-finding machine that returns 
more than $100 in savings for every dollar of our budget.

>> [Video of congressional hearings, and titles of GAO reports] 
Wherever the federal government is spending tax dollars, GAO is there. 
We do our work, including testifying before Congress, on topics as 
diverse as Navy shipbuilding, national cybersecurity, the census, 
Medicaid and Medicare program integrity, cutting-edge science and 
technology issues, nuclear security, homeland security, and health care 
for our nation’s veterans.

[ Background Music ]

>> [Core values flash across the screen. Then pictures of GAO team 
members appear] Our core values of accountability, integrity, and 
reliability are reflected in all of the work we do for Congress and the 
American people.

>> [GAO logo] Want to find out more?

>> [Video of camera man] Follow us on Facebook.

>> [Two people talking in front of camera] Welcome to A Cup of GAO. 
It's your coffee break with our experts.

>> [Woman walking down the street with a smartphone- Twitter graphic 
appears in the top left corner] Follow us on Twitter.

[Woman using sign language to say “follow us on LinkedIn] [ Background 
Music ]

>> [Woman riding the metro with “Watchblog” on screen] Visit our blog.

>> [Man walking out of GAO building putting earphones in]  And 
subscribe to our podcasts.

>> [GAO logo appears and “.gov” is added] For more from the 
congressional watchdog, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 
visit us at gao.gov.