For over 75 years the U.S. Social Security Administration, or SSA, has touched the lives of virtually every American, whether it is after the loss of a loved one, at the onset of a disability, or during the transition from work to retirement.  

These and other GAO products have led to hearings and legislation, billions of dollars in taxpayer savings, and improvements to a wide range of government programs and services.

Gene L. Dodaro became the eighth Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on December 22, 2010, when he was confirmed by the United States Senate. He was nominated by President Obama in September of 2010 and had been serving as Acting Comptroller General since March of 2008.

Last week, Debra Cammer-Hines, our Vice President and Partner responsible for Strategy and Transformation Consulting, testified before Congress to share our recommendations to save funding and improve performance – the same recommendations that have been presented in this blog.  As the White House and Congressional leaders discuss options to address the debt, we’ll continue to share our experience in using modern management, technology and resources to address the de

The use of prizes and awards is a visible element of the Obama Administration’s efforts to promote innovation in government. For example, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has sponsored a competition among federal employees to find cost savings and the White House has created the “challenge.gov” website where federal agencies can pose problems in hopes of getting solutions from the public.  OMB issued guidance to encourage agencies to offer challenges and prizes, as well.  

The original GPRA requires OMB to develop a governmentwide annual performance plan.  OMB chose to designate the President’s budget as meeting that requirement.   Separately, GAO’s 2004 report recommended a governmentwide strategic plan, but OMB saw that as infeasible.  The new law attempts another approach.

Last week, the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform made recommendations to our leaders that identify savings opportunities to reduce the national debt.  The opportunities target roughly the same time horizon as my report does and identifies nearly four times as much potential savings.

For those who have answered the call to public service, there are many stakeholder groups you will encounter while in government. Understanding the relationship with each stakeholder will be useful in achieving your goals. This article focusing on how to work with the U.S. Congress is adapted from a piece in getting it Done: A guide for government Executives (Washington, DC: IBM Center for The Business of Government, 2008).