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159CG entitled 'The Upcoming Transition: GAO’s Efforts to Assist the 
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The Upcoming Transition: 

GAO’s Efforts to Assist the 111th Congress and the Next Administration: 

Gene L. Dodaro: 

City College of New York: 
Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service: 
October 23, 2008: 

GAO-09-159CG: 

Outline: 

Brief overview of GAO: 

Key objectives for our transition work: 

Examples of transition issues to be covered: 

[End of outline] 

GAO Overview: 

GAO’s Mission: 

GAO exists to support the Congress in carrying out its constitutional 
responsibilities and to help improve the performance and assure 
accountability of government for the benefit of the American people. 

We play a unique, independent and non-partisan “watchdog” role. 

Serving The Congress And The Nation: 

GAO's Strategic Plan Framework Mission: 

GAO exists to support the Congress in meeting its constitutional 
responsibilities and to help improve the performance and ensure the 
accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the 
American people. 

Themes: 

* Changing Security Threats;
* Sustainability Concerns;
* Economic Growth & Competitiveness;
* Global Interdependency;
* Societal Change;
* Quality of Life;
* Science & Technology. 

Goals and Objectives: 

Provide Timely, Quality Service to the Congress and the Federal 
Government to Address Current and Emerging Challenges to the Well-being 
and Financial Security of the American People related to:
* Health care needs;
* Lifelong learning;
* Work benefits and protection;
* Financial security;
* Effective system of justice;
* Viable communities;
* Natural resources use and environmental protection;
* Physical infrastructure. 

Respond to Changing Security Threats and the Challenges of Global 
Interdependence involving:
* Homeland security;
* Military capabilities and readiness;
* Advancement of U.S. interests;
* Global market forces. 

Help Transform the Federal Government's Role and How It Does Business 
to Meet Twenty-first Century Challenges by assessing:
* Roles in achieving federal objectives;
* Government transformation;
* Key management challenges and program risks;
* Fiscal position and financing of the government. 

Maximize the Value of GAO by Being a Model Federal Agency and a World- 
Class Professional Services Organization in the areas of:
* Client and customer satisfaction;
* Strategic leadership;
* Institutional knowledge and experience;
* Process improvement; 
* Employer of choice. 

Core Values: 

* Accountability;
* Integrity;
* Reliability. 

[End of GAO's Strategic Plan Framework] 

Demand High for GAO Assistance: 

* Over 1,200 requests received from Congress in ’08. 

* Over 160 new mandates for GAO reviews were embedded into law. 

* Provided testimony before Congress over 300 times in FY 2008. 

Core Values: 

Accountability: Help the Congress oversee federal programs, policies, 
and operations to ensure accountability to the American people. 

Integrity: Ensure that our work is professional, objective, fact-based, 
nonpartisan, nonideological, fair, and balanced. 

Reliability: Provide high-quality, timely, accurate, useful, clear, and 
candid information. 

GAO’s Workforce: 

* 3,100 FTE — 75% in D.C., 25% in field. 

* Workforce consists primarily of analysts, IT specialists, auditors, 
attorneys, and economists. 

* GAO has technical chiefs for accounting, actuarial science, 
economics, statistics, science, and technology. 

* 80% of GAO’s resources spent on people. 

* We hire people with advanced degrees including public administration 
and public policy. 

Table: Fiscal Year 2008 Performance: 

Measures: Financial benefits (in billions); 
FY 08 Actual: $57.8. 

Measures: Other benefits; 
FY 08 Actual: 1,398. 

Measures: Testimonies; 
FY 08 Actual: 304. 

Measures: Products with recommendations; 
FY 08 Actual: 66%. 

Measures: Recommendations implemented; 
FY 08 Actual: 83%. 

Measures: Timeliness (based on client feedback); 
FY 08 Actual: 95%. 

[End of table] 

Near Term: GAO Role in Financial Rescue: 

* Oversight role critically important in Economic Stabilization Act; 

* Congress turned to GAO; 

* Auditors of FDIC, FHFA and government wide statements; 

* Advice and analysis in reassessing regulatory structure. 

Long Term: GAO Simulations on Federal Fiscal Path: 

* Short term issues require responses; 

* Long term unsustainable path will ultimately need attention; 

* Need to reexamine base, reform entitlements and review revenue 
structures. 

Composition of Federal Spending: 

[See PDF for image] 

There are three pie charts, containing the following compositions of 
spending by category: 

Year: 1967;
Defense: 45%;
Social Security: 14%; 
Medicare and Medicaid: 2%; 
Net Interest: 7%; 
All Other: 32%. 

Year: 1987;
Defense: 28%;
Social Security: 21%; 
Medicare and Medicaid: 10%; 
Net Interest: 14%; 
All Other: 27%. 

Year: 2007;
Defense: 20%;
Social Security: 21%; 
Medicare and Medicaid: 21%; 
Net Interest: 9%; 
All Other: 29%. 

Source: GAO analysis of data from the Office of Management and Budget. 

[End of figure] 

Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid Spending as a Percent of GDP: 

[See PDF for image] 

This is a line graph with three stacked lines (Social Security, 
Medicaid, and Medicare). The vertical axis represents Percent of GDP 
and the horizontal axis represents fiscal years 2008 through 2080. 
The following data is depicted: 

2008: 
Social Security: 4.32; 
Medicaid: 1.5; 
Medicare: 3.236; 
Total: 9.056. 

2009:	
Social Security: 4.35; 
Medicaid: 1.525; 
Medicare: 3.277; 
Total: 9.152. 

2010:	
Social Security: 4.39; 
Medicaid: 1.6; 
Medicare: 3.323; 
Total: 9.313. 

2011:	
Social Security: 4.44;	
Medicaid: 1.6; 
Medicare: 3.367; 
Total: 9.407. 

2012:	
Social Security: 4.52; 
Medicaid: 1.625; 
Medicare: 3.446; 
Total: 9.591. 

2013:	
Social Security: 4.61; 
Medicaid: 1.7; 
Medicare: 3.568; 
Total: 9.878. 

2014:	
Social Security: 4.7; 
Medicaid: 1.725; 
Medicare: 3.618; 
Total: 10.043. 

2015:	
Social Security: 4.8; 
Medicaid: 1.825; 
Medicare: 3.713; 
Total: 10.338. 

2016:	
Social Security: 4.9; 
Medicaid: 1.9; 
Medicare: 3.819; 
Total: 10.619. 

2017:	
Social Security: 5.01; 
Medicaid: 1.925; 
Medicare: 3.967; 
Total: 10.902. 

2018:	
Social Security: 5.1; 
Medicaid: 1.962; 
Medicare: 4.122; 
Total: 11.184. 

2019:	
Social Security: 5.2; 
Medicaid: 2.002; 
Medicare: 4.281; 
Total: 11.483. 

2020:	
Social Security: 5.3; 
Medicaid: 2.044; 
Medicare: 4.445; 
Total: 11.789. 

2021:	
Social Security: 5.39; 
Medicaid: 2.087; 
Medicare: 4.616; 
Total: 12.093. 

2022:	
Social Security: 5.48; 
Medicaid: 2.133; 
Medicare: 4.797; 
Total: 12.41. 

2023: 	
Social Security: 5.56; 
Medicaid: 2.181; 
Medicare: 4.982; 
Total: 12.723.		 

2024:	
Social Security: 5.64; 
Medicaid: 2.231; 
Medicare: 5.166; 
Total: 12.976. 

2025:	
Social Security: 5.71; 
Medicaid: 2.284; 
Medicare: 5.351; 
Total: 13.345. 

2026:	
Social Security: 5.78; 
Medicaid: 2.338; 
Medicare: 5.537; 
Total: 13,655. 

2027:	
Social Security: 5.84; 
Medicaid: 2.395; 
Medicare: 5.725; 
Total: 13.96. 

2028:	
Social Security: 5.9; 
Medicaid: 2.45; 
Medicare: 5.910; 
Total: 14.26. 

2029:	
Social Security: 5.95; 
Medicaid: 2.506; 
Medicare: 6.088; 
Total: 14.544. 

2030:	
Social Security: 6; 
Medicaid: 2.564; 
Medicare: 6.258 
Total: 14.882. 

2031:	
Social Security: 6.03; 
Medicaid: 2.622; 
Medicare: 6.417; 
Total: 15.069. 

2032:	
Social Security: 6.06; 
Medicaid: 2.681; 
Medicare: 6.568; 
Total: 15.309. 

2033:	
Social Security: 6.08; 
Medicaid: 2.741; 
Medicare: 6.716; 
Total: 15.537. 

2034:	
Social Security: 6.09; 
Medicaid: 2.802; 
Medicare: 6.681; 
Total: 15.573. 

2035:	
Social Security: 6.09; 
Medicaid: 2.86; 
Medicare: 7.003; 
Total: 15.953. 

2036:	
Social Security: 6.09; 
Medicaid: 2.92; 
Medicare: 7.142; 
Total: 16.152. 

2037:	
Social Security: 6.08; 
Medicaid: 2.978; 
Medicare: 7.268; 
Total: 16.326. 

2038:	
Social Security: 6.06
Medicaid: 3.038; 
Medicare: 7.380; 
Total: 16.478. 

2039:	
Social Security: 6.04
Medicaid: 3.095; 
Medicare: 7.484; 
Total: 16.619. 

2040:	
Social Security: 6.02; 
Medicaid: 3.151; 
Medicare: 7.583; 
Total: 16.754. 

2041:	
Social Security: 5.99; 
Medicaid: 3.205; 
Medicare: 7.676; 
Total: 16.871. 

2042:	
Social Security: 5.97; 
Medicaid: 3.26; 
Medicare: 7.764; 
Total: 16.994. 

2043: 
Social Security: 5.94; 
Medicaid: 3.311; 
Medicare: 7.848; 
Total: 17.099. 

2044:	
Social Security: 5.92; 
Medicaid: 3.365; 
Medicare: 7.930; 
Total: 17.215. 

2045:	
Social Security: 5.89; 
Medicaid: 3.417; 
Medicare: 8.013; 
Total: 17.32. 

2046:	
Social Security: 5.87; 
Medicaid: 3.471; 
Medicare: 8.095; 
Total: 17.436. 

2047:	
Social Security: 5.85; 
Medicaid: 3.521; 
Medicare: 8.174; 
Total: 17.545. 

2048:	
Social Security: 5.84; 
Medicaid: 3.572; 
Medicare: 8.249; 
Total: 17.661. 

2049:	
Social Security: 5.82; 
Medicaid: 3.62; 
Medicare: 8.323; 
Total: 17.763. 

2050:	
Social Security: 5.81; 
Medicaid: 3.666; 
Medicare: 8.397; 
Total: 17.873. 

2051:	
Social Security: 5.8; 
Medicaid: 3.71; 
Medicare: 8.472; 
Total: 17.982. 

2052:	
Social Security: 5.79; 
Medicaid: 3.753; 
Medicare: 8.546; 
Total: 18.089. 

2053:	
Social Security: 5.78; 
Medicaid: 3.798; 
Medicare: 8.619; 
Total: 18.197. 

2054:	
Social Security: 5.78; 
Medicaid: 3.841; 
Medicare: 8.697; 
Total: 18.318. 

2055:	
Social Security: 5.77; 
Medicaid: 3.885; 
Medicare: 8.781; 
Total: 18.436. 

2056:	
Social Security: 5.77; 
Medicaid: 3.93; 
Medicare: 8.869; 
Total: 18.569. 

2057:	
Social Security: 5.77; 
Medicaid: 3.974; 
Medicare: 8.956; 
Total: 18.7. 

2058:	
Social Security: 5.77; 
Medicaid: 4.02; 
Medicare: 9.042; 
Total: 18.832. 

2059:	
Social Security: 5.77; 
Medicaid: 4.061; 
Medicare: 9.126; 
Total: 18.957. 

2060:	
Social Security: 5.77; 
Medicaid: 4.106; 
Medicare: 9.209; 
Total: 19.085. 

2061:	
Social Security: 5.77; 
Medicaid: 4.151; 
Medicare: 9.292; 
Total: 19.213. 

2062:	
Social Security: 5.77; 
Medicaid: 4.193; 
Medicare: 9.374; 
Total: 19.337. 

2063:	
Social Security: 5.76; 
Medicaid: 4.237; 
Medicare: 9.456; 
Total: 19.453. 

2064:	
Social Security: 5.76; 
Medicaid: 4.282; 
Medicare: 9.539; 
Total: 19.581. 

2065:	
Social Security: 5.76; 
Medicaid: 4.329; 
Medicare: 9.625; 
Total: 19.714. 

2066:	
Social Security: 5.76; 
Medicaid: 4.376; 
Medicare: 9.709; 
Total: 19.845. 

2067:	
Social Security: 5.77; 
Medicaid: 4.442; 
Medicare: 9.789; 
Total: 20.001. 

2068:	
Social Security: 5.77; 
Medicaid: 4.469; 
Medicare: 9.867; 
Total: 20.106. 

2069:	
Social Security: 5.77; 
Medicaid: 4.516; 
Medicare: 9.946; 
Total: 20.232. 

2070:	
Social Security: 5.77; 
Medicaid: 4.562; 
Medicare: 10.025; 
Total: 20.582. 

2071:	
Social Security: 5.78; 
Medicaid: 4.605; 
Medicare: 10.100; 
Total: 20.485. 

2072:	
Social Security: 5.78; 
Medicaid: 4.651; 
Medicare: 10.170; 
Total: 20.601. 

2073:	
Social Security: 5.78; 
Medicaid: 4.693; 
Medicare: 10.240; 
Total: 20.713. 

2074:	
Social Security: 5.79; 
Medicaid: 4.738; 
Medicare: 10.309; 
Total: 20.837. 

2075:	
Social Security: 5.79; 
Medicaid: 4.784; 
Medicare: 10.377; 
Total: 20.951. 

2076:	
Social Security: 5.79; 
Medicaid: 4.827; 
Medicare: 10.442; 
Total: 21.059. 

2077:	
Social Security: 5.8; 
Medicaid: 4.87; 
Medicare: 10.505; 
Total: 21.205. 

2078:	
Social Security: 5.8; 
Medicaid: 4.915; 
Medicare: 10.567; 
Total: 21.282. 

2079:	
Social Security: 5.81; 
Medicaid: 4.955; 
Medicare: 10.627; 
Total: 21.392. 

2080:	
Social Security: 5.81; 
Medicaid: 4.995; 
Medicare: 10.686; 
Total: 21.491. 

Source: GAO analysis of data from the Office of the Chief Actuary, 
Social Security Administration, Office of the Actuary, Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Congressional Budget Office. 

Note: Social Security and Medicare projections based on the 
intermediate assumptions of the 2008 Trustees’ Reports. Medicaid 
projections based on CBO’s January 2008 short-term Medicaid estimates 
and CBO’s December 2007 long-term Medicaid projections adjusted to 
reflect excess cost growth consistent with the 2008 Trustees 
intermediate assumptions. 

[End of graph] 

[End of section] 

Transition Objectives: 

No Ordinary Transition: Dynamics Shaping our Environment: 

* A nation at war and facing first homeland security change; 

* Near-term and long-term economic challenges: 
- Financial Turmoil; 
- Economic Slowdown; 
- Long-term fiscal imbalance as backdrop; 

* Personnel and Performance Challenges. 

Presidential Transition Act: 

* Enacted in 1963 for an orderly transfer of executive power; 

* Provides for federal funding and disclosures; 

* Recognizes GAO as important resource. 

Transition: GAO Objectives: 

* Provide insight into pressing national issues; 

* Highlight the growing need for innovative, integrated approaches to 
solve national and global challenges; 

* Document targeted opportunities to conserve resources that can be 
applied to new initiatives; 

* Underscore critical capacity-building needs in individual agencies 
that will affect implementation of whatever new priorities are pursued; 

* Help inform the management improvement agendas of Congress and the 
new administration. 

Examples Of Transition Issues: 

Provide Insight into Pressing National Issues: 

* Oversight of financial institutions and markets; 

* US efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan; 

* Protecting the homeland—including: 
- Disaster response; 
- Cyber critical infrastructures; 

* Decision on conduct of 2010 census. 

Growing Need for Innovative, Integrated Approaches to National and 
Global Challenges: 

* Care for servicemembers and veterans; 

* Strengthening preparedness for large-scale public health emergencies; 

* Oversight of food safety; 

* Financing surface transportation infrastructure. 

Document Targeted Opportunities to Conserve Resources That Can Be 
Applied to New Initiatives: 

* Addressing over $55 billion in improper payments; 

* Confronting estimated $290 billion tax gap; 

* Managing large scale acquisitions: 

* Collecting oil and gas royalties. 

Underscore Critical Capacity Building Needs: 

Critical needs in individual agencies will affect policy 
implementation. 

* Selection of senior leadership team—leadership skills, abilities, 
experience; 

* Build on statutory management framework: 
- Strengthen capacity to manage contractors; 
- Better manage IT to achieve benefits and control costs; 
- Address human capital challenges; 
- Strengthen financial management. 

Help Inform Management Improvement Agendas of Congress and New 
Administration: 

High Risk List: 

* Started in 1990 with focus on fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement; 

* Evolved to include major economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and 
transformation challenges; 

* Updates issued at the start of each new Congress; 

* Focus from cabinet officers. 

[End of presentation] 

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Contact: 

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YoungC1@gao.gov: 
(202) 512-4800: 
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Washington, D.C. 20548: 

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