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Federal Budget: Opportunities for Oversight and Improved Use of Taxpayer Funds

GAO-03-1029T Published: Jul 16, 2003. Publicly Released: Jul 16, 2003.
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Highlights

No government should waste its taxpayers' money, whether we are operating during a period of budget surpluses or deficits. Further, it is important for everyone to recognize that fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement are not victimless activities. Resources are not unlimited, and when they are diverted for inappropriate, illegal, inefficient, or ineffective purposes, both taxpayers and legitimate program beneficiaries are cheated. Both the Administration and the Congress have an obligation to safeguard benefits for those that deserve them and avoid abuse of taxpayer funds by preventing such diversions. Beyond preventing obvious abuse, government also has an obligation to modernize its priorities, practices, and processes so that it can meet the demands and needs of today's changing world. More broadly, the federal government must reexamine the entire range of policies and programs--entitlements, discretionary, and tax incentives--in the context of the 21st century.

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Financial managementFunds managementProductivity in governmentProgram evaluationProgram managementTaxpayersClaims paymentsReal propertyMedicareFood safety