Skip to main content

< WatchBlog: Following the Federal Dollar

Using DATA to Shine the Light on Federal Spending

Posted on June 11, 2014
Understanding how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars is a daunting task. In fiscal year 2013 alone, the federal government spent $3.5 trillion. In May, Congress unanimously passed and the President signed the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA), which increases accountability and transparency of federal spending. The act requires several changes that will shed more light on how federal dollars are used. Accountability and transparency of federal spending is important to:
  • Understand the cost of federal programs, who they are serving, and where funds are going. In an April hearing on overlap and duplication of federal programs, the Comptroller General testified on the importance of standardizing spending data so information could be compared across federal agencies.

Comptroller General Testifies to U.S. House on Government Efficiency and Effectiveness

Comptroller General Testifies to U.S. House on Government Efficiency and Effectiveness
  • Data CoverIdentify potential fraud, waste, or abuse of federal funds. The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board uses spending data to do just that. Specifically, the Recovery Board uses advanced data analysis techniques to identify potential fraud and errors before and after payments are made. In January 2013, we co-hosted a forum alongside the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board and the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to explore using data analytics to help identify fraud, waste, and abuse in government. To address these and other issues related to coordination and data sharing, we formed the Government Data Sharing Community of Practice.
One significant example of DATA’s effects is how it will improve the information reported on USAspending.gov, the government’s source for reporting grant and contract awards. Our work in 2010 showed that agencies’ data on contracts, grants, loans, and other awards in USAspending.gov needed to be more accurate and complete. We reported in 2013 that standardizing spending information across the federal government, as DATA requires, will increase the usefulness of that information. Going forward, DATA includes a role for agencies’ Inspectors General and GAO to evaluate and report on the accuracy and completeness of spending data collected with the new data standards.
  • Questions on the content of this post? Contact Chris Mihm at mihmj@gao.gov.
  • Comments on GAO’s WatchBlog? Contact blog@gao.gov.
About Watchblog

GAO's mission is to provide Congress with fact-based, nonpartisan information that can help improve federal government performance and ensure accountability for the benefit of the American people. GAO launched its WatchBlog in January, 2014, as part of its continuing effort to reach its audiences—Congress and the American people—where they are currently looking for information.

The blog format allows GAO to provide a little more context about its work than it can offer on its other social media platforms. Posts will tie GAO work to current events and the news; show how GAO’s work is affecting agencies or legislation; highlight reports, testimonies, and issue areas where GAO does work; and provide information about GAO itself, among other things.

Please send any feedback on GAO's WatchBlog to blog@gao.gov.