Ethics and Integrity in Government: Putting the Needs of Our Nation First

This speech was given by the Comptroller General before the Elliot Richardson Lecture at the American Society for Public Administration National Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 4, 2005. Washington's federal buildings, monuments, and museums are impressive any time of the year. But let's face it. It's the people who work in those buildings who really matter. As we all know, any organization is only as good as the people who comprise it. All too often, discussions about ethics in government tend to dwell on those familiar failings in character and judgment that give rise to waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. Don't misunderstand me. Whether it's federal workers who abuse their government credit cards or contractors who try to over bill the government, the misuse of taxpayer dollars is unacceptable under any circumstances. We should have zero tolerance for waste, fraud, and abuse, no matter how small or large the dollar amounts in question. But in my view, the greatest ethical issues facing government today are the current lack of fiscal discipline in Washington and the continuing unwillingness of public officials to make difficult but known and necessary policy choices. The longer we postpone these difficult choices, the more we threaten our collective future. Right now, we need policy makers who have the courage to do the right thing and put the needs of the next generation ahead of the next election cycle. Probably the most urgent issue is our nation's worsening financial condition and long-range fiscal outlook. Clearly, the crunch is coming, and eventually all of government will feel its impact, including the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. Many state and local governments also face serious long-range budget challenges. Don't forget, bad news flows downhill. Over time, the federal government's fiscal challenges are likely to exacerbate the challenges facing state and local governments. The 21st century is also being defined by new security threats, including terrorist networks and rogue nations armed with weapons of mass destruction. Most industrialized nations, including the United States, also face the challenge of caring for aging populations. Beyond Congress and the President, civil servants will also have an important role to play in this overall transformation effort.