Story perspectives

GAO's Future in Question as Comptroller General Departs

12/18/2025

Summary

Story summary

The Comptroller General of the United States will leave office on December 29, 2025, raising questions about the GAO's independence.
Orice Williams Brown has been named acting Comptroller General of the United States.
A bipartisan commission will recommend a permanent successor, with a process that adheres to legal requirements to ensure impartiality.
GAO independence remains crucial for audits of federal spending, especially amid concerns about executive power.

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Story summary

The Comptroller General of the United States will leave office on December 29, 2025, raising questions about the GAO's independence.
Orice Williams Brown has been named acting Comptroller General of the United States.
A bipartisan commission will recommend a permanent successor, with a process that adheres to legal requirements to ensure impartiality.
GAO independence remains crucial for audits of federal spending, especially amid concerns about executive power.