The next admin. will fill thousands of positions across gov¿t.; there will be a number of new faces in Congress as well. Making these transitions as seamlessly as possible is pivotal to effectively and efficiently help accomplish the fed. govt¿s. many essential missions. The Presidential Transition Act points to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as a resource to incoming admin. The GAO is a source of briefings and other materials to help presidential appointees make the leap from campaigning to governing by informing them of the major mgmt. issues, risks, and challenges they will face. This testimony provides an overview of GAO¿s objectives for assisting the 111th Congress and the next admin. in their transition efforts.

The upcoming 2009 transition marks the first wartime presidential transition in 40 years. The next admin. will fill thousands of positions across gov¿t.; there will be a number of new faces in Congress as well. Making these transitions as seamlessly as possible is pivotal to effectively and efficiently help accomplish the fed. govt¿s. many essential missions. The Presidential Transition Act specifically identifies GAO as a source of briefings and other materials to help inform presidential appointees of the major mgmt. issues, risks, and challenges they will face. This testimony provides an overview of GAO¿s objectives for assisting the 111th Congress and the next admin. in their all-important transition efforts. Charts and tables.

This is a presentation by Gene L. Dodaro, the Acting Comptroller General of the U.S., delivered to the AGA 2009 Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. on February 19, 2009. Major topics of this presentation include: Assisting the new administration and the new Congress, Modernizing the outdated U.S. Financial Regulatory System, other urgent transition issues, the 2009 High-Risk List, and the long-term challenges facing the nation. Illustrations.

The Gov¿t. Accountability Office (GAO), the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the Congress, exists to support the Congress in meeting its respon. and to help improve the performance and accountability of the fed. gov¿t. It examines the use of public funds; evaluates fed. programs and policies; and provides analyses, recommendations, and other assistance to help the Congress make informed oversight, policy, and funding decisions. GAO organizes and manages its resources to support 3 broad strategic goals. These include helping to address challenges to the well being and economic security of the American people, U.S. national and homeland security efforts, and modernizing gov¿t. to meet current and emerging issues.