▁the ▁public , ▁private , ▁and ▁non - pro fit ▁se ctors . ▁ ▁The ▁G A O ▁is ▁head ed ▁by ▁the ▁Com pt roller ▁General ▁of ▁the ▁U . S ., ▁a ▁professional ▁and ▁non - part isan ▁position ▁in ▁the ▁U . S . ▁government . ▁The ▁compt roller ▁general ▁is ▁appointed ▁by ▁the ▁president , ▁by ▁and ▁with ▁the ▁advice ▁and ▁consent ▁of ▁the ▁Senate , ▁for ▁a ▁ 1 5 - year , ▁non - ren ew able ▁term . ▁The ▁president ▁selects ▁a ▁nom ine e ▁from ▁a ▁list ▁of ▁at ▁least ▁three ▁individuals ▁recommended ▁by ▁an ▁eight - member ▁b ipart isan , ▁b ic amer al ▁commission ▁of ▁con gression al ▁leaders . ▁During ▁such ▁term , ▁the ▁compt roller ▁general ▁has ▁standing ▁to ▁purs ue ▁lit ig ation ▁to ▁comp el ▁access ▁to ▁federal ▁ag ency ▁information . ▁The ▁compt roller ▁general ▁may ▁not ▁be ▁removed ▁by ▁the ▁president , ▁but ▁only ▁by ▁Congress ▁through ▁im pe achment ▁or ▁joint ▁resolution ▁for ▁specific ▁reasons . ▁ ▁Since ▁ 1 9 2 1 , ▁there ▁have ▁been ▁only ▁seven ▁compt rollers ▁general , ▁and ▁no ▁formal ▁attempt ▁has ▁ever ▁been ▁made ▁to ▁remove ▁a ▁compt roller ▁general . ▁ ▁Labor - management ▁relations ▁became ▁f ract ious ▁during ▁the ▁nine - year ▁ten ure ▁of ▁the ▁sevent h ▁compt roller ▁general , ▁David ▁M . ▁Walker . ▁ ▁On ▁September ▁ 1 9 , ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁G A O ▁anal yst