In fiscal year 2007, GAO received  over 1,200 requests for studies. GAO is requesting budget authority of $545.5 million to support a staff  level of 3,251 FTEs needed to serve the Congress. This is a fiscally prudent  request of 7.5 percent over our fiscal year 2008 funding level, as illustrated  in table 2. Financial Benefits

GAO’s work in fiscal year 2007 generated $45.9 billion in financial benefits. These financial benefits, which resulted primarily from actions agencies  and the Congress took in response to our recommendations, included  about $21.1 billion resulting from changes to laws or regulations, $16.3  billion resulting from improvements to core business processes, and $8.5  billion resulting from agency actions based on our recommendations to  improve public services. During fiscal year 2007, we recorded a total of 1,354 other  improvements in government resulting from GAO work. These actions spanned the full spectrum of national issues, from  strengthened screening procedures for all VA health care practitioners to  improved information security at the Securities and Exchange  Commission. Provide Timely, Quality Service to the Congress and the Federal Government to . . . . . .
Why GAO Did This Study

The budget authority GAO is requesting for fiscal year 2009--$545.5 million--represents a prudent request of 7.5 percent to support the Congress as it confronts a growing array of difficult challenges. GAO will continue to reward the confidence you place in us by providing a strong return on this investment. In fiscal year 2007 for example, in addition to delivering hundreds of reports and briefings to aid congressional oversight and decisionmaking, our work yielded: financial benefits, such as increased collection of delinquent taxes and civil fines, totaling $45.9 billion--a return of $94 for every dollar invested in GAO; over 1,300 other improvements in government operations spanning the full spectrum of national issues, ranging from helping Congress create a center to better locate children after disasters to strengthening computer security over sensitive government records and assets to encouraging more transparency over nursing home fire safety to strengthening screening procedures for VA health care practitioners; and expert testimony at 276 congressional hearings to help Congress address a variety of issues of broad national concern, such as the conflict in Iraq and efforts to ensure drug and food safety.

What GAO Found

GAO's work in fiscal year 2007 generated $45.9 billion in financial benefits. These financial benefits, which resulted primarily from actions agencies and the Congress took in response to our recommendations, included about $21.1 billion resulting from changes to laws or regulations, $16.3 billion resulting from improvements to core business processes, and $8.5 billion resulting from agency actions based on our recommendations to improve public services.