US Government Watchdog Exposes $330Bln in Waste in Six Years - Statement

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has saved the US government almost a third of a trillion dollars over the past six years by exposing waste, the GAO said in a statement.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — In fiscal year 2015, GAO received requests for work from 97 percent of the standing committees of Congress and 66 percent of their subcommittees, the statement noted.

“Since fiscal year 2010, GAO's work has resulted in over $330 billion in financial benefits and over 8,000 program… benefits,” the statement stated on Thursday. “In fiscal year 2015 alone, GAO's work yielded $74.7 billion in financial accomplishments — a return of about $134 for every dollar invested in GAO.

The GAO has made an average of 1,800 recommendations per year with about 80 percent of them implemented between fiscal years 2010 and 2015, it added.

“Since fiscal year 2003, GAO’s work has resulted in over half a trillion dollars in financial benefits, and about 17,000 program and operational benefits that helped to improve public services and promote sound management throughout government,” the statement said.