The Levin Center joined a bipartisan coalition of organizations urging Congress to reform the process used to select the Comptroller General, the head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). In a letter sent to congressional committee leaders, the coalition argues that because GAO is an independent legislative branch agency created to support Congress’s oversight responsibilities, Congress should have sole authority to appoint its leader. The letter notes that Congress has recently taken similar steps to strengthen legislative branch control over the appointment of other congressional officers, including the Architect of the Capitol, and is considering comparable reforms for the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office.
The coalition is urging Congress to address the appointment process before selecting a permanent successor to former Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, whose term ended in December 2025. The letter emphasizes that GAO continues to operate under experienced leadership and that the current vacancy presents an opportunity to consider how best to preserve the agency’s independence, impartiality, and credibility as Congress’s chief oversight and accountability institution. The coalition concludes that Congress should determine the framework for selecting future Comptrollers General and ensure that the office remains accountable to the legislative branch it serves.