GAO Dropped Cheney Lawsuit Under Threat of Budget Cuts - February 24, 2003 Vol. 4 No. 4

February 24, 2003 Vol. 4 No. 4:

Published: 02/24/2003

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GAO Dropped Cheney Lawsuit Under Threat of Budget Cuts

The Hill newspaper is reporting that Republicans, who control both houses of Congress, threatened the General Accounting Office (GAO) with deep budget cuts unless GAO dropped its lawsuit against Vice President Cheney over Cheney’s refusal to turn over documents related to the Vice President’s Energy Policy Task Force.

The threats, if true, would deeply undermine the integrity and independence of the independent audit arm of Congress. Last year a district court dismissed GAO's case. Continuing to believe in its case, GAO was considering an appeal of the court ruling. Forced to choose between dropping the lawsuit and devastating funding cuts, U.S. Comptroller General David M. Walker had no choice but to drop the lawsuit, thereby dramatically weakening GAO’s ability to investigate and report on executive branch activities.

In a political environment normally charged by partisanship, the GAO investigates and reports on a vast array of government practices, such as waste and abuse in defense programs and the independence and integrity of the government’s scientific advisory committees. Oftentimes wonkish in tone, GAO reports on government programs are generally well-respected and influential in guiding government policy and programs.