GAO adopts OIG-recommended controls for IT modernization documentation

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has concurred with the Office of Inspector General's recommendations to enhance controls that document major decisions and fully track costs for its information-technology modernization efforts.

In 2021 GAO paid $1 million to develop a five-year IT modernization plan that projected about $29 million in initiative costs. Less than 18 months after the plan's finalization, GAO shifted to an ongoing modernization strategy, but the decision was not documented, leaving current officials unaware of the rationale.

As of May 2026 the agency reported that 39 of the 61 initiatives from the original plan had been completed. While GAO tracked overall modernization costs, some smaller initiatives were recorded under larger projects, making it difficult to determine the exact expense of each effort.

The OIG audit was conducted because GAO's FY 2024 Performance Plan identified IT modernization as a management challenge. The audit assessed GAO's progress in implementing the plan and highlighted gaps in decision documentation and cost reporting.

GAO's agreement to the OIG's recommendations means the agency will design controls to ensure significant changes are documented and that costs for future IT projects are fully captured and reportable to key stakeholders.