Guilt by Innuendo: The GAO’s Political Attack on Agency Training Programs, 1940

Mordecai Lee

doi:10.20899/jpna.4.3.306-328

Abstract

In 1940, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) released to Congress a slashing attack on in-house training programs in executive branch departments and agencies. The GAO had always used a strict constructionist approach to evaluate the legality of agency spending on training: Was it explicitly authorized by Congress? However, this report was much more of a broad-ranging political and ideological attack on training programs, including accusations of Communist influence and–contradictorily–influence by the Rockefellers. The report can be seen as one of the major attempts by the Congressional conservative coalition to stem the tide of modern personnel administration in the federal executive branch.

Highlights

When considering the historical image of the Government Accounting Office (GAO) and its role in public administration, one tends to think of it as an apolitical, non-ideological, and straightshooting agency.1 Yes, accountants and auditors can sometimes be a bit persnickety and pedantic, but the reliability and solidity of its reports are the accepted norm in federal administration
The report briefly mentioned training programs in some other government agencies, but this inquiry focuses on its two main subjects: U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s graduate school and internship programs throughout the executive branch
The GAO report criticizing agency training programs can be analyzed in the context of the politics of its time

Summary

Introduction

When considering the historical image of the Government Accounting Office (GAO) and its role in public administration, one tends to think of it as an apolitical, non-ideological, and straightshooting agency. Yes, accountants and auditors can sometimes be a bit persnickety and pedantic, but the reliability and solidity of its reports are the accepted norm in federal administration. The congressional conservative coalition vociferously opposed this plan While this fight was playing out in 1937 and 1938, the president likely did not want to have an incumbent Comptroller General in office with a 15-year term. On April 12, 1940, Elliott submitted a “special report” to Congress on Schools and Training Courses in Government Departments Indicating how unusual it was, its formal subtitle made a point to state that the report had been prepared “pursuant to law” (US Senate, 1940). In his cover message, Elliott said that the GAO’s power to initiate such a report was based on the 1921 Budget and Accounting Act, giving it the authority to investigate any matter relating to federal expenditures.. The report briefly mentioned training programs in some other government agencies, but this inquiry focuses on its two main subjects: USDA’s graduate school and internship programs throughout the executive branch

Background

Conclusion