High-Speed Policy: GAO's 2032 Roadmap Unfolds

The Velvet-Glove Disruptor has just dropped a masterclass in strategic planning, and we're talking about the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) 2027 to 2032 strategic plan. This isn't just a plan, folks; it's a roadmap for the future, and it's got everyone in the room where it happens talking.

At the helm of this behemoth is Steve Sanford, the managing director in GAO's strategic planning and external liaison team. Sanford is the first to admit that the era we're in right now is the size and complexity of the challenges and opportunities facing government and society. They're greater than they ever have been before. But he's also quick to point out that GAO is putting a big emphasis on being clear and concise with this strategic plan. And boy, does it deliver.

The plan outlines the full spectrum of everything GAO does for Congress across every corner of government, but it does it in less than 20 pages. That's right, folks; GAO has managed to distill the essence of its work into a neat, tidy package that even the most discerning policymakers can understand. And that's no small feat.

But what really sets this plan apart is its focus on foresight. Sanford is quick to point out that Congress is looking for prospective analysis, not predictions of the future. And that's where GAO comes in, with its new tools, new products, and new ways of working with Congress to give them what they want, when they need it.

Of course, no discussion of GAO's strategic plan would be complete without mentioning the challenges it faces. Sanford is quick to point out that the federal government's unsustainable fiscal future is a major driver of the plan. And he's not alone in that assessment. The plan highlights the need for Congress to make difficult budgetary and policy decisions coming up in the coming years to address the key drivers of that persistent and growing debt.

But GAO isn't just about oversight; it's also about enhancing the performance and accountability of the federal government. And that's where the plan's focus on cross-cutting issues comes in. Sanford is quick to point out that GAO is working actively to evolve its tool set, including its training, to ensure that it's got the right skills in its workforce in place to tackle the complex challenges of the future.

And that's not all, folks. The plan also highlights the importance of data analytics and research and emerging technologies as important capabilities for GAO itself. After all, as government is increasingly relying on AI models, GAO's tools for oversight and inspection or assessment need to evolve as well.

But perhaps the most telling sign of GAO's commitment to the future is its focus on procurement. Sanford is quick to point out that GAO works on the other side of procurement too, looking at procurement systems and government making sure that federal acquisitions of goods and services, of IT systems and emerging technologies are done in a responsible and effective way.

And that's not all, folks. The plan is also a commitment about what GAO does for Congress. It's a roadmap for how GAO can continue to evolve and be an agile and effective partner for Congress. And that's exactly what the next comptroller general will inherit.

In the end, this strategic plan is a masterclass in clarity, concision, and foresight. It's a roadmap for the future, and it's got everyone in the room where it happens talking. So if you want to know what the future of government looks like, you'd better get ready to buckle up, because GAO is leading the charge.