Bill Overview
Title: GORAC Act
Description: This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to provide for an independent evaluation of federal agencies and programs to identify duplicative, wasteful, or outdated functions and provides for congressional consideration of legislation to implement recommendations from the evaluation. Specifically, the GAO must (1) procure the services of a nonfederal auditor to evaluate each federal program carried out in the previous 20 years, make recommendations on federal agencies and programs that should be realigned or eliminated, and report on such recommendations; and (2) take steps to assure that any work performed by such auditor complies with standards established by the GAO for audits of federal establishments, programs, activities, and functions. The GAO must provide for the relocation of federal employees whose positions are eliminated as a result of the implementation of recommendations included in the report.
Sponsors: Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24]
Target Audience
Population: People involved in or dependent on federal agency operations worldwide
Estimated Size: 3000000
- The bill affects federal agencies and programs, which implies that government functions will be assessed for efficiency, possibly leading to closures or modifications.
- Federal employees are directly mentioned as potentially needing relocation if their positions are impacted by program realignments.
- There are millions of federal employees in the US. As of recent data, there are approximately 2.1 million civilian federal employees, and not all will be affected but a significant portion might be due to program evaluations.
- Contractors and associated workers with federal programs, though not directly federal employees, could also be impacted.
- The bill mandates an evaluation over the last 20 years, implying that even past programs that are considered outdated could influence current federal employment arrangements.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects federal employees and contractors, as it includes evaluations of federal programs which might lead to job relocations or terminations.
- Some individuals might experience negative impacts due to job insecurity and potential relocation, while others may not be directly impacted by this realignment policy.
- Federal workers' unions, contractors, and employees in peripheral jobs might have varied responses to this policy based on perceived job security.
- Budget constraints limit the scope of the policy in the initial phases, resulting in more significant impacts on targeted, rather than all, federal programs.
Simulated Interviews
Federal Employee (Program Analyst) (Washington D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about the GORAC Act. It threatens my job security, and while I understand the need to eliminate waste, I personally feel anxious about potential changes to my department.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Federal Contractor (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- For me, the GORAC Act could mean fewer contracts. Our company is heavily reliant on these federal contracts. I'm concerned about how our business might suffer if programs we work with are eliminated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Federal Employee (Support Staff) (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The GORAC Act doesn't worry me much. My department has been stable for years; I believe the core functions are too essential to be cut.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Federal Employee (Environmental Specialist) (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone new to federal employment, the GORAC Act makes me uneasy. I hope my position and the work I love doing is considered vital.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Retired Federal Employee (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm thankful I'm retired, but I worry about how changes might affect my former colleagues and any postretirement benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Federal Employee (HR Specialist) (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's going to be a challenging time with potential relocations. I'm concerned about managing employee transitions smoothly,
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Federal Contractor (Consultant) (Houston, Texas)
Age: 47 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our work in consulting might increase due to the need for restructuring. The GORAC Act could bring more opportunities for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Federal Employee (Field Agent) (San Diego, California)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s difficult to say how we'll be impacted but knowing these reviews are happening does add stress about job stability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Federal Employee (IT Staff) (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe IT will continue to be necessary, but there are worries about cuts in other departments that might indirectly affect us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Federal Employee Union Representative (New York City, New York)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We will fight to ensure our members are treated fairly and transparently. The GORAC Act requires careful implementation to protect workers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $80000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $85000000)
Year 2: $60000000 (Low: $55000000, High: $65000000)
Year 3: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $35000000)
Year 5: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- The success of the act hinges on the accuracy and actionable nature of the nonfederal auditor's recommendations.
- The extent of collaboration and cooperation within federal agencies in enacting recommended changes is critical.
- Costs associated with and resistance to moving federal employees could arise, potentially impacting savings expectations.
- Economic conditions during implementation can affect both cost and savings projections.