This bill would authorize the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to obtain federal agency records and potentially bring a civil action against an agency to force compliance so that it can perform its audit, evaluation, and investigative duties for Congress. It would clarify that the GAO can access the National Directory of New Hires database in order to investigate potential fraud or improper payments in unemployment insurance programs.

Agency statements on actions taken or planned in response to GAO recommendations would be provided to relevant congressional committees and the GAO.

The GAO is the federal government’s supreme auditing entity and is directed by the Comptroller General.