Republicans wage war on century-old watchdog after it calls out Trump

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), a nonpartisan federal watchdog with over a century of service to Congress, is facing unprecedented challenges from Republican officials and the Trump administration. The agency, known for investigating wrongdoing and maintaining oversight of federal agencies, has recently become the target of multiple attempts to undermine its authority and independence.

The confrontation intensified when Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) attempted to implement downsizing measures at GAO, despite the agency being part of the legislative branch and outside executive order jurisdiction. This move was followed by Senate Republicans dismissing GAO guidance regarding California’s pollution standards.

According to Politico, “The GAO has no role” in determining how the chamber should proceed, declared Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso in response to the California emissions dispute. The statement reflected growing Republican resistance to GAO’s oversight capabilities.

Growing tensions between White House and congressional watchdog

The conflict escalated when White House budget chief Russ Vought publicly criticized GAO on social media for its findings regarding the administration’s withholding of electric vehicle infrastructure funds. Vought accused the agency of playing “a partisan role” in Trump’s first impeachment, referring to GAO’s conclusion that the administration violated impoundment law by withholding Ukraine aid.

Republican Senator Mike Lee joined the criticism, declaring that “GAO has lost credibility as an independent body” on social media, despite the agency’s history of validating both Republican and Democratic policies. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff countered these claims by noting that over 20 different GAO opinions had been requested by Republican lawmakers in the past three decades.

GAO Comptroller General Gene Dodaro has responded to the situation by emphasizing the agency’s nonpartisan nature during recent Capitol Hill appearances. While defending the agency’s fiscal 2026 budget request, Dodaro stated that GAO is “not trying to influence things one way or the other” and simply provides answers to congressional inquiries regardless of political affiliation.

The agency continues to face challenges as it maintains its oversight role, particularly regarding potential impoundment violations that could influence lawsuits against the administration for freezing federal funding. GAO spokesperson Jasmine Berry Franklin has affirmed that the agency stands behind its work quality, emphasizing their commitment to delivering nonpartisan, fact-based information to Congress to support its constitutional functions and protect the power of the purse.