New GAO Report: US wasting “tens of billions” on duplication, overlap

As lawmakers across the Capitol hear appeals Tuesday from Obama administration secretaries pleading for their budgets, duplication and overlap in dozens of areas of government is wasting “tens of billions of dollars annually,” a new government report shows.

According to the Government Accountability Agency’s 2012 annual report, nearly every department of the Executive Branch has room for improvement.

The report, which gives 51 areas and recommends 130 actions, follows a 2011 GAO report that showed 81 areas and 176 actions to be taken to “reduce or eliminate unnecessary duplication, overlap, or fragmentation or achieve other potential financial benefits.”

“Collectively, these reports show that, if the actions are implemented, the government could potentially save tens of billions of dollars annually,” Gene Dodaro, comptroller general for the U.S., said in remarks prepared for Tuesday’s hearing in the House Oversight and Government Relations Committee.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., also a witness Tuesday, estimated that waste and duplication costs taxpayers more like $100 billion per year.

Read more at FoxNews.com HERE.