Meet the group providing science and technology information to Congress
Britt E. Erickson · C&EN Global Enterprise · 2019
Rapidly emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and gene editing, may disrupt our world in both positive and negative ways. When US lawmakers have questions about how such technologies could affect society, the environment, or the economy, they often turn to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO). Best known for auditing and investigating federal government programs, the agency also plays an increasingly important role in technology assessment. The GAO has been providing Congress with nonpartisan analyses of emerging science and technology issues since 2002. The need for such analyses is growing as lawmakers grapple with the privacy, security, and safety implications of a plethora of disruptive technologies. The work also helps inform policy decisions related to federal investments in R&D and advanced manufacturing initiatives aimed at boosting US economic competitiveness. Earlier this year, the GAO announced plans to double its science and technology workforce over the next few years