GAO

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress that conducts audits, evaluations, and investigations of federal programs and spending. For AI governance, GAO reports and recommendations carry significant weight as they influence Congressional policy decisions and establish benchmarks for federal AI accountability standards. The office has issued multiple reports on AI risks, federal AI adoption challenges, and the need for stronger governance frameworks, making it a critical actor shaping how government agencies must manage AI systems.

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EnforcementUS2026-09-25

Federal AI Prior Authorization Program Fails 53% of Requests, GAO Finds Procedural Breach

The Trump administration's WISeR pilot, launched in January 2026 across six states, uses AI to automate Medicare prior authorization decisions. One participating vendor denied more than 53 percent of requests, and several vendors missed a mandated 72-hour decision window. The Government Accountability Office determined in May 2026 that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services did not follow proper procedure in establishing the program.

AI in healthcare prior authorization Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services algorithmic harm human oversight government AI deployment GAO AI incident