GAO Chief Sends Long Wish List to the New Congress

· Transforming Defense Department business methods. Billions of dollars are wasted annually because of poor management decisions in such areas as weapons acquisition, supplies and technology, GAO studies have found.

· Assessing the progress of the government's largest recent merger -- the consolidation of 22 agencies into the Department of Homeland Security. Attention should be paid to the department's strategic planning capabilities and the steps being taken to improve border security, Walker recommends.

· Reviewing coordination and information-sharing in the intelligence community, focusing on the National Counterterrorism Center and the National Counterproliferation Center.

· Reorganizing the U.S. Postal Service, which is under increasing pressure from the Internet and competition from private delivery companies. That raises questions about whether the Postal Service "can remain a self-financing government provider of affordable universal postal services in the 21st century," according to Walker.

· Modernizing federal employee performance management and compensation systems. Congress should consider market-based, performance-oriented pay systems in government, based on a "show me" test that demonstrates employees will be treated fairly when their pay raises are tied to more rigorous job performance ratings.

· Examining the presidential appointment process. Congress needs to look at whether some political jobs require certain qualifications and experience, such as those involved in national and homeland security, and whether other political jobs need to be given independence from the White House to ensure professionalism and objectivity.

Walker, in his letter, says oversight hearings would help agencies share ideas for innovation while holding federal officials accountable for how they spend taxpayer dollars.

"This balanced approach is likely to help accelerate progress while avoiding a further erosion of the public's trust and confidence in government," Walker wrote.