Tech changes GPO

The Government Printing Office is re-examining its mission, a new report says.

GAO report GAO-04-830

Government Printing Office officials have begun an ambitious effort to transform the agency and re-examine its mission in light of dramatic technological change in the printing industry, General Accounting Office auditors reported today.

The report shows that GPO has experienced steep declines in printing volumes and revenues from document sales. The declines are a direct outcome of federal agencies publishing more and more of their documents on the Web or bypassing GPO when they print and distribute information.

The report, however, states that officials have made progress in carrying out a number of GAO recommendations to help the agency change with the times. Chief among the recommendations is for GPO to make information distribution, rather than printing, its primary mission.

Under Bruce James, the public printer, GPO has taken steps to reorganize its workforce. GAO auditors commended the agency for progress in that area, and suggested that GPO officials focus more on managing information technology and improving financial management practices.

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