# GAO's Sarah Harvey calls for governance and transparency standards in federal AI use

> The GAO released a framework requiring federal agencies to govern AI through data oversight, security, and transparency, with clear accountability for decisions. Agencies including the VA and NIH are already using AI in sensitive operations.

- Type: AI news
- Page: https://completeaitraining.com/news/gaos-sarah-harvey-calls-for-governance-and-transparency/
- Published: 2026-05-13
- Updated: 2026-05-13
- Author: Jeroen Erne
- Jobs: Government
- Reading time: 1 min

### GAO Sets Framework for Accountable AI in Government

The Government Accountability Office has outlined how federal agencies should govern AI systems, with Sarah Harvey, the GAO's Director of Science and Technology Assessment, detailing the office's accountability framework in May 2026.

The framework rests on three pillars: data governance, security and transparency. It requires clear roles, multi-disciplinary stakeholder involvement, and strict controls over data handling and privacy.

#### Where agencies are using AI now

Federal agencies are already deploying AI across operations. The GAO uses AI in the Federal Audit Clearinghouse to analyze single audit data. The National Institutes of Health uses it for metadata tagging and image flagging. The Department of Veterans Affairs uses AI for medical imaging analysis.

These applications show both the potential and the risk. Each touches sensitive data or decisions affecting citizens.

#### What the framework requires

Governance means defining who owns AI decisions and who is accountable if something goes wrong. Data governance specifically addresses how information flows through systems and who can access it.

Security and privacy protections must be built in from the start, not added later. Transparency requires agencies to document how AI systems work and explain their outputs to stakeholders and the public.

The GAO's approach reflects a shift in how government thinks about AI deployment. Rather than asking whether an agency can use AI, the question is now how to use it responsibly.

For government professionals implementing AI systems, the framework provides a baseline. It signals that accountability is not optional and that agencies will face scrutiny on governance, data handling, and transparency.

Learn more about [AI for Government](https://completeaitraining.com/tag/government/) and [AI Data Analysis](https://completeaitraining.com/tag/data-analysis/) to understand how these principles apply to your agency's work.

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