Chairman Bryan Steil (WI-01) delivered opening remarks at the Full Committee Hearing titled "Oversight of the Government Publishing Office in the Digital-First Era." This marks the first full committee oversight hearing for the Government Publishing Office (GPO) since 2020.
Steil outlined two main objectives for the hearing: reviewing GPO’s current operations, including its successes and ongoing challenges, and discussing how the agency is adapting to a digital-first environment. He also raised questions about possible statutory reforms that may be needed.
"Thank you, Ranking Member Morelle, Members of the Committee, and our witness for participating in today’s hearing," Steil said. "This is the first full committee oversight hearing for GPO since 2020."
Steil acknowledged GPO’s longstanding mission to provide trusted information from the federal government to Americans. He noted that when it was founded in 1861—the same day President Lincoln was inaugurated—GPO was responsible for printing authorized by Congress, federal agencies, and courts. Today, its role has expanded significantly.
Currently, GPO employs around 1,600 people who operate distribution centers across the country to serve all branches of government. Steil cited several examples of GPO’s work: "One great example is the passport book, which GPO has produced for the State Department for 100 years. It also produces credentials for agencies and products used for presidential inaugurations and the State of the Union address."
He highlighted technological advancements at GPO as well as its broader mission through programs like the Federal Depository Library Program. Established by Congress in 1962, this program shares government publications with libraries nationwide to increase public access.
In recent decades, GPO has modernized its digital operations to meet changing needs. The GovInfo website is one such effort; it provides permanent online access to government documents. At the beginning of this year, GPO announced that over 15 billion retrievals had been made through GovInfo.gov.
Steil emphasized that as a Legislative Branch agency, GPO supports Congress by printing reports, editing legislative text before publication online, and producing daily editions of the Congressional Record.
While acknowledging that GPO has adapted well during its history spanning more than a century and a half, Steil suggested further changes are necessary: "While GPO has effectively performed and adapted to needs over its 165-year history, changes are undoubtedly necessary to keep pace with the private sector, to ensure we meet the evolving needs of our government, and to continue serving the American people."
"In today’s digital-first era," he concluded,"the work of the GPO has become more critical than ever - both for the institution and for government as a whole."
The committee will hear testimony from Director Halpern regarding these issues.
