What is the focus of the Government Performance and Results Act concerning financial management?

The focus of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) concerning financial management centers primarily on aligning expenditure with objectives. This legislation was established to improve federal program performance by requiring federal agencies to set clear goals, measure their performance against those goals, and report on the results. The aim is to ensure that funds are being spent effectively and efficiently in a manner that advances the specified objectives of government programs.

By prioritizing the connection between financial resources and program performance, the GPRA helps to foster accountability in public spending. Agencies must demonstrate how their financial allocations contribute to achieving desired outcomes, thus ensuring that financial management is not conducted in isolation but rather in tandem with the strategic objectives of the agency.

This alignment is critical in making informed decisions about resource allocation, performance assessment, and overall program effectiveness, which ultimately enhances the agency's ability to fulfill its mission. The focus is on results-oriented management, which directly correlates financial management with the achievement of specific government priorities and services provided to the public.