That question, how to restore trust in government, is not trivial. Democracy and social order are fragile and corruption and abuse of power exert constant pressure. Our personal safety and well-being and that of our children and their children depend on our being able to continue to govern ourselves effectively, efficiently and equitably. What has gone wrong? What can be done? And what is the role of auditors?

What has gone wrong? We often find that the government has been less than completely honest with us about how well it has performed. For example, the New York Times reported on the 9/11 Commission that “The first fact-finding hearing in January showed just how wrong – and self-serving – much of the government’s information about the plot had been.” The relentlessly positive spin that government agencies put on their own performance often makes them appear both incompetent – since their version of reality does not square with the direct observation of many citizens – and incapable of learning. For example, National Public Radio reported on a ship-load of lemons seized because an anonymous e-mail said they had been tainted with a biological weapon. According to the show’s transcript, “That tip now appears to have been a hoax, and the lemons left to rot,” but the U.S. Coast Guard reported that “the operation was handled in the best possible way.” Seizing shipments and holding them until they rot can’t possibly be the “best possible way” to protect us from such threats. Often agencies deliberately withhold information for no other reason than that it might make them look bad. For example, the Kansas City Star obtained police internal audit reports under the state open records law and then reported that “An internal audit by the Police Department revealed that it has lost or improperly destroyed evidence in eight homicide cases.” Now the internal audit division no longer produces audit reports.

What can be done? Trust in government depends on three things: integrity, competence and transparency. Citizens who trust their government believe it will try to do the right thing and tell them the complete unvarnished truth. They believe their government will usually succeed in what it attempts and will learn from mistakes and improve its performance over time. Finally, citizens believe these things to the extent that they can see the evidence supporting these beliefs with their own eyes because their government is transparent.

What is the role of auditors? Clearly we think we have a role in improving citizen trust in government. The draft strategic plan of the National Intergovernmental Audit Forum says that the forum exists “...in order to address common challenges; enhance government performance accountability, and transparency; and increase public trust.” The mission of my own audit office includes the statement that “...we help to hold government accountable in its stewardship of the public trust.”

Most of us have heard people in government assert that, since most audits are critical of government, we are adding to the mistrust. This is not a view I hear expressed by regular folks. They generally tell me that they are grateful for the work of my office and that I’m one of the few public officials they trust. It is not the news about the problems that leads to mistrust. It is the way governments respond to problems that leads to mistrust.

Auditors who take seriously the challenge of improving the public trust should:
• Work for transparency in government. We should encourage, develop and carry out good performance reporting;
• Treat citizens respectfully, as equals. Take their calls, and meet with those who ask to meet with you;
• Speak to civic groups and others. Be candid, clear and forthright; and
• Engage the media. A free press is a fundamental right and is essential to democracy. Be careful, intelligent, respectful and persistent with reporters.