"How well is the X-federal branch of government doing/federal project doing?"

The GAO evaluates the performance of agencies and departments, even sub-departments of the federal government rather nicely.  I've learned a lot over the years by reading some of them.  The GAO people are dedicated and filled with excellent ideas to improve an organization they are tasked to study!  And, of course, there's the voting public that through their vote express some overall opinion.

But the question needs to be asked of the various projects, some of which last for years and years "how well are you doing?"  Maybe, there's some clandestine group that asks the question of some project management team, that I've never crossed paths with, but I find if so, they're not having much of an impact.

I raised the question with those who had a say in the US involvement over the years in overseeing the training of the current crop of Chinese leadership in government, technology, and business.  How often did they express evaluative comments on how the training was going that we provided?   I think, personally. we did a fantastic job, far and above what could have been expected.

That's another thing.  I thing I like most about the US military brass is their commitment to de-centralization: they set the ground-rules and let the tasked commander do his job--with their help from above ever omnipresent, of course.  I've talked to a lot of decision-people who are under this chain of command; and they enjoy their work very much!

Anyway, I think a group like the GAO is needed to be on the job in the projects arena, to be sure.