The activities of the GPO are defined in the public printing and documents chapters of Title 44 of the United States Code.

The Director (formerly the Public Printer), who serves as the head of the GPO, is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

[4] The GPO first used 100 percent recycled paper for the Congressional Record and Federal Register from 1991 to 1997, under Public Printers Robert Houk and Michael DiMario.

[citation needed] In March 2011, the GPO issued a new illustrated official history covering the agency's 150 years of "Keeping America Informed".

GPO produces the blank e-Passport, while the Department of State receives and adjudicates applications and issues individual passports.

In March 2008, the Washington Times published a three-part story about the outsourcing of electronic passports to overseas companies, including one in Thailand that was subject to Chinese espionage.

[15][18][19] GPO designs, prints, encodes, and personalizes Trusted Traveler Program cards (NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST) for the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

[23] GovInfo makes available at no charge the Congressional Record, the Federal Register, Public Papers of the Presidents, the U.S. Code, and other materials.

[26] Their duty is to "protect persons and property in premises and adjacent areas occupied by or under the control of the Government Printing Office".