Should Congress give Inspectors General more investigatorial power and independence?

Government Operations (e.g., Election Laws)
IG Independence and Empowerment Act (H.R. 2662)
This bill has Passed the House of Representatives
Bill Summary

H.R. 2662 would impact the role of inspectors general (IG), who are charged with government oversight. The bill would (1) ensure that IGs can only be removed for for “just cause”, or a documented malfeasance; (2) mandate that Congress must be notified before an inspector general is placed on non-duty status; (3) expand whistleblower protections to IGs; (4) give IGs the power to subpoena witnesses who are not government employees; (4) give the IG office within the Department of Justice (DPJ) power to investigate DOJ attorneys; (5) require IGs to notify Congress if government agencies fail to comply with requests for information; (6) finally, the bill would require that IGs can not be selected from senior administration inside the agency they are to oversee.
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Opponents say

•     At the time of this summary, there were no opponent statements from news articles, press releases, or issue organizations.

Proponents say

•     "This comprehensive bill would ensure that Inspectors General can perform their jobs free from political retaliation and that they have the tools needed to perform thorough investigations.  Inspectors General are needed now more than ever to provide accountability for the over $5 trillion spent by the government in response to the coronavirus pandemic."

Source: Rep. Carolyn Maloney (Democrat, New York, District 12) 


•     "Inspectors general are crucial to rooting out fraud, waste and corruption and ensuring government programs are working for the people.  The IG Independence and Empowerment Act will fundamentally protect our nation’s inspectors general, which can save American taxpayers billions of dollars."

Source: Rep. Ted Lieu (Democrat, California, District 33)


•     "The fact is that administrations from both parties have selected acting inspectors general from senior management political positions within the agencies to be overseen, creating actual and perceived conflicts of interest and undermining independence."

Source: Kathy Buller (IG for the Peace Corps)

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