Bipartisan Legislation Led By Peters to Strengthen Inspector General Protections Advances in Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan bill led by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to provide Inspectors General with additional protections has advanced in the Senate. The legislation, which will strengthen independent oversight of the federal government’s effectiveness, was approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where Peters serves as Chair. The bill is based on a legislation Peters introduced earlier this year.

“It’s critical that federal watchdogs are able to work independently and without political interference in order to save taxpayer dollars and hold government accountable,” said Senator Peters. “These long overdue bipartisan reforms will help ensure that no administration is able to undermine inspectors general as they help Congress prevent and uncover fraud, waste, and abuse in the federal government.”

The amended Inspector General Independence and Empowerment Act clarifies the 2008 Inspector General Reform Act by requiring any administration to provide a “substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons” prior to removing an IG. It also limits the use of administrative leave for Inspectors General (IGs), including during the 30 days following the removal announcement. To ensure the independence of the IG community, the bill requires acting IGs to be selected from among senior-level employees within the watchdog community. To protect the integrity of investigations and audits during an IG transition, the bill requires regular training to IG employees on their whistleblower rights. Finally, the legislation also provides federal watchdogs the authority to subpoena the testimony of contractors and former federal officials.

Peters recently convened a hearing with federal inspectors general to discuss the urgent need for these bipartisan reforms and to examine the importance of providing federal watchdogs with protections to strengthen independent oversight of the government’s effectiveness. In addition, the legislation advanced by the committee today has been endorsed by the Council on Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.

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