| Abstrakt: |
Congress has long taken a leadership role in establishing and sustaining offices of inspector general (OIGs), which now exist in more than 60 federal departments and agencies. This effort began with Congress's initiation of the first of the contemporary statutory inspectors general (IGs) in 1976; it has continued with passage of the broadly encompassing 1978 Inspector General Act and 1988 Amendments as well as with additions and modifications in the meantime.1 In the 110th Congress, several bills designed to increase the IGs' independence and accountability or otherwise modify specific provisions have been introduced -- H.R. 928, approved by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and S. 1723. The major changes include: a fixed term of office for IGs; removal for cause only; apprisal of the intention to remove or transfer an IG given to the Congress 15 or 30 days in advance; notification of the annual IG budget request to Congress and to the Office of Management and Budget, when the IG submits it to agency administration; establishment of a Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, replacing the two current councils operating under executive order; and creation of an Integrity Committee composed of Council members to investigate allegations of wrongdoing by an inspector general or officials in the office. This report, which will be updated as developments dictate, covers the main provisions of the proposals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
