Watchdogs Testify Before HSGAC on IG Legislation
Three Inspector Generals (IG) testified before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) on October 21, 2021. The hearing focused on two Inspectors General reform bills the committee is considering, IG Testimonial Subpoena Authority Act and the IG Independence and Empowerment Act.
New IG Memo Finds HR Deficiencies at DOJ
The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a management advisory memorandum to leaders at the Justice Management Division (JMD) identifying a number of concerns with human resources policies and data. The memo notes several continued deficiencies initially identified in DOJ OIG’s October 2020 report on enhancing human capital titled “Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing the Department of Justice 2020.”
OSC and CIGIE Reach Agreements for Investigation Referrals
On November 3, 2020, the United States Office of Special Counsel (OSC) announced that it had reached two agreements with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE). A statement by OSC claimed that the “core goals of the agreements are to protect the independence of the respective Inspectors General and provide better outcomes to whistleblowers who report allegations of wrongdoing by OIGs.” The agreements are “the result of a years-long effort to clarify standards of procedure for such disclosures.”
Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Launches Contract Spending Tracker Tool
The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, created under the CARES Act to oversee the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, released a tool today to track how relief packages were dispersed. The committee also released a June 2020 report on challenges agencies are facing when handling the CARES Act implementation and pandemic response.
Congress Requests IG Oversight on Agency Reopenings
House Government Operations Subcommittee Chairman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) sent letters to the Inspector General (IG) offices of 24 federal agencies requesting they develop assessment plans for reviewing their agencies’ plans for reopening. The letters criticize a lack of cooperation with oversight bodies from the Office of Management and Budget and Office of Personnel Management.