Federal Manager's Daily Report

The bill would grant IGs the authority to subpoena witnesses who are not currently government employees. Image: Lane V. Erickson/Shutterstock.com

The House DoD authorization measure (HR-7900) incorporates language of a separate bill (HR-2662) the House passed last year, but which has not moved in the Senate, to strengthen authorities of agency IGs.

Provisions include: granting IGs the authority to subpoena witnesses who are not currently government employees for testimony but who may have information relevant to an investigation; requiring IGs to notify Congress if agencies deny access to requested information; and authorizing the Department of Justice IG to investigate wrongdoing by department attorneys instead of deferring to the department’s office of professional responsibility.

Also, the provisions would increase protections for IGs against interference by agency management; expand whistleblower trainings to IG employees; require notification to Congress and CIGIE of an IG’s ongoing investigations when an IG is placed on non-duty status; and provide a single appropriation for the central IG council, the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Integrity.

President Biden in June signed into law a bill giving the IG at the VA the enhanced subpoena powers, a provision designed to prevent federal employees from thwarting investigations that could result in findings against them by resigning first.

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