The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs panel has advanced a bill (S-579) to strengthen agency inspectors general by broadening their powers to issue subpoenas and match computer databases across agencies, among other authorities.
IGs further would have to keep Congress better informed of problems they encounter with agency management including failure to discipline employees for misconduct, attempts to interfere with the independence of an IG, retaliation against whistleblowers, or keeping IG reports from the public.
The bill further would require GAO reports on the numbers and effects of vacancies among IGs.
The committee meanwhile asked all IGs to report on recommendations they have made that agencies have not implemented, the lost potential savings, and any attempts agencies have made to interfere with their independence, including hampering their operations or their ability to communicate with Congress.