Expanded Police Powers for IG Agents Advances

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee has approved legislation (S-2530) that would extend to some agents of agency inspector general offices additional law enforcement authority, including the powers to make arrests, carry out searches and seize evidence. Currently such authority is provided only through deputization by the U.S. Marshals Service. IG agents commonly conduct investigations of federal employees who are allegedly engaged in illegal conduct, among other duties.