Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., has proposed the establishment of a single agency for the federal government’s inspectors general, Federal News Radio reported.
Heitkamp said an independent IG agency would give investigative officials more freedom to perform agency audits and should function as an extension of the Government Accountability Office and Congress.
Her proposal comes as U.S. lawmakers review the White House’s government overhaul plans and reflects their frustration over a lack of permanent IGs at agencies.
The Project on Government Oversight has found that 13 of the 73 federal agencies do not have a confirmed IG, with more than 10 of said agencies lacking a permanent watchdog for over a year.
