President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill that provides inspectors general to access data they need to perform their duties.
The Inspectors General Empowerment Act of 2016 will give IGs authority to obtain necessary information without compromising the public’s privacy and civil liberties, the White House said Friday.
House and Senate lawmakers unanimously approved the bill Dec. 10.
The Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency said Dec. 12 the law validates IGs’ right to gain full access to agency records and that whistleblowers and agencies are legally authorized to provide potentially sensitive information to IGs.
The law contains provisions that authorize IGs to compare data across agencies and implement programs to increase public access to information on misconduct among senior government personnel, CIGIE added,
