Members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform wrote a letter to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Kathleen McGettigan asking for information on OPM’s policies and procedures for interacting with inspectors general (IG) and cooperating with IG investigations – and suggested they could introduce legislation to update IG authorities.
In the letter, sent by committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., Ranking Member James Comer, R-Ky., Subcommittee Chairman on Government Operations Gerry Connolly, D-Va., and Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Government Operations Jody Hice, R-Ga., OPM is being asked to provide information by April 14 including:
- All documents related to current OPM policies or procedures for cooperating with IG requests for information, documents, interviews, testimony, or other requests; and
- All operating documents related to investigations into employees or official misconduct or disciplinary matters conducted by the IG, an internal affairs office, office of professional responsibility, or similar office within the agency or another entity.
The House members cite the IG Act of 1978 which established the Federal IGs as independent watchdogs to improve government efficiency, reduce waste, and eliminate fraud.
“The IG Act further provides that inspectors general have authority ‘to request such information or assistance as may be necessary for carrying out the duties and responsibilities provided by this Act from any Federal, State, or local governmental agency or unit thereof,’” the members wrote. “The Committee is considering legislation to update the authorities of inspectors general.”
