Subcommittee on Government Operations Briefing with the Inspector General for the Department of Labor

On Monday, June 1, 2020, Rep. Gerry E. Connolly, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, will hold a video briefing for all Committee Members with Scott S. Dahl, Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Labor (DOL).

Federal Inspectors General (IGs) root out waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. In the midst of a global pandemic and enactment of the largest stimulus spending in the nation's history, the work of federal IGs is more important than ever. This briefing will provide Members and public insight into the work of the DOL IG in fighting unemployment insurance fraud schemes and ensuring best practices in DOL's setting of workforce safety guidelines and standards.

DOL IG received an appropriation of $25 million to oversee the expansion of Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs and $1 million to oversee DOL activities in preparing for and responding to the pandemic that are supported by CARES Act funding.

On April 21, 2020, DOL IG issued an advisory report identifying initial areas of concern regarding implementation of the UI provisions in the CARES Act. The IG said addressing these weaknesses is critical to reducing improper payments because of the much higher $600 per week payment under the CARES Act.

This briefing takes place just weeks after President Trump criticized, removed, or attacked five different IGs for doing their jobs. On May 22, 2020, Chairwoman Maloney, Subcommittee Chairman Connolly, National Security Subcommittee Chairman Stephen Lynch, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer officially introduced "The Inspector General Independence Act" with a requirement proposed by Chairman Connolly for the President to submit documentation of the cause for the firing in a notice to Congress 30 days prior to the removal. This legislation seeks to protect IGs across the Executive Branch from being fired as a result of political retaliation in the face of the President's campaign against IGs.