Restoring Independence: Rebuilding the Federal Offices of Inspectors General

Chairman Connolly's Opening Statement [PDF]

Chairwoman Maloney's Opening Statement [PDF]

On Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. E.T., Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, will hold a hybrid hearing to examine the importance of objective and impartial inspectors general (IGs), ways to strengthen their independence, and the tools they need to provide effective oversight of both their agencies and themselves.

Since they were established in 1978, Offices of the Inspector General have provided critical oversight of executive branch operations:  they help recover overpayments by government agencies, identify risks and program improvement areas, and root out fraud, waste, abuse, and gross mismanagement.  

The IGs and their employees perform a mission that requires independence and objectivity, and despite being politically appointed in many cases, IGs strive to remain outside of the political fray, using data, evidence, and authenticated resources to draft nonpartisan reports and conduct oversight.