GOP lawmaker wants follow-up on IG recommendations

The top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee wants to know if federal agencies are making progress in implementing thousands of open inspector general recommendations.

On Tuesday, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., sent letters to 75 inspectors general requesting an update on the unimplemented proposals, which the committee previously calculated could save taxpayers nearly $26 billion.

"Each year your office identifies potential reforms that, if implemented, would allow your agency to run more effectively," Issa wrote. "Our committee is obligated to ensure your office has sufficient resources to fulfill that mandate."

The recommendations were included in a January 2009 committee report.

According to the report, the Bush administration failed to implement more than 13,800 IG recommendations. Under the 1978 Inspector General Act agencies are supposed to complete final action on IG recommendations within one year. But, nearly half of the open recommendations reviewed by the committee were made before 2008, and 27 percent were offered before 2007.

Issa asked the IGs to identify and prioritize any open recommendations and to provide the cost savings associated with those proposals.