New Senate bill would bar administration officials from serving as an inspector general

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., on Jan. 15 sponsored legislation that would prohibit the president from installing one of their administration officials as an agency inspector general.

The introduction of the Inspectors General Independence Act (S 3687) comes after a Government Executive analysis found that at least six of eight confirmed IGs since President Donald Trump’s return to office previously worked in his first or second administration. 

“In the aftermath of the heinous Watergate scandal, Congress established inspectors general as non-partisan and independent investigators with important oversight responsibilities to help ensure any administration, whether Democrat or Republican, complies with the law — but under Trump, that crucial check and balance is being eroded,” Duckworth said in a statement. “Inspectors general must be trusted to hold federal agencies accountable and protect American taxpayers — not simply serve at the whim of the president who appointed them.” 

Specifically, her bill would bar the president from nominating someone who has served as a political appointee in their administration to an IG position. It exempts individuals who previously served as an IG, however, as that role is technically a political appointment. 

Under current law, IGs are already required to be selected “without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration or investigations.” 

In a press release, Duckworth pointed to the confirmation of Cheryl Mason as IG at the Veterans Affairs Department as an example of why her measure is necessary. Mason previously served as a senior advisor to VA Secretary Doug Collins. 

“Assigning a political appointee to oversee policies they helped create undermines both impartial oversight and public trust,” according to the release. 

During her confirmation hearing, Duckworth accused Mason of misleading senators about how close she was to Collins. Mason said that she would recuse herself from investigations of matters that she previously worked on at VA. 

Trump has, so far, fired 19 IGs and replaced acting IGs at five agencies. 

Duckworth’s bill is cosponsored by five other Senate Democrats.