Sen. Hassan Joins Bipartisan Group of Colleagues in Urging Trump Administration to Swiftly Nominate Inspectors General at Federal Agencies

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The office of Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., issued the following news release:

Today, building on her efforts to improve efficiency in federal spending, Senator Maggie Hassan joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to President Trump, urging him to quickly nominate qualified candidates for Inspectors General (IG) to serve as watchdogs at federal agencies. Senator Hassan was joined by her colleagues of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, including Senators McCaskill (D-MO), Johnson (R-WI),Carper (D-DE), Daines (R-MT), Enzi (R-WY), Heitkamp (D-ND), Lankford (R-OK), Markey (D-MA), Paul (R-KY), Peters (R-MI), and Portman (R-OH).

In order to improve efficiency and to target waste, fraud, and abuse at federal agencies, many government agencies have an independent Office of the Inspector General responsible for auditing federal programs. Inspectors General are also responsible for investigating whistleblower claims and allegations of wrongdoing.

"While many acting IGs have served admirably in the absence of permanent leadership, the lack of a permanent leader threatens to impede the ability of these offices to conduct the oversight and investigations necessary to ensure that taxpayer dollars are protected, public safety risks are identified, and that whistleblowers who expose waste, fraud, and abuse are protected," the senators wrote. "In addition, the lack of a permanent IG can create the potential for conflicts of interest and diminish the essential independence of IGs."

Senator Hassan is a member of the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management and the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management within the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The management of federal agencies falls under the jurisdiction of these subcommittees. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee recently voted to approve a measure Senator Hassan joined in introducing, requiring the federal government to publicize the details, costs, and performance metrics of every federal program above $1 million.

The full text of the Senators' letter is here. (https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/download/joint-letter-to-president-trump-re-ig-vacancies)