Limits on the independence of inspectors general (IG) hurt the Na...
Limits on the independence of inspectors general (IG) hurt the National Security Agency IG’s investigation into warrantless wiretapping of American citizens, former Defense Department IG Eleanor Hill said Wednesday at a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing. Like…
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all agency IGs, the NSA IG cannot be as objective as departmental IGs due to limited resources and a lack of statutory autonomy protecting the office from agency directors, she said. IGs need more independence and more visibility for their reports to conduct strong, objective inquiries like Justice Department IG Glenn Fine’s on FBI misuse of national Security Letters, said Sen. Susan M. Collins (R-Maine), who has proposed a bill to amend the 1978 Inspector General Act. Congress should protect inspectors generals’ job security and raise their pay, so IGs can go after higher-ups without fear of reprisal, she said. And better Web site design could bring more attention to IG reports, lending audits the “juice” they need to succeed, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said. Agency sites tend not to have obvious links to IG sites, and it can be difficult to find reports on IG sites, she said.