Blog: Independent Federal IGs Are Essential to Effectiveness and Integrity
In his blog, IIA President and CEO Richard Chambers, CIA, QIAL, CGAP, CCSA, CRMA, shares his personal reflections and insights on the internal audit profession. Here’s an excerpt from his latest post:
Following a series of government scandals in the 1970s, U.S. Congress passed the Inspector General Act, mandating the establishment of independent inspectors general (IGs) in federal agencies. Today, there are more than 70 IGs serving organizations large and small across the federal government. Thirty of those are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
These men and women are leading teams of auditors, inspectors, and investigators with the avowed mission to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in their respective agencies, and to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in programs and operations of the agencies they serve. I know something of this community, because I once served as Deputy Inspector General of the U.S. Postal Service and as Inspector General of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
For much of the 42 years since passage of the IG Act, federal IGs have diligently carried out their important missions — mainly out of the public eye and the crossfire of political debate. However, over the past few months, a number of IGs have been removed from their posts, with ambiguous explanations as to why. There is widespread apprehension, including bipartisan concern in Congress, over these actions involving one of the most important institutions in government. At a time when the U.S. is facing extraordinary crises, including combating COVID-19, leaders in both the White House and on Capitol Hill should be unified in supporting IGs and their independent and unrestrained pursuit of government accountability.
Read the full InternalAuditor.org blog post from IIA President and CEO Richard Chambers.
