Senate passes bill to give IG a spot at GAO

The House and Senate have passed bills that would establish an inspector general's office for the watchdog agency.

A statutorily created inspector general's office could watch the government's watchdog, if legislation that has passed both houses of Congress becomes law.


The bill, H.R. 5683, includes other reforms for the Government Accountability Office as well.


The GAO already has an IG created by its own administrative policy, but the legislation makes it a statutory requirement, said Chuck Young, GAO's managing director of public affairs. 


Under the bill, the comptroller general would choose the IG. The IG would be responsible for auditing GAO's activities and providing reports on fraud, abuses and other problems the audits reveal.


The Senate passed the bill unanimously Aug. 1.