The Politicization of Inspectors General

Publication

The Politicization of Inspectors General

Abstract

The Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform investigated the politicization of Inspector General (IG) appointments in the past 12 years, noting a shift towards appointing individuals with Republican political backgrounds under President Bush. The report finds that over 60% of IGs appointed by Bush had prior political experience, compared to fewer than 20% with audit experience. In contrast, under President Clinton, over 60% of IGs had audit experience, while fewer than 25% had political backgrounds. Furthermore, instances of questionable actions by Bush Administration IGs, such as delaying critical audits and refusing investigations, raise concerns about the politicization of IG roles.