To amend chapters 4, 10, and 131 of title 5, United States Code, as necessary to keep those chapters current and to correct related technical errors.
Sponsored By: Representative Schmidt
In Committee
Summary
Would modernize and consolidate Inspector General law to strengthen oversight and public transparency. It would reorganize chapter 4 of title 5, update cross-references, tighten removal and acting‑appointment rules, create an intelligence urgent‑concern framework, and add a Bureau of Prisons inspection regime plus a DOJ Ombudsman.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More IG reports and faster alerts to Congress
If enacted, each Inspector General would issue two reports a year by April 30 and October 31, listing major problems, audits, money‑saving recommendations, and case metrics. It would add chapter 38 case reporting that would take effect as if enacted on December 23, 2024. If an agency blocks requested information for 30 days, the IG would have to notify Congress. Special transmission rules would ensure fast delivery of DOJ, Treasury, Defense, and Homeland Security notices and reports to the right committees and leaders within 7 to 30 days. IG disclosures could be sent to more committees, and “appropriate” committees would be clearly defined. The bill would also repeal a prior amendment on December 23, 2024 to align these reporting rules.
More oversight of federal prisons
If enacted, the DOJ Inspector General would inspect federal prisons that the Bureau of Prisons runs. Inspections could be announced or unannounced, and higher‑risk prisons would be checked more often using a risk score sent to Congress within 18 months after July 25, 2024. The IG would post reports within 6 months after inspections. The Bureau would have 60 days to file and post a corrective action plan. The IG and a new DOJ Ombudsman would have on‑demand access to facilities and could privately interview people unless there is an immediate, serious safety risk. The Ombudsman would be set up within 1 year after July 25, 2024 to take complaints from incarcerated people, families, staff, and certain officials, at no cost, and would refer alleged crimes to the IG.
Tighter rules for acting and firing IGs
If enacted, only the President could name an acting Inspector General, and would generally need to choose someone with at least 90 days of recent OIG service at a senior pay level. The President would need to tell Congress the reasons 30 days before naming an acting IG. If an IG is put on non‑duty status, the President would usually have to give Congress 15 days’ written notice, except for urgent safety threats. Removals or transfers would need 30 days’ written, case‑specific reasons, and boards would need a two‑thirds vote in certain agencies. The bill would also clarify that “Inspector General” means the IG of an establishment, unless a law says otherwise.
Clearer IG audit terms and training
If enacted, IG reports would use clear definitions for questioned, disallowed, and unsupported costs; management decisions; final actions; and recommendations to put funds to better use. The Council would report its spending each year by November 30. The Council would also provide training and professional development to Inspectors General on their duties and authorities.
Online access to judges' financial reports
If enacted, the courts’ administrative office would run a public, searchable website for judges’ financial disclosure reports. The site was to be set up within 180 days after May 13, 2022, with reports posted within 90 days after filing, subject to redactions. The office could ask Congress for more time but would still need to keep reports publicly available while building the database.
Stronger IG whistleblower and watchdog rules
If enacted, an executive‑branch IG would have sole authority to decide if a complaint is an “urgent concern” about intelligence matters, including reprisals and false statements to Congress. The Integrity Committee would have to handle protected disclosures and reprisal claims quickly. If it closes a Member of Congress’s allegation without a referral, the Chair would tell key Senate and House leaders within 60 days. When an IG office itself must be investigated, another IG office would do the investigation to avoid conflicts.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Schmidt
KS • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in