§705 Inspector General for the Government Accountability Office

Summary

Creates an Office of the Inspector General inside the Government Accountability Office to audit and investigate GAO programs and operations, promote economy and efficiency, and tell the Comptroller General and Congress about fraud, serious problems, abuses, or deficiencies. The Inspector General is chosen by the Comptroller General without regard to political party and must be picked for integrity and proven skill in fields like accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations. The Inspector General reports to the Comptroller General, is paid at an annual rate that is $5,000 less than the Comptroller General, and may not receive any cash award or bonus, including any award under chapter 45 of title 5. The Comptroller General may remove or transfer the Inspector General but must send a written, detailed explanation to both Houses of Congress not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer. If an inquiry relates to the removal or transfer, the explanation must name who did the inquiry and give findings if it is finished. Only the Comptroller General may place the Inspector General on non-duty status and must explain that decision in writing not later than 15 days before it takes effect, unless an immediate threat is found, in which case the explanation may be sent when the change happens and must include specific reasons, the entities that conducted any inquiry, and any inquiry findings. The Inspector General has broad access to GAO records, can investigate and request documents from federal agencies, obtain outside information under the same authority the Comptroller General has under section 716, take oaths, report suspected federal crimes to the Attorney General, and give reports to the Audit Advisory Committee. The Inspector General may receive employee complaints about law violations, mismanagement, or gross waste, generally keep complainants’ identities confidential, and may not be retaliated against for making a complaint unless it was known to be false. The Inspector General must send semiannual reports to the Comptroller General, who must transmit them to Congress within 30 days. The Comptroller General may not block the Inspector General from doing duties and must include the Inspector General’s budget request in the GAO budget without change. The Inspector General hires staff on a merit basis, may use experts or consultants at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315, must not perform program duties, must have legal advice from counsel reporting directly to the Inspector General, and must be provided adequate office space, equipment, and services. Federal agency here means a department, agency, instrumentality, or unit of the Federal Government.