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Inspectors General: Proposals to Strengthen Independence and Accountability

GAO-07-1021T Published: Jun 20, 2007. Publicly Released: Jun 20, 2007.
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Highlights

H.R. 928, Improving Government Accountability Act, contains proposals intended to enhance the independence of the inspectors general and to create a Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. This testimony provides information and views about the specific proposals based on GAO's prior work. We believe that effective, ongoing coordination of the federal oversight efforts of GAO and the Inspectors General (IG) is more critical than ever, due to the challenges and risks currently facing our nation including our immediate and long-term fiscal challenges, increasing demands being made for federal programs, and changing risk. Close strategic planning and ongoing coordination of audit efforts between GAO and the IGs would help to enhance the effectiveness and impact of work performed by federal auditors. In May of this year the Comptroller General hosted a meeting with the IGs for the principal purpose of improving the coordination of federal oversight between the IGs and GAO. Working together, and in their respective areas, GAO and the IGs can leverage each other's work and provide valuable input on the broad range of high-risk programs and management challenges across government.

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AccountabilityAudit authorityAudit oversightAudit reportsAuditorsFederal agenciesFederal legislationGovernment job appointmentsInspectors generalInteragency relationsIntergovernmental relationsInternal controlsInvestigations by federal agenciesInvestigations into federal agenciesProposed legislationGovernment agency oversight