WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) are urging President Joe Biden to swiftly nominate qualified individuals to fill critical Inspector General (IG) vacancies. In a letter to Biden, the senators note that IGs play a vital role in stewarding American taxpayer dollars and rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. Currently, six agencies await a presidentially-nominated, Senate-confirmed watchdog.

“The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency estimated in fiscal year 2021 that the government could potentially save $62.7 billion if agencies implemented open recommendations made by IGs,” the senators wrote. “Ultimately, instituting permanent leadership in IG offices is paramount to making any potential cost savings and oversight efforts a reality.”

“Toward that end, we respectfully request that you move expeditiously to nominate permanent IGs, and we stand ready to encourage our respective leadership to make IG confirmations a priority and will oppose efforts to needlessly delay the confirmation of qualified candidates,” the senators concluded.