Federal agencies have a natural incentive to keep embarrassing news under wraps. As a result, scores of investigative reports never see the light of day. Slowly, that’s beginning to change. Those of us who appreciate the disinfectant value of sunshine have pushed for this to happen, and our persistence is paying off.
The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General got the ball rolling in announcing that it will post investigative summaries covering administrative misconduct involving senior staff and high-profile cases where there is significant public interest. The first summary involved a U.S. Marshal who had affairs in violation of agency policy. The U.S. Marshals Service is embroiled in scandal right now. The public release of reports of misconduct is necessary to bring the agency to account for its problems.
The Justice Department inspector general is the chair of a leadership council for inspectors general, so his leading by example is important. Releasing investigative reports ought to be standard operating procedure for every inspector general. Their work is too important to keep secret. Investigative reports ought to see the light of day so agencies will have to answer for misconduct by senior officials. More disclosure makes it harder for agencies to ignore an embarrassing report. Agencies that aren’t doing their jobs or have employees who waste the taxpayers’ money ought to be flushed out of the shadows. The same goes for inspectors general who aren’t aggressive or productive enough. Transparency brings accountability.
The disclosure provision might become law and apply to every agency inspector general. I’m a lead sponsor of the Inspector General Empowerment Act, which passed out of committee in March and awaits full Senate consideration. The bill’s provisions include requiring more disclosure of inspector general investigations involving senior employees’ misconduct.
Even before the bill becomes law, there’s nothing to stop inspectors general from disclosing more reports on their own, just as the Justice Department inspector general has done. I urge them to do just that.