I want to congratulate my Senate colleagues on confirming Rob
Storch to be the new Department of Defense Inspector General. This happened
last week. The DoD Office of Inspector General has been without a
Senate-confirmed IG for almost seven years.
That’s far too long.
Inspectors general play a key role in watchdogging the executive branch. They act as force multipliers for Congress. Inspectors general must hold government
bureaucrats accountable with hard-hitting findings and recommendations. They
must remain on the attack to root out waste, fraud and abuse.
The DoD has an annual budget of over $700 billion. It’s high time we have an IG that’s
accountable to Congress to watchdog this money.
The DoD IG must now hit the ground running in conducting effective
and efficient oversight over the waste, fraud and abuse that happens at DoD. I,
along with my colleagues, expect the DoD IG to be an IG with teeth, unafraid to
identify wrongdoing. And, we’ll expect
him to call out those who seek to get rich off of the backs of the hardworking
American taxpayer, as well as those who put our nation at risk.
I expect Mr. Storch to be that watchdog. I also expect Mr. Storch to work with Congress
to conduct oversight in areas of congressional interest, and be responsive to
requests for information. Transparency is key, and being responsive and
accountable to Congress will be crucial to his success.
I look forward to working with Mr. Storch in his new role as the
DoD IG.
