[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79887-79888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22502]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of Inspector General


Succession, Delegations of Authority, and Signature Authorities

AGENCY: Office of Inspector General (OIG), Department of Agriculture 
(USDA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On August 1, 2024, pursuant to the Federal Vacancies Reform 
Act of 1998 and the Inspector General (IG) Act of 1978, as amended, 
USDAIG Phyllis K. Fong issued IG-1313, Change 9, Succession, 
Delegations of Authority, and Signature Authorities. This directive 
supersedes IG-1313, Change 8, dated November 8, 2016, as amended by 
Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Bulletin C-20-001-1313, dated June 
24, 2020; and all previous delegations to the extent that they are 
inconsistent with this publication. This publication supersedes the 
USDA OIG's prior notice of succession order.

DATES: The revised directive referenced in this notice was issued on 
August 1, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christy A. Slamowitz, Counsel to the 
IG, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 441-E, Washington, DC 
20250-2308, Telephone: (202) 720-9110.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USDA OIG is issuing this notice to publish 
an updated line of succession and delegations of authority within USDA 
OIG. This publication supersedes the prior notice of succession order 
for USDA OIG published at 85 FR 58331 (September 18, 2020). 
Accordingly, pursuant to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (5 
U.S.C. 3345-3349d) and 5 U.S.C. 401-424, the IG has designated the 
detailed sequence of succession as follows:
    I. During any period in which the USDA IG, dies, resigns, or is 
otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office 
(``incapacity''), and unless the President shall designate another 
officer to perform the functions and duties of the position, the Deputy 
IG, as the designated first assistant to the IG, shall temporarily 
perform the IG's functions and duties in an acting capacity, pursuant 
to and subject to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act (5 U.S.C. 3345-
3349d) and 5 U.S.C. 403(h). However, per 5 U.S.C. 3345(b)(1), the 
Deputy IG does not become the acting IG if, during the 365-day period 
preceding the IG's incapacity, the Deputy IG served as Deputy IG for 
less than 90 days and the President has nominated that Deputy IG as the 
new IG. In the absence of the IG and Deputy IG, the officials 
designated below, in the order listed, shall become the acting Deputy 
IG and so shall temporarily perform the functions and duties of the IG. 
This order may be changed by a delegation in writing by the IG, or by 
the Deputy IG while acting in the absence of the IG:
    1. Assistant IG for Audit (AIG/A);
    2. Assistant IG for Investigations (AIG/I);
    3. Assistant IG for Analytics and Innovation (AIG/AI);
    4. Assistant IG for Management (AIG/M);
    5. Counsel to the IG;
    6. Deputy Assistant IG for Audit (DAIG/A), by seniority;
    7. Deputy Assistant IG for Investigations (DAIG/I);
    8. Deputy Assistant IG for Analytics and Innovation (DAIG/AI); and
    9. Audit Directors and SACs, alternating, by seniority (i.e., most 
senior Audit Director, then most senior SAC, then second most senior 
Audit Director, then second most senior SAC, and so on). For purposes 
of this paragraph only, the Division Director, Investigations Forensics 
and Technologies Division, will be counted as a SAC in the order of 
succession.
    Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the President also may 
direct an officer or employee (``employee'') of any OIG (including but 
not limited to USDA's OIG) to perform the functions and duties of 
USDA's IG temporarily in an acting capacity pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
403(h)(2)(C). However, such officer or employee must have served in a 
position in an OIG for not less than 90 days during the 365-day period 
preceding the date of the IG's incapacity, unless the employee is 
serving as an Inspector General (but not solely as an acting Inspector 
General). The employee must also have a rate of pay equal to or greater 
than the GS-15 level prior to their appointment, and have demonstrated 
ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management 
analysis, public administration, or investigations. Finally, in the 30 
days prior to the appointment, the president must have given 
appropriate notice to both Houses

[[Page 79888]]

of Congress regarding the substantive rationale for such direction.
    If the IG has been placed on non-duty status by the President, the 
Deputy IG will perform the functions and duties of USDA's IG 
temporarily in an acting capacity, subject to relevant limitations for 
acting officers described above related to time serving in an OIG 
position. If the Deputy IG is unable to perform those functions or if 
the office is vacant, the President may direct a USDA OIG employee to 
assume those duties, provided that the employee also meets the 
requirements described above regarding pay rates and demonstrated 
ability in relevant areas of expertise, and provided that the employee 
also meets the requirements above regarding time served in an OIG 
position, and that they must meet those requirements through service 
with USDA OIG.
    II. For purposes of this order of succession, the designated 
official is the person holding a permanent appointment to the position. 
Persons filling positions in an acting capacity do not substitute for 
officials holding a permanent appointment to a position. If a position 
is vacant or an official occupying the position on a permanent basis is 
absent or unavailable, authority passes to the next available official 
occupying a position in the order of succession.
    III. This delegation is not in derogation of any authority residing 
in the above officials relating to the operation of their respective 
programs, nor does it affect the validity of any delegations currently 
in force and effect and not specifically cited as revoked or revised 
herein.
    IV. The authorities delegated herein may not be re-delegated.
    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 3345-3349d; 5 U.S.C. 401-424.

    Dated: September 26, 2024.
Phyllis K. Fong,
Inspector General.
[FR Doc. 2024-22502 Filed 9-30-24; 8:45 am]
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