Inspectors General Independence Act of 2020

To enhance the independence of Inspectors General, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Inspectors General Independence Act of 2020 2. Amendments to the Inspector General Act of 1978 (a) Removal for cause The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— (1) in section 3(b), by inserting after the first sentence the following: An Inspector General may only be removed by the President before the expiration of the term of the Inspector General for permanent incapacity, inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or conviction of a felony or conduct involving moral turpitude. (2) in section 8(G)(e), by adding at the end the following: (3) An Inspector General may only be removed by the head of a designated Federal entity before the expiration of the term of the Inspector General for permanent incapacity, inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or conviction of a felony or conduct involving moral turpitude. . (b) Establishment of terms of office The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— (1) in section 3, by adding at the end the following: (h) (1) The term of office of each Inspector General shall be 7 years. An individual may serve for more than 1 term in such office. Any individual appointed and confirmed to fill a vacancy in such position, occurring before the expiration of the term for which his or her predecessor was appointed, shall be appointed and confirmed for a full 7-year term. (2) An individual may continue to serve as Inspector General beyond the expiration of the term for which the individual is appointed until a successor is appointed and confirmed, except that such individual may not continue to serve for more than 1 year after the date on which the term would otherwise expire under paragraph (1). ; and (2) in section 8G(c)— (A) by inserting (1) (c) (B) by adding at the end the following: (2) The term of office of each Inspector General shall be 7 years. An individual may serve for more than 1 term in such office. Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy in such position, occurring before the expiration of the term for which his or her predecessor was appointed, shall be appointed for a full 7-year term. . (c) Application (1) In general The amendments made by this section shall apply to any Inspector General of an establishment or a designated Federal entity, as defined in sections 12 and 8G(a) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), respectively, appointed before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act. (2) Term The term of office of an Inspector General described in paragraph (1) serving on the date of enactment of this Act is deemed to begin on such date of enactment.

Summary: Inspectors General Independence Act of 2020 This bill permits an inspector general to be removed by the President or by a federal entity before the expiration of his or her term only for permanent incapacity, inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or conviction of a felony or conduct involving moral turpitude. The bill provides for a seven-year term of office for each inspector general. An individual may serve for more than one term. Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy in such position, occurring before the expiration of the term for which his or her predecessor was appointed, shall be appointed for a full seven-year term.