The State Department is spending billions of dollars on foreign aid, private security contractors in war zones, and embassy projects with massive cost overruns--but its own in-house watchdog has been without a permanent leader for 1,492 days.
That’s over four years. And President Obama has yet to even nominate a candidate. This is unacceptable.
Watchdogs are vital to keeping the federal agencies in line, and save taxpayers up to $18 for every dollar investment. Unfortunately for taxpayers, the President is failing to nominate watchdogs to lead these offices in a timely manner.
To date, permanent IG positions at twelve different agencies remain unfilled. Seven of these positions—including those in major departments such as the Department of Justice and Department of the Interior—have been vacant for over a year. The most troubling case is the State Department, which hasn’t had a permanent IG since the days of the last presidential election.
State’s oversight of contractors has inspired little confidence, given scandals like “Spring Break in Kabul,” where there was a serious breakdown of discipline among private security personnel defending the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. Now, the Department faces an unprecedented diplomatic mission in Iraq, and must oversee a massive influx of contractors to the country. Without a permanent IG, the opportunity for misconduct and waste is great.
If you care about government accountability and what happens to the billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars in Iraq, please tell President Obama to nominate a credible, independent IG for the State Department without delay. This procrastination has gone on for far too long, and we’re looking at a ticking time bomb.