Inspector General warns of risks to independence due to funding reliance on federal agencies, urges policy change.

The Interior Department’s watchdog, Mark Lee Greenblatt, warned lawmakers that he and his fellow inspectors general of the 73 Offices of Inspector General across federal agencies that they face a “significant risk” to their independence if budgeting policies don’t change. Despite praising the OIGs’ accomplishments, Greenblat also voiced concerns about their reliance on the same departments for their funding. He advised a House Oversight and Accountability subcommittee that they need to be independent from the agencies and that independence is a key to their work.