Fraud Watchdogs: How GAO and OIGs Fight Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

Report
Published October 27, 2025

Fraud Watchdogs: How GAO and OIGs Fight Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

Annie Shuppy & Zach Moller

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Every year, hundreds of billions of federal taxpayer dollars are lost to waste, fraud, and abuse. And every year, the federal government fights back. Lawmakers have tasked two nonpartisan entities to safeguard the American taxpayer and look for ways to make government more efficient and less expensive: the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Offices of Inspectors General (OIGs).

The GAO, often called the “congressional watchdog,” is an independent, nonpartisan office that audits and evaluates federal programs for mismanagement, inefficiencies, or vulnerabilities. OIGs, meanwhile, are embedded in nearly every major federal agency. They serve as on-the-ground investigators, auditors, and evaluators—deterring misconduct and holding bad actors accountable.

Together, GAO and OIGs form a powerful oversight system that safeguards public resources. They provide transparency, recommend reforms, and ensure federal dollars are directed where they are supposed to go—whether that’s paying benefits to families or keeping America safe. In this report, we break down who GAO and the OIGs are, how they operate, and why they matter.

How the GAO Fights Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

Background: The Government Accountability Office serves as an auditor for Congress, studies federal programs and expenditures, and investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars.1 It responds to Congressional requests and can also initiate its own projects on topics related to federal governance.2 An agency in the legislative branch, the GAO was established by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 and renamed in 2004.3 It has its own inspector general (IG), for which Congress recommends funding and staffing levels.

Oversight Functions:

  • Auditing federal agencies to determine whether funds are being spent efficiently and effectively;
  • Investigating allegations of illegal and improper activities;
  • Reporting how well government programs and policies are meeting their objectives;
  • Performing policy analyses and outlining potential solutions for congressional consideration; and
  • Issuing legal decisions and opinions, such as bid protest rulings and reports on agency rules.4

GAO in Action: Among the GAO’s highest-profile reports are the High Risk List, which names programs and activities most susceptible to waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement, and the Duplication and Cost Savings Report, which highlights opportunities to reduce fragmentation, overlap, and duplication.5 Both have earned the GAO recent praise and congressional attention from across the partisan divide.6 In addition, congressional appropriators have empowered the GAO to audit earmarks contained in spending laws.7

While Congress generally seems to value the GAO’s oversight role, the agency has run afoul of Republicans by seeking to maintain limits on presidential and congressional power. For example, the GAO challenged the Senate’s ability to use the Congressional Review Act to reverse climate policy regulations that were finalized under President Biden, and it rebuffed efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency to embed its own staff members within the agency.8

These tensions peak when GAO challenges a president’s illegal withholding of congressionally approved funds, also known as impoundment. The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act gives the GAO authority to bring civil actions against the executive branch in US District Court for the District of Columbia for impoundment violations.9 The Trump administration has been hostile to the GAO’s authority over impoundments since Trump’s impeachment over a related matter in 2019.10 The House’s FY 2026 Legislative Branch appropriations bar the GAO from using funds to bring civil actions over impoundment violations, unless Congress specifically authorizes it.11

Funding Challenges: The GAO received $886 million in FY 2024, and its appropriations stayed the same in FY 2025 due to a continuing resolution.12 Of that total, $812 million comes from direct appropriations, and $74 million from reimbursements or fees for conducting financial audits of government corporations as well as the rental of space in the GAO building.13

House appropriators are proposing a 49% cut to direct appropriations for the GAO budget for FY 2026.14 The Senate would keep the direct appropriation at FY 2025 levels, although GAO’s total budget would decrease 4% due to a decrease in reimbursements.15

Room for Improvement: Beyond politicized efforts to constrain the GAO’s power or independence, lawmakers have a number of bipartisan suggestions for improving the office. Specific recommendations include:

  • Provide timeframes for agencies to implement GAO recommendations and information on the costs of recommendations that have not been implemented.16
  • Give Congress more information on how well and how quickly executive branch agencies respond to congressional inquiries.17
  • Use technology to update and improve processes, including interagency data-sharing and government-wide coordination efforts.18
  • Report on the use of artificial intelligence across the legislative branch.19

How OIGs Fight Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

Background: The federal government’s OIGs are led by independent, nonpartisan IGs supported by staff. As they fight to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, their independence is key.20 There are  currently 74 OIGs provided by statute, but several of these roles are empty following firings by the Trump administration in early 2025.21 The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) is the official oversight group of the OIGs.22 The majority of the OIGs were created and continue to be governed by the Inspector General Act of 1974; CIGIE was created under a 2008 reform law.23

Oversight Functions:

  • Auditing, inspecting, investigating, and evaluating federal agencies and offices;
  • Issuing findings and recommendations to improve federal programs directly to Congress;
  • Referring cases for criminal prosecution or civil action through coordination with other OIGs, federal law enforcement, or state and local law enforcement; and
  • Working with whistleblowers.24

OIGs in Action: CIGIE estimates a return of $18 for every $1 invested in IG services.25 In FY 2024 alone, federal OIGs:

  • Identified $71.1 billion in savings from federal programs and operations, including $52.7 billion from audit recommendations and $18.4 billion from recoveries and receivables stemming from investigations.26
  • Issued 2,042 audit, inspection, and evaluation reports and conducted investigations that resulted in 3,675 criminal prosecutions and 1,015 civil actions.27
  • Netted bipartisan wins, such as identifying a grantee who was under investigation for illegally exporting semiconductor technology to a Chinese company and helping prosecute individuals who bribed doctors into ordering unnecessary durable medical equipment.28

Despite these clear examples of reducing waste, fraud, and abuse, OIGs have been at risk during the Trump administration. Notably, President Trump fired 19 IGs in the first few months of his presidency.29 Eight of the fired IGs filed a lawsuit seeking reinstatement, but a US District Court judge said that, even though the Trump administration had acted illegally, she could not return them to their jobs.30

Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee decried the IG firings as antithetical to good government.31 They have also tried to restore funding to OIGs that are facing funding cuts and have attempted to add an IG to the Office of Management and Budget within the White House.32

Even more recently, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced rule changes targeting IG investigations within his department, such as new restrictions on how IGs process complaints and when they should provide updates on investigations.33 The Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget has effectively defunded CIGIE and forced down several IG websites, prompting concern from both Senate Republicans and Democrats.34

Funding Challenges: Collectively, the OIGs received a total of $3.9 billion in FY 2024, and appropriations for most offices stayed at same level in FY 2025 due to the continuing resolution.35 But funding varies by agency, with the Department of Defense (DOD) IGs getting the most—$529 million in FY 2024.36

For FY 2026, several OIGs are facing cuts or flat funding. House appropriators are proposing a 4% cut for DOD IG for FY 2026, while Senate appropriators are proposing a 7% cut (the administration’s requested level).37 Inspector General offices at the Department of Justice, NASA, and the National Science Foundation are also among those facing cuts.38

Room for Improvement: Many of the recommendations to bolster the independence of the OIGs and public confidence focus on increasing the public salience of their existence, as their work often flies under the radar.

Bipartisan organizations focused on good governance have made the following suggestions to improve OIGs:

  • Encourage congressional committees to highlight current recommendations from OIGs at hearings and in other public forums.
  • Call on CIGIE to organize yearly or twice-yearly meetings to discuss the OIGs and their work to educate members of Congress.39
  • Change the length of an IG’s service from an indefinite term to a renewable one that spans administrations, while only allowing removal for cause.40

Comparing and Contrasting

The GAO and the OIGs are both watchdogs, but they do slightly different things and do them in different ways. Further, their work can complement each other.

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Conclusion

No matter where one sits on the ideological spectrum, it’s important to stop waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. The GAO and Offices of Inspectors General are both key players in doing so, and one watchdog’s work often complements the other. For example, the GAO may look at waste an IG found in one agency and analyze how those findings could be generalized across government. That report can then inform the other IG to pursue that line of investigation. This reinforces a cycle of good governance.

Unfortunately, these institutions are under attack by the Trump administration. Recent attempts to slash the GAO budget and interfere with independent inspectors general are bad for governance and bad for fighting waste, fraud, and abuse. Their work may be under the radar, but the threat they face shouldn’t be. Policymakers should draw a hard line and reject efforts to defund and muzzle these watchdogs.

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Endnotes

  1. United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations, 2026 (S. Rept. 119-38).” Congress.gov, 10 July 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/senate-report/38/. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  2. United States House Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, 2026 (H. Rept. 119-178).” Congress.gov, 30 June 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/house-report/178/1. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  3. United States House Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, 2026 (H. Rept. 119-178).” Congress.gov, 30 June 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/house-report/178/1. Accessed 14 October 2025. And; Kaiser, Frederick M. “GAO: Government Accountability Office and General Accounting Office (RL30349).” Congressional Research Service, 10 September 2008, https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL30349.html. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  4. United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations, 2026 (S. Rept. 119-38).” Congress.gov, 10 July 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/senate-report/38/. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  5. U.S. Government Accountability Office. “High Risk List.” GAO.gov, https://www.gao.gov/high-risk-list. Accessed 10 October 2025. And; U.S. Government Accountability Office. “Duplication & Cost Savings.” GAO.gov, https://www.gao.gov/duplication-cost-savings. Accessed 10 October 2025.

  6. United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. “The Government Accountability Office’s 2025 High Risk List.” Oversight.house.gov, 25 February 2025, https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/the-government-accountability-offices-2025-high-risk-list/. Accessed 10 October 2025. And; United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. “Comer Announces Hearing on the 2025 GAO High-Risk List.” Oversight.house.gov, 18 February 2025, https://oversight.house.gov/release/comer-announces-hearing-on-the-2025-gao-high-risk-list/. Accessed 10 October 2025. And; United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. “Comer: GAO’s Duplication Report Offers Blueprint to Safeguard Taxpayer Dollars and Strengthen Government Efficiency.” Oversight.house.gov, 13 May 2025, https://oversight.house.gov/release/comer-gaos-duplication-report-offers-blueprint-to-safeguard-taxpayer-dollars-and-strengthen-government-efficiency/. Accessed 10 October 2025.

  7. Earmarks are also known as Congressionally Directed Spending and Community Project Funding.

    United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations, 2026 (S. Rept. 119-38).” Congress.gov, 10 July 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/senate-report/38/. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  8. Scholtes, Jennifer, Jordain Carney, and Katherine Tully-McManus. “GOP Declares War on GAO.” Politico, 27 May 2025, https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/gop-declares-war-on-gao-00369762. Accessed 10 October 2025.

  9. United States Congress. 2 U.S.C. Chapter 17B: Impoundment Control. U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel, https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title2/chapter17B&edition=prelim. Accessed 10 October 2025.

  10. House Committee on the Budget Democrats. “Impoundment Explainer.” House Committee on the Budget Democrats, https://democrats-budget.house.gov/resources/fact-sheet/impoundment-explainer. Accessed 10 October 2025.

    In 2019, Trump was technically impeached over apportionment of funds to Ukraine. Apportionment is technically different than impoundment because it refers to the slow doling out of funds rather than outright withholding.

  11. House of Representatives. “Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 4249).” Congress.gov, 30 June 2025, https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4249/text. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  12. House of Representatives. “Division E, Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2024 (Full Committee Explanatory Statement).” Docs.House.gov, 18 March 2024, https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20240318/Division%20E%20LB.pdf (see also the official Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 at Appropriations.House.gov). Accessed 14 October 2025. And; United States Congress, "Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, Public Law No: 119-4, 119th Cong. (2025)," Congress.gov, 15 March 2025, https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1968/text. Accessed 15 October 2025. And; House Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, 2026 (H. Rept. 119-178).” Congress.gov, 30 June 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/house-report/178/1. Accessed 14 October 2025. And; United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations, 2026 (S. Rept. 119-38).” Congress.gov, 10 July 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/senate-report/38/. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  13. House of Representatives. “Division E, Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2024 (Full Committee Explanatory Statement).” Docs.House.gov, 18 March 2024, https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20240318/Division%20E%20LB.pdf (see also the official Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 at Appropriations.House.gov). Accessed 14 October 2025. And; House Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, 2026 (H. Rept. 119-178).” Congress.gov, 30 June 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/house-report/178/1. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  14. Under the House appropriations bill, the total budget for GAO salaries and expenses would constitute a 45% cut. After calculating offsetting funds, House appropriators are proposing a 49% cut to direct appropriations.

    House Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, 2026 (H. Rept. 119-178).” Congress.gov, 30 June 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/house-report/178/1. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  15. Under the Senate appropriations bill, the total budget for GAO salaries and expenses would constitute a 4% cut. After calculating offsetting funds, House appropriators are proposing unchanged funding to direct appropriations.

    United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations, 2026 (S. Rept. 119-38).” Congress.gov, 10 July 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/senate-report/38/. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  16. United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations, 2026 (S. Rept. 119-38).” Congress.gov, 10 July 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/senate-report/38/. Accessed 14 October 2025. And; House Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, 2026 (H. Rept. 119-178).” Congress.gov, 30 June 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/house-report/178/1. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  17. United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations, 2026 (S. Rept. 119-38).” Congress.gov, 10 July 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/senate-report/38/. Accessed 14 October 2025. And; House Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, 2026 (H. Rept. 119-178).” Congress.gov, 30 June 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/house-report/178/1. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  18. House Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, 2026 (H. Rept. 119-178).” Congress.gov, 30 June 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/house-report/178/1. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  19. United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. “Legislative Branch Appropriations, 2026 (S. Rept. 119-38).” Congress.gov, 10 July 2025, https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/senate-report/38/. Accessed 14 October 2025.

  20. Francis, Kathryn A. “Statutory Inspectors General in the Federal Government: A Primer (CRS Report R45450).” Congressional Research Service, 13 November 2023, https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45450. Accessed 10 October 2025.

  21. Francis, Kathryn A. “Statutory Inspectors General in the Federal Government: A Primer (CRS Report R45450).” Congressional Research Service, 13 November 2023, https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45450. Accessed 10 October 2025.

  22. Francis, Kathryn A. “Statutory Inspectors General in the Federal Government: A Primer (CRS Report R45450).” Congressional Research Service, 13 November 2023, https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45450. Accessed 10 October 2025. And; Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. “Annual Report to the President and Congress for Fiscal Year 2024.” Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, https://www.oversight.gov/sites/default/files/documents/reports/2025-03/CIGIE%20Annual%20Report%20to%20the%20President%20FY2024_FINAL.pdf. Accessed 29 September 2025.

  23. Francis, Kathryn A. “Statutory Inspectors General in the Federal Government: A Primer (CRS Report R45450).” Congressional Research Service, 13 November 2023, https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45450. Accessed 15 October 2025. And; United States Congress. “Inspector General Reform Act of 2008, Public Law No: 110-409, 110th Cong. (2008).” Congress.gov, https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/928. Accessed 15 October 2025.

  24. Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, https://www.oversight.gov/sites/default/files/documents/reports/2025-03/CIGIE%20Annual%20Report%20to%20the%20President%20FY2024_FINAL.pdf. Accessed 29 September 2025. And; Francis, Kathryn A. “Statutory Inspectors General in the Federal Government: A Primer (CRS Report R45450).” Congressional Research Service, 13 November 2023, https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45450. Accessed 15 October 2025.

  25. Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, https://www.oversight.gov/sites/default/files/documents/reports/2025-03/CIGIE%20Annual%20Report%20to%20the%20President%20FY2024_FINAL.pdf. Accessed 29 September 2025.

  26. Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, https://www.oversight.gov/sites/default/files/documents/reports/2025-03/CIGIE%20Annual%20Report%20to%20the%20President%20FY2024_FINAL.pdf. Accessed 29 September 2025.

  27. Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, https://www.oversight.gov/sites/default/files/documents/reports/2025-03/CIGIE%20Annual%20Report%20to%20the%20President%20FY2024_FINAL.pdf. Accessed 29 September 2025.

  28. U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Ranking Member Gary Peters. “Undermining the Watchdogs: The 19 Independent Inspectors General Fired by President Trump Uncovered Billions in Fraud, Waste, and Abuse.” HSGAC Minority Staff, May 2025, https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/REPORT.pdf. Accessed 15 October 2025.

  29. U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Minority Staff. “Peters Unveils New Investigative Report Finding Fired Inspectors General Identified More Savings than DOGE.” HSGAC Minority Staff, 21 May 2025, https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/media/dems/peters-unveils-new-investigative-report-finding-fired-inspectors-general-identified-more-savings-than-doge/. Accessed 15 October 2025.

  30. Heckman, Jory. “Judge Finds Trump Unlawfully Fired 17 Agency IGs, but Won’t Reinstate Them.” Federal News Network, 24 September 2025, https://federalnewsnetwork.com/agency-oversight/2025/09/trump-unlawfully-fired-17-agency-igs-judge-finds-but-wont-reinstate-them/. Accessed 15 October 2025.

  31. House Committee on Appropriations Democrats. “Rebuking Late-Night Purge of Inspectors General, House Democratic Ranking Members Demand Reinstatement.” House Committee on Appropriations Democrats, 25 January 2025, https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/rebuking-late-night-purge-inspectors-general-house-democratic-ranking-members#:~:text=The%20sweeping%20purge%20violates%20the,he%20recants%20his%20unlawful%20action. Accessed 15 October 2025.

  32. House Committee on Appropriations Democrats. “At Subcommittee Markup, Democrats Highlight How Republicans Are Making Americans Less Safe.” House Committee on Appropriations Democrats, 15 July 2025, https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/subcommittee-markup-democrats-highlight-how-republicans-are-making-americans. Accessed 15 October 2025.

    House Committee on Appropriations Democrats. “FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Summary.” House Committee on Appropriations Democrats, 15 July 2025, https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/fy26-commerce%2C-justice%2C-science%2C-and-related-agencies-summary.pdf. Accessed 15 October 2025. And; House Committee on Appropriations Democrats. “House Republicans Defund Law Enforcement and Give Violent Criminals Free Pass.” House Committee on Appropriations Democrats, 12 September 2025, https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/house-republicans-defund-law-enforcement-and-give-violent-criminals-free-pass. Accessed 15 October 2025. And; House Appropriations Committee Democrats. “Trump and Vought Illegally Defund Nonpartisan Government Watchdogs.” House Appropriations Committee (Democrats), 30 Sept. 2025, democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/trump-and-vought-illegally-defund-nonpartisan-government-watchdogs. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

  33. Shane III, Leo, and Paul McLeary. “Hegseth Targets IG Investigations as Signalgate Report Looms.” Politico, 3 October 2025, https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/03/hegseth-rules-inspector-generals-00593901. Accessed 15 October 2025. And; Secretary of War. IG Oversight and Reform: Enhancing Timeliness, Transparency, and Due Process in Administrative Investigations. 30 Sept. 2025. api.army.mil, https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/2025/09/30/947d9ca3/ig-oversight-and-reform-enhancing-timeliness-transparency-and-due-process-in-administrative-investigations-osd010718-25-fod-fi.pdf. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

  34. Newhouse, Sean Michael. “Hegseth, Vought Actions Heighten Fears about Continued Inspector General Independence.” Government Executive, 2 Oct. 2025, www.govexec.com/oversight/2025/10/hegseth-vought-actions-heighten-fears-about-continued-inspector-general-independence/408554/. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025. And; Alms, Natalie. “Trump Administration Knocks Out at Least 15 Oversight Websites, Saying IGs ‘Lied to the Public’.” Nextgov, 1 Oct. 2025, www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2025/10/government-watchdog-websites-go-dark-omb-withholds-funds-ig-committee/408524/?oref=ng-author-river. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025. And; Senator Susan Collins and Senator Charles E. Grassley. Letter to the Office of Management and Budget Regarding CIGIE and PRAC Apportionment (Sept. 29, 2025). U.S. Senate, 29 Sept. 2025, www.grassley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/collins_grassley_to_omb_-_cigie_prac.pdf. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025. And; House Appropriations Committee Democrats. “Trump and Vought Illegally Defund Nonpartisan Government Watchdogs.” House Appropriations Committee (Democrats), 30 Sept. 2025, democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/trump-and-vought-illegally-defund-nonpartisan-government-watchdogs. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

  35. Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, https://www.oversight.gov/sites/default/files/documents/reports/2025-03/CIGIE%20Annual%20Report%20to%20the%20President%20FY2024_FINAL.pdf. Accessed 29 September 2025.

  36. The Department of Defense OIG, the largest office by budget size, saw an increase from $529 million in FY 2024 to $540 million in FY 2025 due to anomalies written into the full-year CR in March.

    House of Representatives. “Division A, Defense Appropriations Act, 2024 (Full Committee Explanatory Statement).” Docs.House.gov, 18 March 2024, https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20240318/Division%20A%20Defense.PDF (see also the official Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 at Appropriations.House.gov). Accessed 15 October 2025. And; United States Congress, "Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, Public Law No: 119-4, 119th Cong. (2025)," Congress.gov, 15 March 2025, https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1968/text. Accessed 15 October 2025.

  37. United States House of Representatives. House Report 119-162: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026. 119th Cong., 1st sess., 16 June 2025. Congress.gov, www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/house-report/162/1. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.  And; United States Senate. Committee Report 119-52: Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 2026. 119th Cong., 1st sess., 31 July 2025. Congress.gov, www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/senate-report/52/1. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

  38. House Committee on Appropriations Democrats. “At Subcommittee Markup, Democrats Highlight How Republicans Are Making Americans Less Safe.” House Committee on Appropriations Democrats, 15 July 2025, https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/subcommittee-markup-democrats-highlight-how-republicans-are-making-americans. Accessed 15 October 2025. And; House Committee on Appropriations Democrats. “FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Summary.” House Committee on Appropriations Democrats, 15 July 2025, https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/fy26-commerce%2C-justice%2C-science%2C-and-related-agencies-summary.pdf. Accessed 15 October 2025. And; House Committee on Appropriations Democrats. “House Republicans Defund Law Enforcement and Give Violent Criminals Free Pass.” House Committee on Appropriations Democrats, 12 September 2025, https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/house-republicans-defund-law-enforcement-and-give-violent-criminals-free-pass. Accessed 15 October 2025.

  39. Bipartisan Policy Center. “Oversight Matters: What’s Next for Inspectors General.” Bipartisan Policy Center, 9 July 2018, https://bipartisanpolicy.org/download/?file=/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Oversight-Matters-Whats-Next-for-Inspectors-General.pdf. Accessed 15 October 2025.

  40. Partnership for Public Service. “Five Ways Congress Can Strengthen the Independence of Inspectors General.” Our Public Service, 28 April 2020, https://ourpublicservice.org/blog/five-ways-congress-can-strengthen-the-independence-of-inspectors-general/. Accessed 15 October 2025.

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Annie Shuppy
Senior Fellow
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Zach Moller
Director of the Economic Program