This Act ensures that Inspectors General can continue to fund and operate their offices during a lapse in government appropriations to maintain oversight.
Gerald Connolly
Representative
VA-11
The Keep the Watchdogs Running Act ensures that Inspectors General (IGs) can continue essential oversight functions even during a lapse in government appropriations. This legislation allows IGs to use existing funding levels to maintain operations and monitor any government activities that remain active despite a budget shortfall. Essentially, it prevents critical watchdog functions from being halted when Congress fails to pass a new budget.
New 'Watchdogs Running Act' Ensures Government Fraud Investigators Stay on the Job During Shutdowns
When Congress hits an impasse and the government shuts down—a scenario that feels like an annual tradition—critical oversight often grinds to a halt. The Keep the Watchdogs Running Act steps in to fix this problem, ensuring that the government’s internal affairs units, the Inspectors General (IGs), can stay operational and keep an eye on things, even when the budget clock stops.
The Shutdown Loophole Fix
This bill targets a specific vulnerability: the moment a "lapse in appropriations" (the technical term for a shutdown) occurs. Normally, most government agencies immediately stop spending money and send non-essential staff home. But what about the programs that do keep running, like essential services or entitlement programs? This bill says that IGs—the folks tasked with preventing waste, fraud, and abuse—can keep their lights on. Specifically, Section 2 allows an IG office to continue spending at the same levels and under the same rules as the last budget Congress actually passed.
Why This Matters for Your Tax Dollars
Think of the IG as the internal auditor and police force for government agencies. If the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is still operating clinics during a shutdown, or if the Social Security Administration is still processing checks, the potential for fraud or mismanagement doesn't magically disappear. If the IG staff is furloughed, there’s nobody watching the store. This bill ensures that oversight continues without interruption. For example, if a large federal contract is still being administered, the IG can continue monitoring it, preventing a contractor from taking advantage of the temporary lack of scrutiny to cut corners or misuse funds.
Keeping the Pressure On
This is a straightforward piece of legislation designed to maintain accountability during political turbulence. It’s not about giving IGs a blank check; it simply allows them to use the funding and rules they were already operating under before the shutdown. This means the anti-fraud efforts that protect taxpayer money—whether it’s investigating Medicare fraud or rooting out waste in defense spending—don't lose momentum just because Congress couldn't agree on a spending plan. It’s a smart, procedural fix that ensures the internal checks and balances of government remain functional when they are arguably needed most.