119-hr2181

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2181 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 2181

 To amend chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code, to establish a for-
 cause removal standard for Inspectors General, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 March 18, 2025

 Mr. Connolly (for himself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, 
 Mr. Khanna, Mr. Mfume, Ms. Brown, Ms. Stansbury, Mr. Garcia of 
 California, Mr. Frost, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Mr. Casar, Ms. 
 Crockett, Ms. Randall, Mr. Subramanyam, Ms. Ansari, Mr. Bell, Ms. 
 Simon, Mr. Min, Ms. Pressley, and Ms. Tlaib) introduced the following 
 bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
 Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code, to establish a for-
 cause removal standard for Inspectors General, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Protect Our Watchdogs Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. FOR CAUSE REMOVAL STANDARD FOR INSPECTORS GENERAL.

 Chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in 

section 403

    (b) --
        (A) by striking ``

    (b) Removal or Transfer.--'' and 
 inserting:
 ``

    (b) Removal or Transfer.--
 ``

    (1)
        (A) An'';
        (B) in subparagraph
        (A) , as so designated, by 
 inserting after ``by the President'' the following: 
 ``in accordance with paragraph

    (3) ''; and
            (C) by inserting at the end the following:
 ``

    (3) The President may remove an Inspector General only 
 for any of the following grounds (and the documentation of any 
 such ground shall be included in the communication required 
 pursuant to paragraph

    (1) ):
 ``
        (A) Documented permanent incapacity.
 ``
        (B) Documented neglect of duty.
 ``
            (C) Documented malfeasance.
 ``
            (D) Documented conviction of a felony or conduct 
 involving moral turpitude.
 ``
        (E) Documented knowing violation of a law or 
 regulation.
 ``
        (F) Documented gross mismanagement.
 ``
        (G) Documented gross waste of funds.
 ``
        (H) Documented abuse of authority.
 ``
            (I) Documented inefficiency.''; and

    (2) in 

section 415

    (e)

    (2) --
        (A) by striking ``Transferred.--If'' and inserting 
 the following: ``Transferred.--
 ``
        (A) If''; and
        (B) in subparagraph
        (A) , as so designated, by 
 adding at the end the following: ``An Inspector General 
 may be removed only for any of the following grounds 
 (and the documentation of any such ground shall be 
 included in the communication required pursuant to this 
 paragraph):
 ``
            (i) Documented permanent incapacity.
 ``
            (ii) Documented neglect of duty.
 ``
            (iii) Documented malfeasance.
 ``
            (iv) Documented conviction of a felony or 
 conduct involving moral turpitude.
 ``
            (v) Documented knowing violation of a law 
 or regulation.
 ``
            (vi) Documented gross mismanagement.
 ``
            (vii) Documented gross waste of funds.
 ``
            (viii) Documented abuse of authority.
 ``
            (ix) Documented inefficiency.''.
 <all>