Federal watchdogs who guard against fraud foresee plenty of work to keep them busy next year: from more than 100 investigations related to the coronavirus pandemic to new probes over misuse of some of the nearly $2.5 trillion in stimulus money.
The federal government’s 75 inspectors general, as they’re known, are reeling from chaos in the Trump era, including firings and pressure campaigns from the White House and its allies. In response, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency is asking lawmakers for greater job protections in the year ahead.
“Our job, we know, has never been more important, more significant or more challenging than it is right now,” said Michael Horowitz, the inspector general at the Justice Department, who also leads a government-wide group related to pandemic oversight.
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