A bi-partisan group of Senate and House members has delivered a strong endorsement for the efficacy of Inspectors General at federal agencies while specifically asking for the appointment of a TARP Inspector General and for other IG vacancies to be filled. In a letter to the President, the group said that the investigations and reports of IGs help Congress shape legislation and oversight activities. The letter was signed by Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and Representatives Darrell Issa (R-CA), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and John Tierney (D-MA).
In 1978, Congress established the Inspectors General as powerful and independent offices with the responsibility to promote the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of federal departments and agencies. The IGs also play a pivotal role in improving government performance and providing transparency into federal programs. In 2007, the latest year for which complete data is available, the IGs closed 33,740 investigations into federal agency matters.