Finally, a key position at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) may soon be filled. The Associated Press reported this morning that President Obama has nominated David B. Buckley, a veteran investigator who is currently a senior manager for Deloitte Consulting, to serve as the agency's inspector general (IG).
The CIA has been operating without a permanent IG since March 2009. That's far too long for any agency, but it's a particularly troubling absence for an agency that continues to remain insulated from other key oversight mechanisms.
Several other IG offices in the federal government still await permanent leadership. As of today, 11 IG offices
are sailing along with acting IGs or deputy IGs at the helm, including the State Department IG office, which has not had a chief watchdog since early 2008.
Hopefully the Buckley nomination signals a renewed focus by the Administration on filling these key positions, which as Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) reminds us, is an essential step in the fight against fraud, waste, and abuse:
The intent of the IG Act was to create "independent and objective" investigatory offices. When these positions are vacant for extended periods of time, the intent of Congress is compromised because temporary leadership is neither adequately independent nor well-positioned to make long-term decisions. With billions of dollars at stake, every OIG must be capable of taking decisive action to protect taxpayer dollars under the guidance of an independent and well-qualified leader.
-- Bryan Rahija
Dave Buckley is a great politician and an even better car salesman, knows absolutely nothing about actually doing an investigation. He will fit perfect in this administration.
Posted by: Dee Russell | Aug 08, 2010 at 11:42 PM