119 HR 2181 IH: Protect Our Watchdogs Act of 2025 U.S. House of Representatives 2025-03-18 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 2181IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 18, 2025Mr. 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 ReformA BILLTo amend chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code, to establish a for-cause removal standard for Inspectors General, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

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

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..