5 U.S.C. § 415

(a) Definitions .— Notwithstanding section 401 of this title , in this section: (1) Designated federal entity.— (A) In general .— The term “designated Federal entity” means Amtrak, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Denali Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Election Commission, the Election Assistance Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the Federal Maritime Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Legal Services Corporation, the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Credit Union Administration, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Labor Relations Board, the National Science Foundation, the Peace Corps, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Smithsonian Institution, the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the United States International Trade Commission, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and the United States Postal Service. (B) Amtrak .— Effective at the beginning of the first fiscal year after a fiscal year for which Amtrak receives no Federal subsidy, subparagraph (A) is amended by striking “Amtrak,”. (2) Federal entity .— The term “Federal entity” means any Government corporation (within the meaning of section 103(1) of this title ), any Government controlled corporation (within the meaning of section 103(2) of this title ), or any other entity in the executive branch of the Government, or any independent regulatory agency, but does not include— (A) an establishment (as defined under section 401 of this title ) or part of an establishment; (B) a designated Federal entity (as defined under paragraph (1) of this subsection) or part of a designated Federal entity; (C) the Executive Office of the President; (D) the Central Intelligence Agency; (E) the Government Accountability Office; or (F) any entity in the judicial or legislative branches of the Government, including the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the Architect of the Capitol and any activities under the direction of the Architect of the Capitol. (3) Head of the designated federal entity .— The term “head of the designated Federal entity” means the board or commission of the designated Federal entity, or in the event the designated Federal entity does not have a board or commission, any person or persons designated by statute as the head of a designated Federal entity and if no such designation exists, the chief policymaking officer or board of a designated Federal entity as identified in the list published pursuant to subsection (h)(1) of this section, except that— (A) with respect to the National Science Foundation, such term means the National Science Board; (B) with respect to the United States Postal Service, such term means the Governors (within the meaning of section 102(3) of title 39 ); (C) with respect to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, such term means the members of the Authority (described under section 7104 of this title ); (D) with respect to the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, such term means the Chairman of the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled; (E) with respect to the National Archives and Records Administration, such term means the Archivist of the United States; (F) with respect to the National Credit Union Administration, such term means the National Credit Union Administration Board (described under section 102 of the Federal Credit Union Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1752a )); (G) with respect to the National Endowment of the Arts, such term means the National Council on the Arts; (H) with respect to the National Endowment for the Humanities, such term means the National Council on the Humanities; (I) with respect to the Peace Corps, such term means the Director of the Peace Corps; and (J) with respect to the United States International Development Finance Corporation, such term means the Board of Directors of the United States International Development Finance Corporation. (4) Head of the federal entity .— The term “head of the Federal entity” means any person or persons designated by statute as the head of a Federal entity, and if no such designation exists, the chief policymaking officer or board of a Federal entity as identified in the list published pursuant to subsection (h)(1) of this section. (5) Inspector general .— The term “Inspector General” means an Inspector General of a designated Federal entity. (6) Office of inspector general .— The term “Office of Inspector General” means an Office of Inspector General of a designated Federal entity. (b) Office of Inspector General in Each Designated Federal Entity .— Not later than 180 days after October 18, 1988 , there shall be established and maintained in each designated Federal entity an Office of Inspector General. The head of the designated Federal entity shall transfer to such office the offices, units, or other components, and the functions, powers, or duties thereof, that such head determines are properly related to the functions of the Office of Inspector General and would, if so transferred, further the purposes of this section. There shall not be transferred to such office any program operating responsibilities. (c) Appointment of Inspector General .— Except as provided under subsection (f) of this section, the Inspector General shall be appointed by the head of the designated Federal entity in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations governing appointments within the designated Federal entity. Each Inspector General shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations. For purposes of implementing this section, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall appoint the Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. The Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection shall have all of the authorities and responsibilities provided by this Act with respect to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, as if the Bureau were part of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. (d) Supervision.— (1) In general .— Each Inspector General shall report to and be under the general supervision of the head of the designated Federal entity, but shall not report to, or be subject to supervision by, any other officer or employee of such designated Federal entity. Except as provided in paragraph (2), the head of the designated Federal entity shall not prevent or prohibit the Inspector General from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation, or from issuing any subpoena during the course of any audit or investigation. (2) Exception relating to intelligence community.— (A) In general .— The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, may prohibit the inspector general of an element of the intelligence community specified in subparagraph (D) from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation, or from accessing information available to an element of the intelligence community specified in subparagraph (D), if the Secretary determines that the prohibition is necessary to protect vital national security interests of the United States. (B) Statement of reasons for exercise of authority .— If the Secretary exercises the authority under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall submit to the committees of Congress specified in subparagraph (E) an appropriately classified statement of the reasons for the exercise of such authority not later than 7 days after the exercise of such authority. (C) Notification to inspector general .— At the same time the Secretary submits under subparagraph (B) a statement on the exercise of the authority in subparagraph (A) to the committees of Congress specified in subparagraph (E), the Secretary shall notify the inspector general of such element of the submittal of such statement and, to the extent consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods, provide such inspector general with a copy of such statement. Such inspector general may submit to such committees of Congress any comments on a notice or statement received by the inspector general under this subparagraph that the inspector general considers appropriate. (D) Elements of the intelligence community .— The elements of the intelligence community specified in this subparagraph are as follows: (i) The Defense Intelligence Agency. (ii) The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. (iii) The National Reconnaissance Office. (iv) The National Security Agency. (E) Committees of congress .— The committees of Congress specified in this subparagraph are— (i) the Committee on Armed Services and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and (ii) the Committee on Armed Services and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. (e) Removal.— (1) Board, chairman of committee, or commission is head of designated federal entity .— In the case of a designated Federal entity for which a board, chairman of a committee, or commission is the head of the designated Federal entity, a removal under this subsection may only be made upon the written concurrence of a ⅔ majority of the board, committee, or commission. (2) Inspector general removed or transferred .— If an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within a designated Federal entity, the head of the designated Federal entity shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a personnel action otherwise authorized by law, other than transfer or removal. (f) United States Postal Service.— (1) Appointment .— For purposes of carrying out subsection (c) with respect to the United States Postal Service, the appointment provisions of section 202(e) of title 39 shall be applied. (2) Oversight responsibility of inspector general for activities of postal inspection service .— In carrying out the duties and responsibilities specified in this chapter, the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the “Inspector General”) shall have oversight responsibility for all activities of the Postal Inspection Service, including any internal investigation performed by the Postal Inspection Service. The Chief Postal Inspector shall promptly report the significant activities being carried out by the Postal Inspection Service to such Inspector General. (3) Audits and investigations.— (A) Authority, direction, and control of governors.— (i) Access to sensitive information .— Notwithstanding subsection (d), the Inspector General shall be under the authority, direction, and control of the Governors with respect to audits or investigations, or the issuance of subpoenas, which require access to sensitive information concerning— (I) ongoing civil or criminal investigations or proceedings; (II) undercover operations; (III) the identity of confidential sources, including protected witnesses; (IV) intelligence or counterintelligence matters; or (V) other matters the disclosure of which would constitute a serious threat to national security. (ii) Authority to prohibit inspector general from carrying out or completing audit or investigation .— With respect to the information described under clause (i), the Governors may prohibit the Inspector General from carrying out or completing any audit or investigation, or from issuing any subpoena, after such Inspector General has decided to initiate, carry out, or complete such audit or investigation or to issue such subpoena, if the Governors determine that such prohibition is necessary to prevent the disclosure of any information described under clause (i) or to prevent significant impairment to the national interests of the United States. (iii) Notification of reasons for exercise of power .— If the Governors exercise any power under clause (i) or (ii), the Governors shall notify the Inspector General in writing, stating the reasons for such exercise. Within 30 days after receipt of any such notice, the Inspector General shall transmit a copy of such notice to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives, and to other appropriate committees or subcommittees of the Congress. (B) Initiating, conducting, and supervising audits and investigations .— In carrying out the duties and responsibilities specified in this chapter, the Inspector General— (i) may initiate, conduct, and supervise such audits and investigations in the United States Postal Service as the Inspector General considers appropriate; and (ii) shall give particular regard to the activities of the Postal Inspection Service with a view toward avoiding duplication and ensuring effective coordination and cooperation. (C) Reporting serious problems, abuses, or deficiencies .— Any report required to be transmitted by the Governors to the appropriate committees or subcommittees of the Congress under section 405(e) of this title shall also be transmitted, within the 7-day period specified under such section, to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives. (4) Limitation .— Nothing in this chapter shall restrict, eliminate, or otherwise adversely affect any of the rights, privileges, or benefits of either employees of the United States Postal Service, or labor organizations representing employees of the United States Postal Service, under chapter 12 of title 39, the National Labor Relations Act, any handbook or manual affecting employee labor relations with the United States Postal Service, or any collective bargaining agreement. (5) Definition of governors .— In this subsection, the term “Governors” has the meaning given the term by section 102(3) of title 39 . (6) Authorization of appropriations .— There are authorized to be appropriated, out of the Postal Service Fund, such sums as may be necessary for the Office of Inspector General of the United States Postal Service. (g) Special Application.— (1) Sections 404, 405, 406, and 407 .— Sections 404, 405, 406 (other than paragraphs (7) and (8) of section 406(a)), and 407 of this title shall apply to each Inspector General and Office of Inspector General of a designated Federal entity, and such sections shall be applied to each designated Federal entity and head of the designated Federal entity (as defined under subsection (a)) by substituting— (A) “designated Federal entity” for “establishment”; and (B) “head of the designated Federal entity” for “head of the establishment”. (2) Personnel .— In addition to the other authorities specified in this chapter, an Inspector General is authorized to select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees as may be necessary for carrying out the functions, powers, and duties of the Office of Inspector General and to obtain the temporary or intermittent services of experts or consultants or an organization of experts or consultants, subject to the applicable laws and regulations that govern such selections, appointments, and employment, and the obtaining of such services, within the designated Federal entity. (3) Application of section 412(a).— Notwithstanding the last sentence of subsection (d)(1) of this section, the provisions of subsection (a) of section 412 of this title (other than the provisions of subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (E) of subsection (a)(1) of section 412 of this title ) shall apply to the Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in the same manner as such provisions apply to the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury and the Secretary of the Treasury, respectively. (4) Counsel .— Each Inspector General shall— (A) in accordance with applicable laws and regulations governing appointments within the designated Federal entity, appoint a Counsel to the Inspector General who shall report to the Inspector General; (B) obtain the services of a counsel appointed by and directly reporting to another Inspector General on a reimbursable basis; or (C) obtain the services of appropriate staff of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency on a reimbursable basis. (h) Annual Listing and Report.— (1) Listing .— Each year, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, after consultation with the Comptroller General of the United States, shall publish in the Federal Register a list of the Federal entities and designated Federal entities and if the designated Federal entity is not a board or commission, include the head of each such entity (as defined under subsection (a)). (2) Report .— On October 31 of each year, the head of each Federal entity (as defined under subsection (a)) shall prepare and transmit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and to each House of the Congress a report that— (A) states whether there has been established in the Federal entity an office that meets the requirements of this section; (B) specifies the actions taken by the Federal entity otherwise to ensure that audits are conducted of its programs and operations in accordance with the standards for audit of governmental organizations, programs, activities, and functions issued by the Comptroller General of the United States, and includes a list of each audit report completed by a Federal or non-Federal auditor during the reporting period and a summary of any particularly significant findings; and (C) summarizes any matters relating to the personnel, programs, and operations of the Federal entity referred to prosecutive authorities, including a summary description of any preliminary investigation conducted by or at the request of the Federal entity concerning these matters, and the prosecutions and convictions which have resulted.