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July 10, 2015

Ranking Member Johnson Statement on GAO Report on Commerce Office of Inspector General

(Washington, DC) – In a new report on the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that the Commerce OIG augment its performance audits of the agency’s smaller bureaus and offices, monitor the internal control activities of its Hotline operations and develop an action plan to address the poor employee morale and employee concerns. See the full report here. See a Democratic Committee staff summary of the GAO report here.

The report, “INSPECTORS GENERAL: Additional Efforts Needed by the Department of Commerce OIG to Address Audit Coverage, Hotline Operations, and Employee Concerns,” was requested by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space & Technology, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment, as well as the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Committee on Energy & Commerce, Congressman Fred Upton and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. and its Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations, Congressman Tim Murphy and Congresswoman Diana DeGette.

Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said:  “While I am glad GAO finally completed its report on the Commerce IG’s office, which I asked for more than two years ago, I believe some of the issues they have identified have been overtaken by events with the abrupt retirement of the Commerce IG Todd Zinser on June 3rd.  As I detailed in public remarks I made in March, Mr. Zinser had been engaged in gross mismanagement of his office and personal misconduct of his position for many years.  With Mr. Zinser’s departure I am now hopeful that the Commerce IG’s office has finally rid itself of one of its greatest obstacles to increasing its effectiveness, efficiency and aggressive oversight of the Department of Commerce.  I hope that the new leadership in the Commerce OIG can use the GAO report to help guide them in rebuilding that office and establishing a solid ethical foundation that is critical for its future success.”