U.S. Inspectors General

Charles Johnson is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Dean Emeritus of Liberal Arts at Texas A&M University.Kathryn Newcomer is a Professor at the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at George Washington University.

• Contents:ForewordPrefaceAcknowledgments1. Searching for Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Mismanagement2. The Emergence of Independent Overseers of Federal Funds and Bureaucracy3. Appointments, Career Tracks, and Controversies4. Conducting the Work5. Independence and Engagement with Agencies and Congress6. Making a Difference7. Looking ForwardAppendix A: Discussion Guides for Interviews in Six Case StudiesAppendix B: Survey for Inspectors General and Officials in the Offices of Inspectors GeneralWorks CitedNotesIndex

It's one thing to wage war on waste. But this book builds on that foundation the critical step: using that information to improve the way the federal government is managed. This is an enormously important contribution that deserves to be widely read by anyone who cares about how government works."- Donald F. Kettl, professor and academic director, LBJ Washington Center, The University of Texas at Austin;"This fast, accessible book is essential reading for understanding the role of the federal inspectors general in policing and improving government today. The IGs are, indeed, truth-tellers, but telling the truth is increasingly difficult in our desperate times. Johnson and Newcomer provide essential recommendations for making sure the IGs can succeed in their often contested work. Congress should convert this book into legislation as soon as possible to make sure the IGs have the resources and protection they need. The nation's future may depend on doing so."- Paul C. Light, Paulette Goddard Professor of Public Service, Robert Wagner School of Public Service, New York University