Criticized by Republicans for delaying nominations of government watchdogs, President Obama has announced plans to nominate a permanent inspector general at the Interior Department — albeit a candidate who’s already run afoul of the GOP.
Mr. Obama said he will nominate Mary Kendall, currently the deputy inspector general at Interior, as the permanent inspector general.
Her nomination comes two days after Republican senators blasted the White House in a hearing for being slow to install permanent IGs in a variety of federal agencies. And House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, California Republican, and other House GOP leaders wrote to Mr. Obama this week, seeking a nomination for a permanent IG at Interior.
But Republicans already have expressed disappointment with Ms. Kendall’s job as acting IG, saying her her tenure has been marred by “significant congressional oversight and controversy.”
Seven federal agencies lack a permanent inspector general. The Project on Government Oversight said the administration’s average time for filling IG vacancies is 613 days, twice that of previous administrations.
Under President Clinton, the gap was 453 days, and it fell to 280 days under President George W. Bush. By law, the posts should be vacant for no more than 210 days.
SEE ALSO: White House slammed for slew of Inspector Generals vacancies
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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