The federal government’s 63 inspectors general identified $43.3 billion in potential savings in 2009. A report from the Government Accountability Office calculated that would be a return of $18 for every dollar the government watchdogs spent if all the savings were enacted,
The Washington Post’s blog the Federal Eye reported.
The 30 presidentially appointed inspectors general, joined by another 33 watchdogs at independent and smaller agencies, employ more than 13,600 auditors and investigators. The group tracks waste and fraud and most recently is responsible for reports uncovering such things as illegal cellphones in prisons, benefits checks sent to the dead, and Justice Department conferences with $16 muffins, the Post reported.
The GAO report also found that, in 2009, the inspectors general reported 6,100 indictments, 4,400 suspensions and debarments, took 5,900 criminal actions and 1,100 civil actions. The group is also tracking stimulus money.
The inspectors general have opened more than 1,500 stimulus-related investigations, according to the GAO report.
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