Calls For Making State Department More Effective, Transparent, & Accountable
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) today led the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development’s first hearing on the operational effectiveness of the State Department. The Inspector General for the U.S. State Department and Broadcasting Board of Governors, Steve Linick, testified about the Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) efforts, initiatives, and challenges in performing adequate oversight.
“Georgians sent me to Washington to make the federal government more effective, transparent, and accountable. Today’s hearing is part of our Congressional oversight authority. It is my hope that this first hearing and the bipartisan work of this subcommittee will help uncover ways we can improve and streamline oversight at the State Department in order to support the men and women who serve our country here at home and around the world.
“The Office of the Inspector General was designed to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, and has laudably found ways to save taxpayers millions of dollars. However, they do not have autonomy or independence to conduct adequate oversight. Given the important mission of the State Department, it’s outrageous that Mr. Linick and his team are not given full authority to hold a department of 72,000 employees accountable. As chairman of this subcommittee, my goal is to improve the overall operational effectiveness of the State Department and provide greater transparency and accountability for the American people.”
In January, Senator Perdue was named Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee which oversees the budget and operations of the State Department and USAID.
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