44 U.S.C. § 3902 — Appointment of Inspector General; supervision; removal; pay; limits on bonuses; counsel

(a) The Office of Inspector General must be headed by an Inspector General appointed by the Director of the Government Publishing Office without regard to political affiliation and solely for integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations. The Inspector General reports to and is generally supervised by the Director, but the Director may not stop or forbid the Inspector General from starting, conducting, or finishing an audit or investigation or issuing a subpoena during one.

(b)(1) The Director may remove the Inspector General or transfer the Inspector General to another position within, or another location of, the Government Publishing Office. (2) At least 30 days before removing or transferring the Inspector General, the Director must give the reasons in writing to the specified House and Senate administration and appropriations committees. (3) Other personnel actions allowed by law are not barred.

(c)(1) The position is a senior-level position and its basic pay must be at least the annual average basic pay of the Office’s other senior-level employees. (2) The Director must set the Inspector General’s annual pay increase at the average annual increase given to those other senior-level employees, consistent with this title. (d) The Inspector General may not receive a cash award or bonus, including one under chapter 45 of title 5. (e) Under the applicable employment laws and rules governing selections, appointments, and employment at the Government Publishing Office, the Inspector General must obtain legal advice from counsel reporting directly to the Inspector General or from another Inspector General.