Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed Congressman Jimmy Gomez’s (CA-34) bill, H.R. 2089, the IG Subpoena Authority Act. This legislation, which grants Inspectors General (IGs) testimonial subpoena authority, passed as a provision in H.R. 2662, the IG Independence and Empowerment Act – introduced by House Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12). Prior to final passage, Congressman Gomez spoke in support of his legislation on the House floor:

“The previous administration left no doubt as to why we need these urgent reforms for inspectors general,” said Congressman Gomez, Vice Chair of the Oversight Committee. “This legislation grants inspectors general the authority to subpoena testimony from witnesses outside of their agency, prohibiting federal contractors and former employees from obstructing investigations. The current absence of such authority has led to incidents like former Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ refusal to testify for his agency’s investigation into the Trump administration’s child separation policy. This bill is critical to strengthening integrity and maintaining accountability in our federal agencies, and I strongly encourage my colleagues – especially House Republicans who have supported these reforms in the past – to pass this important legislative package.”

In addition to granting testimonial subpoena authority, the IG Subpoena Authority Act creates an IG subpoena panel to safeguard the use of testimonial subpoenas on current federal employees. This legislation will ensure IGs can do their jobs with all the tools needed to conduct thorough investigations and without fear or political retaliation.

To learn more about this legislation and to read the text of the bill, please click here.