'Purge' of Inspectors General Raises Concerns About Political Interference

WASHINGTON -- The government's top watchdogs are quickly becoming all bark and no bite, say critics who call the recent Jaeger LeCoultre Watches"purge" of inspectors general a warningPatek Philippe Watches about limited transparency in the Obama administration. "The mounting evidence that there might beVacheron Constantin Watches political interference with the IGs is disturbing," said Pete Sepp, vice president for policy and communications at the National Taxpayers Union. "The IGs are being Watches Breitling Watchesemasculated."

"When inspectors general across the Cartier Watchesadministration have roadblocks placed in their way, American taxpayers should worry. A threat to one's independence is a threat to themChopard Watches all," said Rep.

Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas. Inspectors general serve as the IWC Watchesprimary investigator and auditor at federal agencies. They have statutory powers to investigate internal fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement as well as conduct oversight of the recipients of funds and contractors who work with the individual agencies. Fewer than half of the 69 inspectors1400 Watches general are hired and fired by the president of the United States.

The rest are appointed by agency officials. A handful of inspectors general are 1500looking for work this summer after being dismissed following the issuance of critical reports about the agencies they monitor. Among the recent firings are: --Gerald Walpin, who was fired in June as1900 Watches IG for the Corporation for National and Community Service, which runs the Americorps program. He was one of 30 IGs3900 Watches appointed by former President George W. Bush. Walpin was responsible3905 Watches for a major investigation into the misuse of federal grant funds by St.HOPE Academy, a non-profit founded and run by former NBA star and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a 5500 Watchessupporter of President Obama.

Critics say Walpin's firing was politically motivated, while the White House has 5505 Watchesissued documents suggesting he was unfit for the6100 Watches position. -- Fred Weiderhold Jr., who announced his6800 Watches retirement in June as inspector general at8505 Watches Amtrak, about the same time he handed Congress a 94-page report claiming that Amtrak lawyers had frequently tried to stymie his investigations8600 Watches by redacting and withholding documents and preventing interviews with Amtrak employees.

Amtrak officials say Weiderhold's retirement arrangements came before, not after8605 Watches his damning report. Nonetheless, the top Democratic and Republican members of the House Oversight and Government ReformOther Watches Committee are investigating.

--Judith Gwynne, who was acting IG at the International 8905 WatchesTrade Commission, and was fired this month, coincidentally after Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, known as the patron saint of IGs, wrote her boss, ITC Chairwoman Shara Aranoff, a Bush appointee, about potential agency obstruction in Gwynne's investigation into contractor activities.

Gwynne had accused commission officials of forcibly removing from her hands procurement files essential to her investigation. An AtmosITC spokeswoman told FOXNews.com that the commission has responded formally to Grassley, but will not Other Watchescomment further on Gwynne, a career employee who was appointed by agency officials in 2008.

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