The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times both have stories today on what the LA Times’ Greg Miller describes as CIA Director Michael Hayden’s “highly unusual challenge” to the CIA’s own internal watchdog. As he writes:
The move has prompted concerns that Hayden is seeking to rein in an inspector general who has used the office to bring harsh scrutiny of CIA figures including former Director George J. Tenet and undercover operatives running secret overseas prison sites.
More broadly, it is worth considering this in the context of this Administration’s approach toward the people who are supposed to be policing its government* agencies. Little noticed back in the days before the Democrats took control of Congress was this 2004 report on what California Congressman Henry Waxman described as the politicization of inspectors general. Among the trends that Waxman found:
Connections to White House: Over one-third of the IGs appointed by President Bush worked in Republican White Houses prior to their appointments as IGs. In contrast, President Clinton appointed no IGs who had worked in any Democratic White House prior to their appointments.
Other Political Connections: In total, 64% of the IGs appointed by President Bush held some sort of political position, such as a political appointment in a Republican administration or a position with a Republican member of Congress, before their appointments as IGs. Only 22% of the IGs appointed by President Clinton had worked in political positions before their appointments.
Political Campaign Contributions: Over half of the IGs appointed by President Bush had made contributions to his campaign or other Republican candidates. In comparison, only 25% of the IGs appointed by President Clinton had made any federal campaign contributions.
Substantive Audit Experience: Only 18% of the IGs appointed by President Bush had previous audit experience, such as experience in an IG’s office, at the Government Accountability Office, or at a private accounting firm. In contrast, 66% of IGs appointed by President Clinton had audit experience prior to their appointments.
Waxman, of course, is now the chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. I suspect we may be hearing more from him on this subject.
*Thanks, commenter Patroclus, for that reminder.