The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: What Does the Inspector General Do?
7 snips
Dec 10, 2024 
Glenn Fine, former principal deputy Inspector General of the Department of Defense and author of "Watchdogs," shares his insights on the pivotal role of inspectors general in promoting government accountability. He discusses their responsibilities in detecting waste and fraud, shares personal anecdotes from his time in the DOJ and DOD, and highlights recent reforms designed to enhance oversight. Fine also articulates the challenges IGs face, including political pressure and the need for greater independence to ensure transparency and integrity in governance.
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Hanssen Case
- The Robert Hanssen spy case revealed FBI internal security failures, highlighting Hanssen's reckless behavior and the FBI's misplaced trust.
- Fine's investigation led to crucial security reforms within the FBI.
Ensuring Implementation
- Inspectors General must be tenacious in following up on their recommendations to ensure agencies implement them.
- Congressional hearings and public reports can create urgency for agency action.
Leading DOD IG
- After leaving DOJ, Fine became the Acting Inspector General of the Department of Defense, a significantly larger organization with a global focus.
- This role involved overseeing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and managing a much larger staff.
