S. 2178Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed Senate

Inspector General Recommendation Transparency Act of 2018

Introduced November 30, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 7:24 PM UTC

The Inspector General Recommendation Transparency Act of 2018 updates the Inspector General Act to make open IG recommendations publicly visible. It obligates agencies to detail each unresolved recommendation in their semi‑annual reports and to post those reports in a searchable online database managed by the Council of Inspectors General. The law applies to all federal establishments that have an Inspector General, aiming to improve accountability and public oversight of corrective actions.

Key Provisions

  • Amends the Inspector General Act to require each Inspector General’s semi‑annual report to list the total number of open recommendations and provide details for each, including title, number, description, date issued, any cost‑saving estimate, and other progress information.
  • Creates a definition of “open recommendation” as a publicly issued IG recommendation that has not been corrected within one year and is not otherwise closed.
  • Directs the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) to set up a publicly accessible, searchable online database of these open recommendations within 18 months of the first required semi‑annual report.
  • Requires each Inspector General (or designated federal entity) to submit their semi‑annual report to CIGIE for posting on a centralized website within 30 days after the report is issued.

Legislative Activity

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8 earlier actions
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

May 25, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

November 30, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

November 30, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

February 14, 2018

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 115-245.

May 10, 2018

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 409.

May 10, 2018

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2885; text: CR S2885)

May 23, 2018

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

May 24, 2018

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

May 25, 2018 • 10:02 AM

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

May 25, 2018

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 2178 on the floor

1 Republican
Mitch McConnell
Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY · May 23, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 409, S. 2178. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be…

Bill Text

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Referred in HouseIssued May 25, 2018

IC

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2178

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 25, 2018

Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

AN ACT

To require the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to make open recommendations of Inspectors General publicly available, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Inspector General Recommendation Transparency Act of 2018.

2.

Inspector General open recommendations

(a)

In general

The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended—

(1)

in section 5—

(A)

in subsection (a)—

(i)

in paragraph (2), by inserting the total number and before a description of; and

(ii)

by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:

(3)

the total number of open recommendations described in previous semiannual reports on which corrective action has not been completed, and an identification of each open recommendation, which shall include—

(A)

the title of each report in which an open recommendation was issued;

(B)

the assigned number of each open recommendation, as designated within a report described in subparagraph (A);

(C)

a short description of each open recommendation;

(D)

the date on which each open recommendation was submitted in final form to the head of the establishment;

(E)

if available, any cost savings if the corrective action with respect to the open recommendation were completed; and

(F)

any other information as determined appropriate by the Inspector General that clarifies the progress of implementing the open recommendation or the expected timeframe for implementation.

; and

(B)

in subsection (f)—

(i)

paragraph (6)(B), by striking and at the end;

(ii)

in paragraph (7)(B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(iii)

by adding at the end the following:

(8)

the term open recommendation means a recommendation—

(A)

issued by an Inspector General of an establishment and made publicly available;

(B)

on which corrective action has not been completed by the establishment during the 1-year period following the date on which the recommendation was issued; and

(C)

that has not been otherwise closed by the Office.

; and

(2)

in section 11(c), by adding at the end the following:

(5)

Establishment of database

Not later than 18 months after the date on which the first semiannual report is required to be prepared under section 5(a) after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Council shall establish and operate a publicly available database that—

(A)

is accessible via the website of the Council in a standardized, searchable format; and

(B)

includes—

(i)

the information on open recommendations that is required to be included in each semiannual report under section 5(a)(3); and

(ii)

any other information as determined necessary by the Council.

(6)

Submission of Reports

Beginning not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, each Inspector General of an establishment or a designated Federal entity (as defined in section 8G(a)) shall, not later than 30 days after the date on which the Inspector General issues a public report, submit to the Council the report for publication on a centralized website.

.

(b)

Application

The amendments made by subsection (a)(1) shall apply with respect to the first semiannual report prepared under section 5(a) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) after the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.

Passed the Senate May 23, 2018.

Julie E. Adams,

Secretary