H.R. 2181 – Protect Our Watchdogs Act of 2025

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Updated November 24, 2025 at 1:47 AM UTC

The Protect Our Watchdogs Act of 2025 changes the law so that Inspectors General can only be removed or transferred for specific, documented causes. It limits the President’s ability to dismiss these watchdogs by listing nine grounds such as incapacity, neglect, malfeasance, felony convictions, and waste of funds. The bill applies to all federal Inspectors General and requires written justification for any removal or transfer.

Key Provisions

Amends 5 U.S.C. § 403(b) to require that the President can remove an Inspector General only for specific, documented reasons (e.g., permanent incapacity, neglect of duty, malfeasance, felony conviction, knowing violation of law, gross mismanagement, waste of funds, abuse of authority, or inefficiency).
Requires the President to include documentation of the removal reason in the official communication about the removal.
Updates 5 U.S.C. § 415(e)(2) to apply the same for‑cause, documented‑ground standard when an Inspector General is transferred.

Legislative Activity

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HouseFloor Latest Action

ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Bell asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 2181, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

September 8, 2025 • 7:04 PM

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 18, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

March 18, 2025

HouseFloor

ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Bell asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 2181, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

September 8, 2025 • 7:04 PM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 2181 on the floor

1 Democrat

Rep. Wesley BellD-MO-1 · Sep 8, 2025

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 2181, the Protect Our Watchdogs Act of 2025, a bill originally introduced by Representative…

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 18, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2181

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 18, 2025

Mr. Connolly (for himself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Mfume, Ms. Brown, Ms. Stansbury, Mr. Garcia of California, Mr. Frost, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Mr. Casar, Ms. Crockett, Ms. Randall, Mr. Subramanyam, Ms. Ansari, Mr. Bell, Ms. Simon, Mr. Min, Ms. Pressley, and Ms. Tlaib) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

A BILL

To amend chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code, to establish a for-cause removal standard for Inspectors General, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protect Our Watchdogs Act of 2025.

2.

For cause removal standard for Inspectors General

Chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in section 403(b)—

(A)

by striking (b) Removal or transfer.— and inserting:

(b)

Removal or transfer

(1)

(A)

An

;

(B)

in subparagraph (A), as so designated, by inserting after by the President the following: in accordance with paragraph (3); and

(C)

by inserting at the end the following:

(3)

The President may remove an Inspector General only for any of the following grounds (and the documentation of any such ground shall be included in the communication required pursuant to paragraph (1)):

(A)

Documented permanent incapacity.

(B)

Documented neglect of duty.

(C)

Documented malfeasance.

(D)

Documented conviction of a felony or conduct involving moral turpitude.

(E)

Documented knowing violation of a law or regulation.

(F)

Documented gross mismanagement.

(G)

Documented gross waste of funds.

(H)

Documented abuse of authority.

(I)

Documented inefficiency.

; and

(2)

in section 415(e)(2)—

(A)

by striking Transferred.—If and inserting the following:

Transferred.—

(A)

If

; and

(B)

in subparagraph (A), as so designated, by adding at the end the following:

An Inspector General may be removed only for any of the following grounds (and the documentation of any such ground shall be included in the communication required pursuant to this paragraph):

(i)

Documented permanent incapacity.

(ii)

Documented neglect of duty.

(iii)

Documented malfeasance.

(iv)

Documented conviction of a felony or conduct involving moral turpitude.

(v)

Documented knowing violation of a law or regulation.

(vi)

Documented gross mismanagement.

(vii)

Documented gross waste of funds.

(viii)

Documented abuse of authority.

(ix)

Documented inefficiency.

.