Grassley To White House: Clarity On IGs?

CBS News investigative producer Laura Strickler wrote this story for CBSNews.com.

Inspector Generals act as the top cops in federal agencies, assigned to investigate waste, fraud, abuse and reports of corruption.

reported that Heddell would do double duty, splitting his time between his new post at the Pentagon and his current role as the Inspector General at the Labor Department. Grassley's office sharply criticized the White House for assigning one person to two critical jobs.

Heddell's first day on the Pentagon job is July 14th.

After our story ran, a White House spokesperson told CBS News that Heddell would spend the "majority of his time at Defense", while his deputy would take over his duties at the Labor Department. Heddell met with Senator Grassley's staff and said he would be full-time at the Pentagon.

But Heddell is still technically serving two posts, so which is it?

"How can he be a full-time D.O.D. [Department of Defense] IG and simultaneously be the IG at the Department of Labor?" asked Senator Grassley in his letter, "That seems to defy understanding."

Grassley wrote that the Pentagon IG shop needs a full-time leader to adequately oversee an expanding military budget of $600 billion. Grassley asked the White House to ensure that Heddell would be full-time at the Pentagon and suggested appointing his Deputy at Labor as the Acting IG.

Grassley also revealed that his office has been investigating the Pentagon IG's Office since earlier this year and has found that "important departments are operating without internal controls and oversight." Grassley notes that some senior managers are "too complacent or too timid to recommend corrective action when it is called for" and indicates an institutional culture that "runs counter to the spirit and intent of the IG Act."

The White House says it is reviewing Grassley's letter.

By Laura Strickler