Lawmakers to Obama: Appoint watchdogs now

Updated: 4:41 p.m. ET

A bipartisan group of eight lawmakers is urging President Obama to fill a number of vacant Inspector General posts out of concern that the unfilled positions may be "impeding the federal government's efforts to increase efficiencies and prevent waste."

The lawmakers signed a letter to President Obama on Tuesday pressing him to "address the growing number of vacancies that now exist among our nation's Inspectors General."

The letter was signed by Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Reps. Darrell Issa (R- Calif.), Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), John Tierney (D-Mass.) and Jason Chaffetz (R- Utah).

According to the Wall Street Journal, nine Inspector General positions currently remain unfilled. They include the positions at the Departments of State, Labor, Justice, Housing and Urban Development and Homeland Security. Vacancies also exist at the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), within the intelligence community, and in relation to reconstruction in Afghanistan.

Inspectors General essentially serve as watchdogs responsible for making sure federal agencies are operating in concert with established governmental policies. Agencies lacking them could theoretically face the increased possibility of inefficiency and/or fraud.

"The investigations and reports of Inspectors General help Congress shape legislation and oversight activities," the lawmakers wrote in their letter. "The Inspectors General also play an important role in improving government performance, providing transparency into federal programs and giving Americans better value for their tax dollars."

"We share your commitment to making our government better able to serve its citizens and perform its core missions," they continued. "As a result, we have serious concerns that the lack of permanent Inspectors General at so many federal agencies is impeding the federal government's efforts to increase efficiencies and detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse."

In a statement, White House spokesman Eric Schultz said the Obama administration was in the process of trying to find qualified candidates to fill the vacancies.

"The Administration is committed to strong Inspectors General, and we are working diligently to identify highly qualified candidates to fill these important posts," he said. "The Administration supports the work and commitment of all of the IG Offices, including those currently being led by Acting IGs, as they strive to ensure that taxpayers are getting the good government they deserve." 

But Issa, the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, charged that the administration's commitment to appointing strong IGs was threatened by the "lingering vacancies."

"Inspectors general are the eyes and ears of U.S. taxpayers within the federal bureaucracy, and government accountability depends on an uncompromising, independent, and fully-engaged IG community," Issa said, in a statement. "The Administration has stated a strong commitment to support the work of inspectors general. Lingering vacancies threaten this goal, and I hope the Administration will recognize this threat and swiftly make qualified appointments."

Most of the vacant positions require the candidate to be confirmed by the Senate, which has been notoriously slow about confirming executive nominations.