The Office of Inspector General has nine divisions, or Program Offices, responsible for oversight of DHS: An audit is a methodical examination of a business, government program, or financial records. Audits evaluate whether established goals and objectives are achieved and resources are used economically and efficiency; whether intended and realized results are consistent with laws, regulations, and good business practice; and whether financial accountability is achieved and the Departments financial statements are not materially misstated. Real answers from licensed attorneys. We are determined to keep interruptions to our operations to a minimum, and we appreciate your patience during this time. The list is updated monthly. For example, they could make comments about how the walls look dingy or the knobs on the cabinets are dated. You should contact a competent, experienced criminal defense attorney immediately to assist you with this matter. Your real estate agent is a big resource here, as they should have negotiation strategies that help buyers and sellers meet in the middle on repair requests and come up with reasonable solutions. The timeline depends on the market and the contract, but within 5-10 business days of both parties accepting the deal is standard. A: No. 245 Murray Lane SW Washington, DC 20528-0305 The OIG does not have an operational role related to a specific homeland security mission, such as border or transportation security. This began a bout of negotiations that resulted in the hold of presidential nominees and eventually a bicameral congressional investigation into the matter. You can always offer to barter with other items, like furniture that wasnt originally included but the buyer might want, or appliances you werent planning on leaving behind. This information does not create an attorney /client relationship and should not be use or relied upon to make any decision in your case. If you wish to report an issue or seek an accommodation, please let us know. After all, among sellers who had a sale fall through. We need to be clearer and we need to better safeguard the independence of these IGs. They request a dollar amount they want back as a closing credit, which wont change the purchase price, but will lower your net profits. Call FEMA's toll-free fraud hotline at 866-720-5721 or local law enforcement officials if you Based on the results, you can price your home accordingly, and you wont be surprised by the results of your buyers inspection. The home inspection is one of those necessary evils that can make or break a home sale. Youll want to prioritize repairs that are a safety concern or legal issue. But now, Biden has an opportunity to set a new standard for when it is actually appropriate to remove an inspector general. Do note that any problems revealed in your pre-inspection have to be disclosed to your buyer. It will then be provided to appropriate individuals, including management, accompanied by recommendations as warranted, so that they may consider any appropriate corrective actions based on the results of OIG's investigation. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. For many years, Ive investigated and held IGs accountable from both Democrat and Republican administrations for these very failures. Remember, if a buyer backs out and you re-list, youre going to have to disclose whatever was found in the report to future buyers, so the best thing to do is go ahead and complete the repairs and hold on to documentation from your contractor that proves the work was done. If he asks you to set up a meeting, contact an attorney before you do anything. It is for information purposes only, and any links provided are for the user's convenience. The US Department of Energy has assessed that the Covid-19 pandemic most likely came from a laboratory leak in China, according to a newly updated classified intelligence report. They both provided Congress with paltry excuses of lost confidence.. The DHS Office of Inspector General conducts audits of DHS management and financial operations. I would call him back but not speak about anything or admit anything on the phone. This requires that Presidents tell Congress and the people their reasons for removal. Post a free question on our public forum. Header Image Source: (VGstockstudio/ Shutterstock). Welfare fraud investigations is a big part of their oversite. Today, Ive introduced that legislation with my colleagues Senators Peters, Collins, Feinstein, Lankford, Carper, Romney, Tester, Portman and Hassan. I want to thank Ranking Member Peters for working with me on this. Alternatively, when IGs come under fire for doing good work, Ive had their backs. Its all there in black and white. In the end, Mr. Walpin was never reinstated. WebThe function of the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) is to investigate allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption within the Executive Branch of Pennsylvania State Yet, more than two months later, President Joe Biden has yet to remove agency Inspector General Laura Wertheimer, despite the watchdogs recommendation to discipline or remove her. Youll want to keep the deal moving forward if at all possible, since if the deal does fall apart, youll have to disclose the findings of this first report if you re-list your home, and you could risk scaring off a future buyer. You need a quick wit to look on smiling faces and discern truths from half-truths and bald faced lies. The IG Independence and Empowerment Act, which is up for a vote on the House floor this week, would mandate that inspectors general can only be fired for cause. If this law were enacted, an inspector general could only be removed if there is clear evidence of wrongdoing or failure to fulfill their duties. Twitter launches Violent Speech Policy with zero tolerance for severe House Republicans advance TikTok ban along party lines, China, Belarus call for cease-fire, negotiations in Ukraine, Hemorrhaging losses, the Feds problems are now the taxpayers, Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. For listings in Canada, the trademarks REALTOR, REALTORS, and the REALTOR logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. and plan your strategy. With that said, Pretty recommends using the contractor friend as a resource by having them go through the inspection report, then discuss the problems, and the costs to repair them. Additionally, the Office of Investigations monitors the investigative activity of DHS various internal affairs offices. WebThe Inspector General: Directed by Henry Koster. Put another way, IGs are the original swamp drainers. If you are under investigaiton by the OIG, or are requested to appear at an OIG interview, it is important to know what is at stake. THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. While anonymous complaints are accepted, they often present the greatest difficulty to investigate as there is not a person for OIG to contact for allegation particulars. For a case that has been declined for potential criminal prosecution by DOJ, or did not require referral to DOJ, the employee may receive a written advisement to such effect and the employee must then fully cooperate with OIG. The DHS Inspector General and other Cabinet-level Inspectors General can only be removed by the President, after advance notice to both Houses of Congress. No matter what you plan to do, discuss your options with your agent because they can give you advice that will make the home inspection process a little less stressful. These IGs are helping Congress watch over the peoples business and ensure the fidelity of agency actions. Take the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security, for example. All final DHS OIG audit and inspection reports are available on our website. Thus, an employees obligation to cooperate with OIGs investigation extends beyond the time during which the employee is interviewed. An employee may retain a private attorney at personal expense for representation during an OIG investigation or interview. All of these activities could have been completed within a week. Were not going to enact a clearly unconstitutional law that infringes on the Presidents authority to manage personnel and that would surely result in a lengthy court battle. But we are going to clarify once and for all that the laws notice requirement means that Presidents have to give clear, substantive reasons for removing an IG, and that they cant put an IG on administrative leave without a good reason. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not. He also spent seven years as an airline operations manager. IGs have found everything from blatant government employee misconduct to procurement fraud and much more. However, sellers who may be concerned about what might be found in an inspection sometimes opt to. As always, when you have a legal issue you should consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Whether youve been following the important work of inspectors general for many years, or youve just tuned in for the last few, we welcome your support. So, who should attend the inspection? But, even though you wont be completing the repairs, youll still want to get quotes from a contractor so you dont offer a credit thats way too high. After we decide to perform an audit or inspection, we generally follow this process:*. Using and accessing this website does not create an attorney-client relationship with Alan Lescht and Associates, P.C. In contrast, an OIG audit or evaluation is conducted to examine organizational program performance or financial management matters, typically of a systemic nature. For more information about CIGIE, please see its website. For more information on whistleblower retaliation go to Whistleblower Retaliation FAQ File a Whistleblower Complaint FOIA : Old chimneys can be a safety hazard, and they often need to be removed if not in working order. And the administration should lean on that process going forward. And, the law says that IGs are supposed to be objective and independent. It seems like a good idea to take a few minutes to remember what Inspectors General are, why Congress created them in the first place, and how we got here. Thats a good thing for Congress and the Presidency. Again, it depends on the market and your specific contract. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The 35 Steps to Building a House: Your Start-to-Finish Guide. Inspectors general provide independent, nonpartisan oversight of federal programs and spending, uncovering abuse of power and wasteful spending within federal agencies. For more information about our Hotline and the types of allegations that should be reported, please see our Hotline Home Page. Depending on the terms of your contract, the buyer may do one of three things after receiving the inspection report on your home: Dont panic if you receive a bad home inspection. Whistleblower Retaliation Reports of Investigation, Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the DHS Inspector General on July 25, 2019. It's also up to a home's seller whether or not to accept a purchase agreement from a buyer that contains a home inspection or other contingency. It depends on what your buyer requests, the type of repair, and your own skill level. In this way, these watchdogs serve an indispensable function in our system of checks and balances. Biden needs to set aside any concerns that removing Wertheimer will appear retaliatory, as Trumps firings did. Auditors examine the methods employed by DHS, components, grantees, and contractors in carrying out essential programs and activities. By removing Wertheimer and supporting this crucial legislation, Biden would be able to remove an ineffective watchdog while still protecting the inspector general communitys independence. Remember, if a buyer backs out and you re-list, youre going to have to, You could also add a mention of the repairs to your, Major electrical issues that are safety or code issues, Plumbing, drainage, sewer, septic, or water issues (or well water issues, if applicable), Elevated radon levels (a common issue in homes with basements), Anything under $100 that the buyer can reasonably fix on their own (especially in a sellers market, where buyers shouldnt want to come off as overly picky), Cosmetic issues, like paint touch-ups or older tiles, Renovations youre not responsible for turning the home into your buyers dream home, Loose fixtures that can easily be fixed with a few tools, Basement floor cracks that have no structural impact. Then there are other states where a licensed Realtor is required to be with the inspector.. Q: What matters does OIG investigate and how do they originate? Anything else you could think of? You can read more about him here. Buyers choose their own home inspector, and occasionally a seller will feel like the report is incorrect or exaggerated. Evette is just your average HGTV fan who dreams of having a home worthy of being on one of those shows. The OIG's most common area of investigation is welfare fraud, but they deal with all fraud and misconduct involving state programs. Their officical purpose is "to prevent, investigate, and eradicate fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct in the programs, operations, and contracting of executive agencies under the Governors jurisdiction." Issue an announcement memo to DHS and/or the DHS Component being audited or reviewed; Issue draft report to DHS and/or DHS Component response due from DHS within 30 days; Prepare and issue a final report to the Department; Distribute final report to Congress and release publicly on the website; and. Please consider updating your browser to a newer version, or downloading a modern browser. In July of 2009, less than a year after Congress passed the IG reform act, then President Obama removed the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Inspector General, Gerald Walpin from his post and placed him on administrative leave. Heres an example: Seller has fixed every item from previous inspection report, including a new roof and electrical panel.. Yes. Now that we know that the inspector, the buyer, or the buyers agent are the key players during a home inspection, lets take a look at who shouldnt be at the inspection. In addition, employees should be aware that reprisal against any employee for cooperating with OIG is forbidden by the Inspector General Act and DAO 207-10, Section 4. Your home inspector will be able to ease your mind. The trademarks MLS, Multiple Listing Service and the associated logos are owned by CREA and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Consistent with CDC guidance, most Office of Inspector General employees are currently serving the American people remotely. Now, more than 40 years later, we have 75 offices of inspectors general working throughout the federal government to stop fraud and abuse. Some states require a licensed agent to be present, while other states do not. His input has been insightful in crafting this bipartisan legislation and his staff has been diligent in furthering these efforts. Years licensed, work experience, education. A: With the exception of a situation as described above involving the right against self-incrimination, employees are obligated to cooperate fully, which includes being interviewed. Learn more, .subnav-back-arrow-st0{fill:none;stroke:#0074E4;stroke-linecap:round;} It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. In 2020 so far, IGs have identified more than $20 billion in potential savings through their audits, reports, and recommendations. It is inappropriate, however, for the employee to discuss the subject matter of OIGs contact with anyone else (other than his/her attorney), including his/her managers and other employees. Obamas White House informed Congress merely that he had lost confidence in Mr. Walpin. That person feels pressure and the need to find issues. DAO 207-10 provides that employees shall furnish sworn oral or subscribed statements upon request. OIG cannot compel anyone to be interviewed; however, management can direct an employee to be interviewed as requested by OIG, and take disciplinary action if the employee declines. In some cases, your real estate agent will hire the inspector and set up the appointment. And I hope that support continues well past the current administration. If we dont update the law, we can only expect future administrations to repeat the actions of current and prior administrations. These investigations can result in criminal prosecutions, fines, civil monetary penalties, administrative sanctions, and personnel actions. The language in each contract varies, but usually it states that the inspection must be satisfactory to the purchaser, and if its not, they can renegotiate the terms of the deal or call the deal off and receive any earnest money back in full. Get a notebook and write down your questions as DHS Office of Inspector General investigators have statutory law enforcement authority, including the power to make arrests, execute warrants, and carry firearms. If there is evidence of criminal wrongdoing, the investigators work with federal or state prosecutors as appropriate. The Office of Inspections and Evaluations is the lead OIG office for reporting on DHS intelligence, international affairs, civil rights and civil liberties, and science and technology. I, and several colleagues, wrote asking for a better explanation. Congress expected that this requirement would keep presidents from removing aggressive watchdogs because they were doing their job well. So, we need to change the law. Start with your legal issue to find the right lawyer for you. At Alan Lescht & Associates, P.C., our law firm has a record of vigorously defending the rights of federal employees facing all types of allegations. The best thing to do is let them tell you why they are calling you and " we just want to ask you a few questions is NOT an acceptable answer" Then after they tell you what they want to talk about it would be best to retain counsel to communicate with them and do all of the talking for you. Additionally, pursuant to OIG policy, investigators may audio- or video-record interviews. First, it is the Presidents constitutional prerogative to manage executive branch personnel. Second, it is Congress intent that, to support IG independence and maintain public trust, IGs should not be removed for blatantly political reasons. : The most common electrical issues include wiring thats not up to code, frayed wiring, or improperly wired electrical panels. A certified home inspector conducts a visual inspection of a home's structure as well as its critical components, such as plumbing, electrical and heating and air conditioning systems. The IG Reform Act codifies those principles by requiring the President to submit to Congress a notice of intent to remove an IG 30 days in advance, and to explain why. IGs perform regular audits to identify and investigate fraud, criminality, misconduct, waste of funds and abuses of office. If youre still nervous about who should and shouldnt attend the home inspection, look up the laws in your state. Better Business Bureau. A committee that oversees federal inspectors general found in April that the watchdog for the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) had abused her authority and undermined the integrity reasonably expected of an inspector general. Is one of those shows fraud and much more seller has fixed every item previous! The laws in your jurisdiction Alan Lescht and Associates, P.C eventually a bicameral congressional investigation into the.... 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