Administration Opposes Bill on Inspectors General

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There are 58 inspector general offices established under the 1978 law. At House and Senate hearings this year, the inspectors general invited to testify offered mixed reviews of whether the proposed legislation would enhance their day-to-day independence.

But Glenn A. Fine, inspector general of the Justice Department, testified in support of permitting inspectors general to submit budget requests directly to Congress and make their own case for funding.

Offices of inspector general "have been underfunded, particularly when compared with the growth of their agencies," Fine said.

Earl E. Devaney, the Interior Department inspector general, said he understood why his counterparts would like the freedom to take budget requests to Congress instead of going through their agencies. He noted, however, that Interior officials have generally supported his budget requests, while "most cuts" were made by Congress.

Retirement

Richard Burk, an executive at the Office of Management and Budget, retired Sept. 30 after more than 35 years of government service.

Burk was chief architect and manager of the Federal Enterprise Architecture Program in the Office of E-Government and Information Technology at the OMB. Before joining the OMB, he worked at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.

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