# Keep the Watchdogs Running Act

This bill is designed to protect government watchdog agencies—the offices and inspectors general that investigate waste, fraud, and misconduct within federal agencies—from being shut down or defunded as a way to silence their investigations.

The core problem this bill addresses is that some government agencies have the power to eliminate or drastically cut funding to their own internal watchdog offices. When an inspector general or oversight office is investigating something controversial or embarrassing, an agency leader could theoretically shut down that office to stop the investigation. This bill prevents that by requiring that watchdog offices continue operating and receiving funding, even if agency leadership disagrees with their findings or doesn't want scrutiny.

In practical terms, this means inspectors general and government accountability offices can do their jobs without fear that investigating powerful people will result in their office being eliminated. These watchdogs typically look into things like whether federal employees are wasting taxpayer money, whether contracts are being awarded fairly, or whether laws are being followed. Without this protection, an agency could retaliate against an oversight office that uncovers problems by simply shutting it down.

The bill essentially says that while agencies can manage their operations, they cannot use budget cuts or elimination as a weapon against the offices designed to keep them honest. It's similar to protecting a referee in a game—you want the referee to be able to call fouls without worrying that the team will fire them for making a bad call against them.

Keep the Watchdogs Running Act

Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]

Keep the Watchdogs Running Act This bill authorizes a federal office of inspector general (OIG) to continue performing its duties during a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown).During a lapse in appropriations, the OIG may obligate funds (1) at the rate of operations and under the authority and conditions provided in the most recently enacted appropriations act, and (2) to perform its duties with respect to any program that continues during the lapse in appropriations.