Levin Center at Wayne Law to honor Inspector General Act with symposium

“The Role of Inspectors General in Congressional Oversight,” will be the subject of a half-day symposium on Wednesday, June 13, in Washington, D.C., presented by the Levin Center at Wayne State University Law School.

The symposium honors the 40th anniversary of the Inspector General Act by bringing together current and former inspectors general (IGs) and other experts for a discussion on the critical role IGs play in congressional oversight.

“Congress created a unique creature in 1978 when it established inspectors general as the honest brokers for Congress and the executive branch in fighting waste, fraud and abuse,” said former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, chair of the Levin Center at Wayne Law and the Law School’s distinguished legislator in residence. “As Congress has become more partisan, the role of IGs as independent finders of fact has become even more important.”

Levin will join Michael Horowitz, inspector general for the U.S. Department of Justice, in delivering opening remarks.

The event, consisting of two panels, is set for 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Ground Floor Conference Room of the Council on Foreign Relations, 1777 F St. NW. Admission is free and includes a continental breakfast. Advance registration is required at go.wayne.edu/levincenter-ig.

The event will be livestreamed beginning at 9 a.m. at wayne.edu/live.

The first panel of the day will be moderated by Eleanor Hill, former inspector general for the U.S. Department of Defense.

The panelists include current and former inspectors general and congressional staff:

• David Buckley, former inspector general for the Central Intelligence Agency

• Kathy Buller, inspector general for the Peace Corps and chair of the Legislation Committee for the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency

• Jonathan Skladany, chief policy counsel for the majority staff of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

• John Sopko, special inspector general for Afghanistan Reconstruction

The second and final panel will be moderated by Peg Gustafson, inspector general for the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The panelists are experts who have long followed inspector general issues:

• Dan Blair, senior counselor for the Bipartisan Policy Center

• Beryl Davis, director of financial management and assurance for the Government Accountability Office

• Peter Tyler, senior policy analyst for the Project on Government Oversight

Launched in March 2015, the Levin Center at Wayne Law educates future attorneys, business leaders, legislators and public servants on their role overseeing public and private institutions and using oversight as an instrument of change.