A: Any questions or issues may be addressed by email atOIGInvestigationsAdmin@oig.doc.gov. Should the OIG recommend employment discipline, we can represent you in a hearing before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Their job is simply to inspect and report their findings, and then let the buyer come to their own conclusion. or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Audits are conducted in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS). You need a quick wit to look on smiling faces and discern truths from half-truths and bald faced lies. Check out their website: www.oig.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/oig_home/3772. Only consultation with your own attorney can provide you with the advice you need for your case. Under the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, OIG is authorized to carry out both investigations and audits to "promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of, and prevent and detect fraud and abuse in [the Department's] programs and operations." However, experienced home inspectors have more of a background in determining potential flaws in the house and have less of a conflict of interest. As a seller, its important to prepare yourself for the home inspection process, and to know how to negotiate after a home inspection if it comes back with some not-so-great news. Evaluations take a broader, multi-disciplinary approach to reviewing and assessing DHS programs, results, resource management and policies. For all other questions, please see our Contact Us page. The buyer may request a credit (also called a concession), in an amount thats enough to cover the repairs. Heres an example: Seller has fixed every item from previous inspection report, including a new roof and electrical panel.. The vote in the House of Representatives, where I was then serving Iowas 3rd district, was 388-6. keep agency heads and Congress fully informed about the problems IGs find. 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. 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. He holds a master's degree in management and a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Alan Lescht and Associates, P.C., maintains this website to provide general information about the law firm and the field of employment law. Such actions, by employees or their management, could compromise the investigation. In order to protect witness confidentiality, preserve the integrity of OIGs investigation, and other reasons (such as fairness and privacy considerations), OIG commonly requests that employees not discuss OIG interviews with their coworkers, subordinates, or supervisors. Leaky pipes (and resulting water damage), failing water heaters, and sewer system problems are some of the most expensive. It is for information purposes only, and any links provided are for the user's convenience. But, when they dont put in the work, when they pull punches, when they become political hacks, or when they compromise their vital independence, they must go. Employees can only refuse to answer questions if their answers could be used against them in criminal proceedings. Fast forward to the last several months, when the current president followed this courts incorrect ruling and the Obama precedent, by removing two Senate-confirmed IGs, placing them on administrative leave, and telling Congress only, as Obama once did before, that he had lost confidence in them. A worst-case scenario, the buyer can usually back out of the deal as a result of a bad inspection. To fully safeguard statutorily required IG independence, were also going to make sure that the President cannot place political appointees with clear conflicts of interest into acting IG roles. Home inspectors have been sued before by sellers who believe a deal falling through was the fault of the home inspector and their incorrect reporting. What you think is a big deal may not be that big of an issue. 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. 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. 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. 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. And remember, they want to buy your house! Congress expected that this requirement would keep presidents from removing aggressive watchdogs because they were doing their job well. At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Today, Ive introduced that legislation with my colleagues Senators Peters, Collins, Feinstein, Lankford, Carper, Romney, Tester, Portman and Hassan. pushed the Health and Human Services IG to resign. I, and several colleagues, wrote asking for a better explanation. To prevent even the appearance that they are withholding pertinent information, employees should avoid narrowly construing interview questions or record requests, and promptly provide requested records. How Much Does It Cost to Build a House in 2023? In short, Congress designed Inspectors General to shine a bright light on waste, fraud, and abuse throughout the ever-expanding federal bureaucracy, with the Choose an area of law that your issue relates to: See what other people are asking and the advice they're getting. If there is evidence of criminal wrongdoing, the investigators work with federal or state prosecutors as appropriate. After all, among sellers who had a sale fall through, 15 percent were due to the buyer backing out after the inspection report. Houzz Author: www.houzz.com Post date: 28 yesterday Rating: 2 (1159 reviews) Highest rating: 3 Low rated: 3 Q: Can an employee decline to be interviewed? Similarly, it is not appropriate for management to question such employees about OIG interviews or requests, including specific questions asked or the content of interviews. The Inspector General Act serves as an arsenal for accountability within the executive branch. WebThrough its investigative and audit findings and recommendations, OIG helps protect and strengthen Departmental programs and operations. DHS Office of Inspector General investigators have statutory law enforcement authority, including the power to make arrests, execute warrants, and carry firearms. But the process undertaken by the Integrity Committee to investigate allegations about Wertheimer and ultimately recommend disciplinary actions proves that it would still be possible to remove rogue inspectors general with for-cause protections in place. Connect with a top agent to find your dream home. WebThe Inspector General: Directed by Henry Koster. It is not Zillow's intention to solicit or interfere with any established agency relationship you may have with a real estate professional. Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the DHS Inspector General on July 25, 2019. Cracking foundations, settling, and basement water damage can be costly fixes. This is especially appealing for inspection findings that arent necessarily failing items, but aging systems that will need to be replaced within the next few years. *Processes vary slightly among DHS OIG Program Offices. 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. It can be accessed under the "Reports" menu option. You can read more about him here. The home inspection is one of those necessary evils that can make or break a home sale. 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. As noted above, an employee's management can become involved if the employee declines to participate in a recorded interview. Recording is to the benefit of all parties, because it ensures that a definitive record exists of both what was asked and the information provided in response. Reporting by my colleagues at the Project On Government Oversight revealed that the inspector general, Joseph Cuffari, allegedly suppressed investigations Home sellers and their buyers are free to negotiate over home inspection results as well as who will pay for any repairs. The OIG does not have an operational role related to a specific homeland security mission, such as border or transportation security. If youre selling your house on your own, then it makes sense for you to attend the home inspection. His input has been insightful in crafting this bipartisan legislation and his staff has been diligent in furthering these efforts. The inspector will go through the house and examine the structural integrity of the home, mechanical systems, and so forth. In a buyers market, buyers sometimes have more time, but in a sellers market, they usually have to act quickly. Keep the Secretary of DHS and Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies in DHS programs and operations and the necessity for and progress of corrective action. On Oversight.gov you can find the latest figures on these watchdogs contributions as well as investigative and audit reports on every kind of topic you can think of. We are determined to keep interruptions to our operations to a minimum, and we appreciate your patience during this time. In that case, I pushed for compliance with the statute, held up a nominees to obtain information, and disagreed with the stated reasons for Mr. Walpins removal. We can only hope that the Integrity Committee doesnt take another three years to issue a conclusion on another rogue inspector general its far too long to wait. My strong recommendation is that you do not return the call yourself but instead have a qualified criminal defense attorney do that for you; three important benefits will result from that course of action. This set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) is intended to provide Department of Commerce employees and managers with helpful information regarding the nature and scope of OIG investigative activities, as well as their obligations and rights in connection with OIG investigations. Additionally, you should not post anything on a public site that might be used against you. Now, the Executive Branch, under two successive administrations of both political parties, has sought to ignore this law and keep Congress in the dark. It can even give you an out if there are issues that you feel are dealbreakers and decide not to move forward post-inspection. Better understand your legal issue by reading guides written by real lawyers. 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