The Erosion of Oversight: Combating Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in Federal Procurement

Описание: This episode of Beyond the FAR, hosted by Jessica Tillipman, explores the critical role of oversight in safeguarding integrity within the U.S. federal procurement system. With annual procurement spending exceeding $750 billion, the risks of fraud, waste, and abuse are ever-present. The episode features Robert Storch, former Senate-confirmed Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Defense, who brings decades of experience as a federal prosecutor, inspector general, and legal educator to the discussion.

The conversation begins by clarifying the legal and practical distinctions between fraud, waste, and abuse—terms often conflated in public discourse but carrying significantly different legal implications. Storch explains how inspectors general conduct independent, nonpartisan audits, evaluations, and investigations designed not to achieve perfect prevention, but to detect misconduct, deter future violations, and correct systemic weaknesses. Oversight, the discussion emphasizes, is not adversarial by design; it is intended to strengthen government performance and accountability.

A central focus of the episode is the importance of institutional independence. Inspectors general operate within agencies but are statutorily insulated from political influence to ensure credibility and public trust. Storch discusses why nonpartisanship is essential to effective oversight and how whistleblower protections serve as a cornerstone of the accountability ecosystem, particularly in complex procurement environments where misconduct may not surface through routine processes.

The episode also addresses recent disruptions to the federal oversight infrastructure, including leadership removals and funding challenges affecting the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE). These developments, Storch explains, risk undermining transparency, weakening institutional knowledge, and creating a chilling effect on oversight activities. The discussion situates these challenges within the broader legal framework governing inspectors general and congressional oversight responsibilities.

Ultimately, the episode underscores a core principle: the discovery of fraud or abuse does not signal system failure, but rather that oversight mechanisms are functioning as intended. For legal practitioners, scholars, and students, this conversation offers a timely examination of how accountability structures operate—and why preserving them is essential to procurement integrity, democratic governance, and public confidence in government spending.