BEACON Act

Key Points

• This bill creates a brand-new Inspector General office specifically for the Executive Office of the President. Most federal agencies already have these watchdog offices, but the White House has never had one dedicated to monitoring its own operations for fraud, waste, and abuse.
• The president must appoint the new Inspector General within 120 days of the law being enacted. This person would have the authority to conduct audits, investigations, and issue subpoenas related to White House operations.
• The president can block certain investigations if they involve confidential sources, intelligence matters, or undercover operations, but must explain the reason to the Inspector General within 30 days, and Congress must also be notified.
• The Inspector General must file semiannual reports covering corrective actions on recommendations, any instances where the president blocked access to information, and suggestions for eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse in White House programs.
• The bill also requires two evaluations of whether the White House is over-classifying documents that should be available to the public. The Inspector General would coordinate with the National Archives to check classification policies and recommend fixes.
• An independent body, the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, would audit the new watchdog office itself every year to make sure it is doing its job effectively and providing real oversight.