New Leadership Appointed at the Office of the State Department Inspector General

In August 2007, Chairman Waxman commenced an investigation into the performance of State Department Inspector General Howard J. Krongard, particularly his alleged failure to authorize investigations into waste, fraud, and abuse in State Department activities in Iraq. On November 14, 2007, the Committee held a hearing on Mr. Krongard’s conduct and Chairman Waxman released a staff report that described evidence that Mr. Krongard had failed to investigate reports of wasteful spending and procurement fraud relating to Iraq and Afghanistan, failed to cooperate with Justice Department investigations relating to the Iraq War, and exhibited a lack of independence from the State Department on audits and investigations. The hearing also revealed that Mr. Krongard’s brother, former CIA Executive Director Buzzy Krongard, was a member of the Advisory Board of Blackwater USA, a company that was the subject of an investigation that Mr. Krongard had temporarily halted.

In response to the Committee’s investigation, the Inspector General opened investigations into fraud at the U.S. embassy. On December 7, 2007, Mr. Krongard resigned from his position as Inspector General, effective January 15, 2008. In June 2008, President Bush nominated Thomas Betro to be the new Inspector General.