Official Summaries

Keep the Watchdogs Running Act

This bill authorizes a federal office of inspector general (OIG) to continue performing its duties during a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown).

During a lapse in appropriations, the OIG may obligate funds (1) at the rate of operations and under the authority and conditions provided in the most recently enacted appropriations act, and (2) to perform its duties with respect to any program that continues during the lapse in appropriations.

Current Full Text

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2180 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2180

 To authorize Inspectors General to continue operations during a lapse 
               in appropriations, and for other purposes.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 18, 2025

 Mr. Connolly introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
              Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize Inspectors General to continue operations during a lapse 
               in appropriations, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Keep the Watchdogs Running Act''.

SEC. 2. INSPECTOR GENERAL OVERSIGHT DURING LAPSE IN APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 406(g) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
            ``(4) Oversight during lapse in appropriations.--
        Notwithstanding any other provision of law and in addition to 
        any other authority, during a lapse in appropriations, an 
        Inspector General may incur obligations in advance of 
        appropriations--
                    ``(A) for such amounts as may be necessary and at a 
                rate for operations and under the authority and 
                conditions as provided in the most recently enacted 
                appropriations Acts; and
                    ``(B) to perform the duties of the Office with 
                respect to any program and operation of the 
                establishment that continues during the lapse in 
                appropriations.''.
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