Keep the Watchdogs Running Act

The Keep the Watchdogs Running Act proposes to allow federal Offices of Inspector General (OIGs) to remain operational even during a lapse in government appropriations, commonly known as a government shutdown. Under current law, many oversight activities must cease when funding expires unless they are deemed essential for the protection of life or property. This bill would authorize these watchdog offices to continue spending funds at their previous levels to monitor any federal programs that remain active during a shutdown.

If enacted, this legislation aims to ensure that taxpayer money is still being monitored for fraud, waste, and abuse during periods of political gridlock. By keeping these oversight offices open, the bill would allow investigators to continue their work alongside the federal programs they supervise, maintaining accountability even when the rest of the government is partially closed. This would prevent gaps in federal audits and investigations that could otherwise occur during budget disputes.