Correspondence

Deputy Inspector General Mitch Behm responded to a May 19, 2020, letter from Chairwoman Maloney and Chairmen DeFazio and Connolly requesting information about OIG’s ongoing work at the time of the President’s designation of Howard “Skip” Elliott to serve as Acting Inspector General of the Department of Transportation. In his letter, Deputy Inspector General Behm confirmed that he is prepared to assume oversight of all of OIG’s efforts related to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, given Acting Inspector General Elliott’s recusal from those matters. In light of this recusal and his commitment to preserving the independence of OIG, Acting Inspector General Elliott requested that Deputy Inspector General Behm provide the detailed information requested by the Chairwoman and Chairmen. As such, the enclosure to this letter provides (1) a list of audits and investigations that were ongoing as of Mr. Elliott’s appointment as Acting Inspector General on May 15, 2020, and (2) a list of projects relating to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation that were opened between January 20, 2017, and the present. Deputy Inspector General Behm also confirmed that since becoming Acting Inspector General, Mr. Elliott has not directed or requested the modification of any audit or investigation.