FALCON Act

## Summary The FALCON Act of 2025 aims to strengthen oversight of federal agencies by legally requiring cooperation with requests from Inspectors General (IGs). These IGs are independent officials tasked with preventing waste, fraud, and abuse in government operations. The bill mandates that agency employees, contractors, and grant recipients comply with IG requests for information, interviews, or documents within 60 days. Failure to comply could result in disciplinary actions like suspension, removal, or contract termination. Agency heads and the President have discretion over penalties, and IGs must notify Congress and agency leadership if cooperation is denied. The law also requires agencies to update internal policies to emphasize this obligation. ## Key Points - 60-day compliance deadline: All covered agencies, employees, contractors, and grantees must fulfill IG requests for information, interviews, or documents within 60 days. - Disciplinary consequences: Noncompliance may lead to administrative penalties, including removal, suspension without pay, or adverse contract actions. - Discretion for agency heads/President: The head of an agency or the President decides whether to impose discipline, depending on the role of the noncompliant individual or entity. - Congressional notifications: IGs must report noncompliance to Congress within 30 days, including details about who failed to cooperate, the request’s subject matter, and the date it was made. - Policy updates: Agency leaders must explicitly inform staff of the new requirements and revise internal directives to reflect the obligation to cooperate with IGs within 30 days of the law’s enactment. ## Impact Areas - Federal agencies and personnel: Employees, political appointees, and agency heads must prioritize IG requests or face penalties. - Contractors and grantees: Entities receiving federal contracts or grants must comply with IG demands or risk losing funding or contracts. - Congressional oversight: Lawmakers gain clearer visibility into agency transparency and accountability through mandatory IG reports. - Interagency coordination: Clarifies which agencies and officials fall under IG authority, reducing ambiguity in existing law. - Legal and administrative processes: Establishes standardized timelines and procedures for IG investigations, potentially improving efficiency.