USTR Inspector General Act of 2025
The USTR Inspector General Act of 2025 would create an independent Inspector General (IG) for the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The bill amends existing law to add the USTR to the set of federal offices that may have an IG and requires the President to appoint the IG within 120 days of enactment, using the normal IG appointment framework in Title 5. The purpose is to provide independent oversight of USTR’s programs and operations, aligning USTR with other federal agencies that have IG offices to detect waste, fraud, abuse, and inefficiency and to promote accountability in trade policy administration. The bill frames its action in the context of Congress’s constitutional role in regulating international trade and cites USTR’s role in administering trade statutes and reporting to the President and Congress. However, the text provided does not spell out detailed duties or powers beyond directing the appointment under the standard Inspector General Act framework.
Key Points
- 1Establishes an Inspector General for the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and requires the President to appoint the IG within 120 days of enactment, using the existing process in 5 U.S.C. 403(a).
- 2Amends Section 401 of Title 5, United States Code, to include the Office of the United States Trade Representative (along with the National Reconnaissance Office) within the scope of agencies that may have an Inspector General.
- 3Inserts findings underscoring Congress’s constitutional authority over international trade and the role of USTR in implementing trade policy and monitoring enforcement of trade agreements.
- 4The bill relies on the standard Inspector General Act framework for appointment and independence, though it does not enumerate specific IG duties, funding, or reporting mechanics within the text provided.
- 5The measure signals an intent to strengthen oversight of USTR operations, programs, and enforcement related to trade agreements.