TO: Acting Secretary Haugrud

FROM: Chairman Rob Bishop

Dear Acting Secretary Haugrud:

Over the past several years, many disturbing cases concerning Department of the Interior (Department) employees misconduct have cast doubts on effectiveness of the Department's hiring, retention, and termination policies. The Department employs "about 70,000 people in approximately 2,400 locations." As federal employees, these individuals should be held to the highest ethical and professional standards. From April 1, 2009 through September 30, 2016, the Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) referred 310 criminal matters involving Department employees to the Department of Justice for prosecution, which resulted in 209 convictions. Often times, however, Department employees found guilty of sever misconduct were permitted to continue federal service for a prolonged period of time or indefinitely while facing minimal consequences for their actions.

Read the entire letter HERE.