Former Interior Inspector General Mark Lee Greenblatt warns that the reported placement of a key architect of Project 2025 inside the Department of the Interior's Office of Inspector General threatens the structural independence of government watchdogs and further erodes public confidence in federal oversight.

The Minnesota legislature’s passage of a bill creating a statewide Inspector General is an important victory for government accountability and the fight against fraud, waste, and abuse.

The legislation includes several robust safeguards designed to protect the independence of the new inspector general, a critical feature for any oversight office to function effectively and maintain public trust. Independent oversight only works when investigators and auditors are empowered to follow the facts wherever they lead, free from political interference or undue pressure.

The next step, after the governor signs the legislation into law, will be ensuring the appointment of a strong, experienced, and independent-minded professional to lead the office.