CREW Urges Biden to ‘Safeguard Democracy’ by Filling Vacant Government Ethics and Inspector General Positions

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is urging President Joe Biden to take decisive action by filling over 100 key government vacancies for ethics and inspectors general positions before his term ends. The advocacy group has made a public appeal, emphasizing that filling these roles is crucial to “safeguard” American democracy.

Over the weekend, CREW took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the importance of Biden acting swiftly to ensure critical oversight and maintain public trust in the government. “Fill the vacant Inspector General positions within the executive branch as well as the vacancies in key ethics roles throughout the government,” the group posted.

In a detailed post on their website, CREW noted that there are currently 14 vacancies for inspector general positions within various government agencies, which play an essential role in providing independent oversight. Inspectors general (IGs) are tasked with investigating allegations of misconduct, ensuring transparency, and holding public officials accountable. CREW underscored the importance of these roles, especially during times of low public trust in government institutions.

“At a time when public trust in the government is low, IGs play a critical role in ensuring the integrity of our government,” the organization wrote. CREW cited a notable example from 2022 when the Architect of the Capitol’s IG reported that former Architect J. Brett Blanton had abused his authority and misused taxpayer funds. The report ultimately led President Biden to remove Blanton from his position, illustrating the positive impact effective IGs can have on government accountability.

Eric Lisann, a former federal and state prosecutor, also referenced CREW’s post, expressing frustration over Biden’s handling of government vacancies and ethics positions. Lisann called Biden’s approach “reckless or grossly negligent,” accusing the president of allowing Trump-appointed IGs to remain in their roles without a thorough review and not filling high-level vacancies in a timely manner.

“These were high-level vacancies Biden never filled, all while allowing Trump holdovers to remain in similar positions. He showed the seeds of his own demise,” Lisann continued, suggesting that Biden’s hesitation to appoint new officials has hindered efforts to address potential government corruption. Lisann specifically criticized the lack of action on investigations that were left unresolved when former President Donald Trump dismissed several inspectors general during his term.

CREW’s message is clear: with just over two months remaining in his term, Biden has an opportunity to solidify the ethical foundation of the government by appointing new IGs and ethics officials. Many of these appointments, CREW argues, are essential for ensuring accountability and reducing opportunities for corruption.

CREW also emphasized that the recent ethical challenges within the government demonstrate the urgent need for competent oversight in these positions. As Biden’s time in office comes to an end, CREW and other advocacy groups are pushing for him to expedite appointments not only for IGs but also for judges and other board members across federal agencies.

By filling these roles, Biden could help build a more accountable government structure, as CREW hopes, “safeguarding democracy” by ensuring the continuity of ethical standards and oversight. Whether or not Biden will respond to these calls remains to be seen, but with public trust in government institutions still fragile, the pressure is mounting for him to act swiftly in his final months in office.