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December 2, 2019

VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

The Honorable Peggy E. Gustafson
Inspector General

US. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave NW.
Washington, DC 20230

Dear Inspector General Gustafson:

As the Chairmen of the undersigned committees, we share the concerns raised in Senator
Grassley?s August 20, 2019, letter to you. I At this point, staff from our committees have had the
opportunity to review your response dated September 27, 2019, and the supporting documentation
that you provided.

Based on this review, it appears that your September 27 response fails to fully address all
of the questions posed in Senator Grassley?s letter. The information provided does not include
enough context for us to determine the root causes of the leadership, staf?ng, and morale problems
that are prevalent at Commerce OIG, nor does it include enough detail for us to determine the
timing and extent of your efforts to address these problems.

The US. Department of Commerce oversees the expenditure of billions of taxpayer dollars
every year and performs a variety of critical functions related to our nation?s economic growth and
development. This includes oversight of the 2020 Census, the Section 232 steel and aluminum
tariff exclusion process, and federal agencies? use of electromagnetic spectrum. We believe that
a strong and effective Commerce 01G is necessary to ensuring proper oversight of the Department
and its functions.

At this time, we request that you provide full answers to the questions posed in Senator
Grassley?s August 20 letter to you and contact us no later than December 13, 2019, to schedule a
time when you can come to brief our Committee staffs.

 

1 Letter from Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, S. Comm. on Fin., to Peggy E. Gustafson, Inspector Gen., U.S.
Dep?t of Commerce (Aug. 20, 2019), 201%8;
20?020Cl?G?nZOto9 020Commerce? 0300169 oZOUttOlelpdf. See also Letter from Peggy E. Gustafson, Inspector
Gen., U.S. Dep?t of Commerce, to Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, S. Comm. on Fin. (Sept. 3, 2019) (on ?le
with Committee) (responding to Senator Grassley?s August 20 letter).

 

Inspector General Gustafson
December 2, 2019
Page 2 of 2

If you have any questions, please contact Daniel Boatright or Daniel Parker of the Senate
Committee on Finance at (202) 224-4515.

Sincerely,

Charles Grassley 

Chairman
Senate Committee on Finance Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation

 

  

Senate
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