Happening now: Jason Abend, nominee for @DoD_IG, is before SASC. Nothing personal, but he is objectively unqualified to lead such a massive, critical IG office. His confirmation would spell disaster for defense whistleblowers, which is bad for all of us. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/20-08-06-nominations_abend--hansell--polakowski--bremer

The @DoD_IG plays a central role in receiving and investigating service member, intel community, defense contractor, and federal @DeptofDefense employee whistleblower disclosures and claims of retaliation.

Importantly, for military #whistleblowers, the IG and service IGs are the only investigative authority for their whistleblower retaliation claims. So it is critical that the IG be committed to timely, thorough, accurate investigations and reports.

Ranking Member @SenJackReed points out that Mr. Abend is the only recent IG nominee that did not come with the recommendation of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE). Not that they're the gatekeeper, but still important to consider.

Also worth noting that Mr. Abend didn't address whistleblowers in his spoken testimony and gave what I'm going to summarize as a wikipedia-level understanding of the role of this office. Hoping Senators find out whether Abend really understands the role of the @DoD_IG today.

Military whistleblower disclosures about retaliation for reporting sexual assault and harassment are protected whistleblowing disclosures--and those investigations fall under the @DoD_IG. Hoping Mr. Abend will face questions about how he would improve dismal substantiation rates.

. @SenJackReed asking if Abend is prepared to be independent from @DeptofDefense. Abend says that he's an outsider and commits to independence and congressional reporting.

. @SenatorWicker asking how Abend will help save money as IG. While audits are an important role of IGs, sometimes IGs actually have to recommend more spending on things like employee (read: troop) safety. Would like Abend to comment on that, too.

. @SenatorWicker asking for Abend's perception of the Pentagon audit. Abend responds by basically summarizing what an audit is.

. @SenBlumenthal asking about IG vulnerability due to their oversight role, particularly after @StateOIG's new acting bro quit yesterday (I have thoughts). Abend commits to independence. "Nobody has preference in my book."

. @SenBlumenthal asks if Abend supports the CORE Act. Abend won't take a stance on the bill or on IG for-cause removal protection. @POGOBlog supports it as a necessary independence measure. Says he doesn't want the IG to have "a sense of sovereignty?"

Side note: IG independence is critical to their functioning. The CORE Act would preserve that independence by making sure IGs can't be fired for doing their job well--that's in the best interest of taxpayers who rely on IGs to root out things like special interest influence.

. @maziehirono raises the president's penchant for actively and openly undermining IG offices. Asks if Abend is willing to stand up to the President. (Abend says yes).But the thing is...

...IGs are only empowered to conduct rigorous oversight and tell Congress and the public when their work is being undermined. So really, that's on Congress to stand up to the President by reforming the law granting ALL IGs more independence.

. @SenJoniErnst asking about sexual assault reprisal investigation delays taking hundreds of days (thank you!). Asks for Abend's commitment to improvement--which he gives. But really, what @DoD_IG needs is an audit into their retaliation investigation process from a different IG.