BEACON Act

Increased Oversight of the Executive Office: The establishment of an Office of Inspector General in the Executive Office of the President provides a mechanism for the detection and elimination of fraud, waste, and abuse in programs and operations (Section 2(b)(1)(D)).

Transparency Regarding Information Access: The Inspector General must include a certification in semiannual reports regarding whether they had full and direct access to all relevant information, which provides clarity on the scope of their oversight (Section 2(b)(1)(B)).

Accountability for Restricted Investigations: If the President prohibits an investigation or subpoena, they must provide a written notice to the Inspector General stating the reasons for that power, which is then transmitted to Congress (Section 2(b)(1) and Section 2(b)(2)).

Monitoring of Information Classification: The bill requires evaluations to identify management practices that may contribute to the persistent misclassification of material, which may help ensure classification policies are followed effectively (Section 2(d)(1)).

Presidential Control Over Specific Investigations: The President is granted authority, direction, and control over the Inspector General regarding audits, investigations, or subpoenas that require access to information concerning confidential sources, intelligence/counterintelligence matters, or undercover operations (Section 2(b)(a)(1)).

Power to Prohibit Oversight: The President has the power to prohibit the Inspector General from initiating, carrying out, or completing an audit or investigation, or from issuing a subpoena, if the President determines it is necessary to prevent the disclosure of specific sensitive information (Section 2(b)(a)(2)).