Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery: Responsibilities, Authority, and Appointment

"The Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted on March 27, 2020 (P.L. 116-136). The CARES Act provides over $2 trillion in relief to individuals; businesses; state, local,and tribal government; federal agencies; and industry sectors impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to these relief programs, Congress included a variety of provisions to facilitate transparency and oversight in the implementation of the CARES Act. Among these actions was the creation of a Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR). The SIGPR is similar in purpose and legal authorities to two other special inspectors general: the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

This Insight provides an introduction to the responsibilities, authority, and selection of the SIGPR. Citations to the relevant provisions of the CARES Act are included in parenthesis as appropriate.

For other CRS materials related to the CARES Act and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, see CRS’s Coronavirus resource page.

Responsibilities

The SIGPR is to lead a new inspector general office within the Department of the Treasury and is directed to “conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations” of the financial assistance programs for businesses included in Title IV of the CARES Act and any other Treasury programs established under the act (§4018(c)(1)). Specifically, the SIGPR is required to collect and summarize the following information (and to maintain appropriate systems to do so):

 a description of the types of transactions entered into by Treasury (§4018(c)(1)(A));

 a listing of eligible businesses receiving assistance (§4018(c)(1)(B));

 an explanation of each loan and loan guarantee and its financial terms (§4018(c)(1)(C));

 biographical information about each person hired to service loans, loan guarantees, and other investments (§4018(c)(1)(D)); and

 estimates of the current status and value of each loan, loan guarantee, and other investment (§4018(c)(1)(E)).."

Pandemic Recovery