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Inspectors General: Budget Cuts Could Lead To Corruption

The Office of Inspectors General investigate allegations like the suspicious government contracts that were supposed to go to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.

Here in Arizona, the Homeland Security Office of Inspector General looks at government spending on projects like the Border Patrol’s drone surveillance program.

Homeland Security’s Inspector General John Roth warned the House Government Oversight Committee Wednesday that his budget for 2018 is smaller, while the Border Patrol it oversees is rushing to fill its ranks.

"Money can always be used as a weapon, to diminish our ability to conduct the active and independent oversight that Congress and the public deserve," he said.

He warnedthat his office faces a 10 percent cut while the Border Patrol’s budget rises 15 percent and that of Immigration and Customs enforcement 17 percent.

Fronteras Desk senior editor Michel Marizco is an award-winning investigative reporter based in Flagstaff.