Who Watches the Watchdogs? The Unchecked Power of CIGIE

In this episode of Unwritten Law, hosts Mark Chenoweth and John Vecchione unpack John’s recent Wall Street Journal op-ed calling for the abolition of CIGIE—the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.

This obscure-sounding bureaucracy wields outsized power, launching secretive investigations that can derail careers with zero presidential oversight or Senate confirmation. The kicker? Even the President can’t rein them in. Mark and John explain why CIGIE violates the Constitution’s separation of powers and how this self-perpetuating entity operates outside meaningful checks and balances.