(a) The following delegations of authority are made by the Secretary of Agriculture to the Inspector General:

(1) Advise the Secretary and General officers in the planning, development, and execution of Department policies and programs.

(2) At the request of the Director, Homeland Security Staff (Director), determine the availability of law enforcement personnel of the Office of Inspector General to assist the Director in providing for the personal security for the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary.

(3) Serve as liaison official for the Department for all audits of USDA performed by the General Accounting Office.

(4) In addition to the above delegations of authority, the Inspector General, under the general supervision of the Secretary, has specific duties, responsibilities, and authorities pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, Pub. L. No. 95-452, 5 U.S.C. App.

(b) The following authority is reserved to the Secretary of Agriculture: Approving the implementation in the Office of Inspector General of administrative policies or procedures that contravene standard USDA administrative policies as promulgated by the Assistant Secretary for Administration.

[60 FR 56393, Nov. 8, 1995, as amended at 72 FR 36859, July 6, 2007]