Make all IGs career-wise reportable to a separate commission. That way no agency or government department controls their careers. Vet all IGs to TS SBI with full scope poly so they will be eligible for SAPs that might exist at whatever security/DOD agency they get an assignment. Otherwise IGs as they currently exist are too vulnerable to their careers being squashed at their home agencies eventhough that’s not supposed to happen.
I agree with your concept Reily. Originally, in the 78 law, the IGs were going to report directly to Congress but the Executive, Carter’s admin, disagreed with that so they got the reports to agency head with a go around in significant matters. My recall of the go around being used less than dozen times.
Most of the original Law established IGs were kick ass guys. As time went on, the politically savy mostly won out IMO.