Senate confirms new inspector general for FHFA, after two-year vacancy

After more than two years since being created, the Federal Housing Finance Authority has an inspector general. The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Steve Linick, a longtime federal prosecutor, to the post Wednesday. The IG serves as independent oversight over the agency and is authorized to conduct criminal investigations. Linick is a career federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice. He recently served as both the executive director of the National Procurement Fraud Task Force and deputy chief of the fraud section, criminal division at the department. Linick has also been the primary contact at DOJ for contract fraud cases relating to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Previously, he was an assistant U.S. attorney in California and Virginia. Acting Director Edward DeMarco said he’s pleased Linick will be the agency’s first IG. “The Office of the Inspector General has the important task of reviewing our operations as an agency to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations, to prevent and detect fraud and abuse, and to keep agency management informed about agency problems and deficiencies,” he tells HousingWire. “I look forward to having the benefit of this review.” Linick was nominated to this post twice. President George W. Bush nominated him in 2008, but the nomination died after the former president left office. The position has been vacant since July 2008. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 dissolved the Federal Housing Finance Board and created the FHFA. Because inspectors general have to be appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, former FHFB Inspector General Ed Kelley could not temporarily fill the new position. Sarah Mueller is an editorial assistant with HousingWire.