For the first time in more than 25 years, the Office of Personnel Management will be looking for a new inspector general.
Patrick McFarland announced in a Feb. 1 letter to President Barack Obama that he would resign this month.
Federal News Radio first reported the resignation, and cited McFarland’s letter, where the IG said he was comforted by the leadership of acting OPM director Beth Cobert in dealing with the agency’s current challenges.
“Further, she seems to be arduously striving to institute high standards of professionalism as she works to reinvigorate this great agency,” McFarland’s letter said.
McFarland has been OPM’s IG since 1990 and has recently tangled with the agency over the fallout of its massive cyber breach that exposed the personal information of 21.5 million people.
The inspector general had recently criticized how OPM handled its IT upgrade, including how contracts for the security fix were awarded.
McFarland also clashed with OPM CIO Donna Seymour, who has weathered calls for her resignation from House Oversight Committee chair Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah.
In his resignation letter, McFarland also recommended that deputy inspector general Norbert Vint succeed him.
McFarland’s resignation is effective Feb. 19.
