H.R. 6517 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned, Dec 9, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryCongress takes control of top inspector positions
This bill shifts how three major federal positions get filled and removed. Instead of the President appointing the Librarian of Congress, the Director of the Government Publishing Office, and the Comptroller General with Senate approval, Congress itself would appoint these officials through a special bipartisan commission and a congressional vote. The bill also makes it harder to remove them—requiring a three-fifths supermajority in both chambers rather than a simple majority.
How it affects you
Most Americans won't notice a direct change in their daily lives. However, if you care about government accountability, this matters because it shifts power over these watchdog positions from the President to Congress. These roles oversee major government operations and spending, so how they're chosen and removed could affect how thoroughly they do their work.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Dec 9, 2025)
This bill revises the procedures for appointing and removing the Librarian of Congress, the Director of the Government Publishing Office (GPO), and the Comptroller General by giving Congress the sole authority to appoint and remove these positions.
Specifically, the bill requires the Librarian and the Director of GPO to each be selected by a bipartisan congressional commission (as established by the bill) and appointed by Congress through the adoption of a concurrent resolution. (Currently, these positions are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.) The Librarian and the Director of GPO may only be removed from office by an affirmative three-fifths vote in each chamber.
Additionally, the bill revises the appointment process for the Comptroller General. (Currently, the Comptroller General is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. A bipartisan congressional commission recommends at least three individuals to the President, who may ask the commission to recommend additional individuals.) This bill instead requires the bipartisan congressional commission to recommend one individual to Congress, and Congress may ask the commission to recommend additional individuals. Congress must then appoint the selected individual through the adoption of a concurrent resolution.
Further, the bill revises the removal process for the Comptroller General. (Currently, the Comptroller General may be removed from office by impeachment or by joint resolution of Congress.) This bill changes the removal process so the individual may only be removed by impeachment or by concurrent (instead of joint) resolution of Congress.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 6517
A BILL
To modify the appointment process for the Librarian of Congress, the Comptroller General, and the Director of the Government Publishing Office, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ed Case (D-HI-1) · Introduced Dec 9, 2025 · Congress · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 9, 2025: “Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.”