S. 1265 — USTR Inspector General Act of 2025

This section makes the following findings: (1) Congress has the sole power to regulate international trade under Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution; (2) Congress established the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) within the Executive Office of the President under section 141 of the Trade Act of 1974 with primary responsibility for developing and coordinating implementation of U.S. international trade policy; (3) USTR has primary responsibility for administering trade statutes and monitoring implementation and enforcement of trade agreements; and (4) USTR must report directly to the President and Congress, and be responsible to them, for administering trade agreements programs.

This section establishes an Inspector General for the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) by (1) adding USTR to the statutory definition of "establishment" under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (i.e., the list of federal entities required to have an IG for independent oversight, audits, and investigations), and (2) adding the United States Trade Representative to the definition of "head of the establishment." It further directs the President to appoint such an Inspector General in accordance with 5 U.S.C. §403(a) not later than 120 days after enactment.