The U.S. government is currently missing 21 percent of its inspectors general and auditors at agencies across Washington, according to an investigation by the Center for Public Integrity.

The group says 15 of the 73 inspectors general, chief auditors, or whistleblower protection jobs across government currently are vacant or are being covered by acting officials. They include posts at the State Department, Central Intelligence Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, Labor Department, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Appointments at the EPA, the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Federal Housing Finance Agency are being held up in the Senate confirmation process.

"Many of the watchdog job vacancies have languished for a year or more, despite calls by President Barack Obama and other politicians for more accountability in government," said the group in a statement. "The Senate's legislation to overhaul financial regulation would convert five independently hired inspector generals at financial oversight agencies to political appointees, requiring them to be confirmed by a Senate that has been slow to act on countless nominations."