Any person who is employed in the Office of the Inspector General, Department of Agriculture, who conducts investigations of alleged or suspected felony criminal violations of statutes, including but not limited to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 [
7 U.S.C.
2011 et seq.], administered by the Secretary of Agriculture or any agency of the Department of Agriculture and who is designated by the Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture may—
in accordance with rules issued by the Secretary of Agriculture, while such employee is engaged in the performance of official duties under the authority provided in section
6, or described in section 9, of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (
5 App. U.S.C.
6,
9). The Attorney General of the United States may disapprove any designation made by the Inspector General under this section.