Department of Defense Office of Inspector General

The Department of Defense Inspector General was established in 1982. The mission of DoD IG; as established by the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, (5 U.S.C. Appendix); and implemented by DoD Directive 5106.01, "Inspector General of the Department of Defense", is to serve as an independent and objective office in DoD to:

• Conduct, supervise, monitor, and initiate audits, evaluations, and investigations relating to programs and operations of the Department of Defense.
• Provide leadership and coordination and recommend policies for activities designed to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of, and to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in, such programs and operations.
• Provide a means for keeping the Secretary of Defense and the Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of such programs and operations and the necessity for and progress of corrective action.
• Promote national security by conducting objective and independent audits, investigations, and other activities to prevent, detect and rectify problems in DoD programs and operations, and to identify opportunities for improving efficiency and effectiveness.

The inspector general acts as the principal advisor to the secretary of defense in matters of Department fraud, waste, and abuse. DoD IG combats fraud, waste and abuse in the Department of Defense by conducting audits and investigations. In addition, the inspector general ensures that the secretary of defense and the Congress are fully informed of problems in the department. Other responsibilities of DoD IG include:

• Providing policy direction for and to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations relating to the programs and operations of the department.
• Reviewing existing and proposed legislation and regulations relating to programs and operations of the department in regard to their impact on economy and efficiency and the prevention and detection of fraud and abuse in DoD.
• Recommending policies for, and to conduct, supervise, or coordinate other activities for the purpose of promoting economy and efficiency in the administration of, or preventing and detecting fraud and abuse in DoD programs and operations.
• Coordinating relationships with federal agencies, state and local government agencies and non-governmental entities in matters relating to promotion of economy and detection of fraud and abuse.
• Transmitting a Semiannual Report to the Congress that is available to the public.

DoD IG is authorized “to have access to all records, reports, audits, reviews, documents, papers, recommendations, or other material available to [any DoD component] which relate to programs and operations [of the Department of Defense]”. (IG Act 6.a.1). The inspector general may issue subpoenas for the production of documents, reports, answers, records, accounts, papers, and other data or documentary evidence necessary in the performance of the functions assigned to DoD IG by the IG Act (IG Act 6.a.1). Additionally, DoD IG has been given the authority to require testimony from any witness who is not currently a federal employee (IG Act 8.i).

The inspector general is nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. An inspector general may only be removed by the president, who must notify the Congress of the reasons for such a removal. The inspector general has independent authority within the department to initiate and conduct audits, investigations, and special assessments in areas involving the programs and operations of the department.

The inspector general has authority to “have direct and prompt access” to the secretary of defense “for any purpose pertaining to the performance of the functions and responsibilities” of the inspector general (IG Act 6.a.6). The inspector general has the authority to “select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees as may be necessary” (IG Act 6.a.7), “directly contract for program services” (IG Act 6.a.9) and “maintain legal counsel who report directly to the Inspector General” (IG Act 3.g).

The secretary of defense may prohibit the inspector general from initiating, carrying out, or completing an audit or investigation, or from issuing a subpoena if the secretary determines that each prohibition is necessary to preserve the national security interests of the United States. Exercise of such power requires notification to Congress within thirty days to include a statement of the reasons for the exercise of such power (IG Act 8).

DoD IG receives requests from Congress, the department and the public. In addition to these sources, DoD IG plans projects based on areas critical to the management challenges of the department, which are published in the Department of Defense Agency Financial Report.

Each component develops an annual plan that considers:

• Legislative mandates
• IG priorities
• Requests from Congress
• Requests from DoD senior leadership
• Defense Hotline complaints

Section 2(3) of the Inspector General Act requires the inspector general to keep Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of DoD programs and operations and the necessity for and progress of corrective action.

Section 4(a) of the Inspector General Act requires the inspector general “to review existing and proposed legislation and regulations relating to the programs and operations of [the Department of Defense]” and to make recommendations “concerning the impact of such legislation or regulations on the economy and efficiency in the administration of programs and operations administered or financed by [the Department] or the prevention and detection of fraud and abuse in such programs and operations”.

In addition, the inspector general testifies before committees of Congress including the Senate Armed Services Committee, House Armed Services Committee, the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. DoD IG audits, inspections, and investigations support the Congress in its oversight of the Department of Defense. In addition, DoD IG meets regularly with members and staff to brief them on IG findings and activities.

• Department of Defense Whistleblower Program
• Inspector General

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Department of Defense Inspector General (PDF).