Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense

The Department of Defense Inspector General is an independent, objective agency that provides oversight related to the programs and operations of the United States Department of Defense. DoD IG was created in 1982 as an amendment to the Inspector General Act of 1978. It is the largest office of the Inspector-General in the United States.

The office's mission is to promote integrity, accountability, and improvement of Department of Defense personnel, programs and operations to support the Department's mission and serve the public interest. Its vision is "One professional team strengthening the integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Department of Defense". Its core values are Integrity, Accountability, and Efficiency.

Background

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.

Functions and responsibilities

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).

Organization

Auditing

The Office of the Deputy Inspector General for Auditing conducts audits on all facets of DoD operations. The work results in recommendations for reducing costs; eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse of authority; improving performance; strengthening internal controls; and achieving compliance with laws, regulations, and policy.

Investigations

The Office of the Deputy Inspector General for Investigations is the criminal investigative arm of DoD IG. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service protects America’s warfighters by conducting criminal and civil investigations in support of crucial national defense priorities.

Administrative Investigations

The Office of the Deputy Inspector General for Administrative Investigations conducts and oversees investigations of allegations regarding: the misconduct of senior DoD officials, civilian and military; whistleblower reprisal against service members, defense contractor employees, and DoD civilian employees (appropriated and non-appropriated fund); and improper command referrals of service members for mental health evaluations.

Intelligence and Special Program Assessments

The Office of the Deputy Inspector General for Intelligence and Special Program Assessments provides oversight (audits, evaluations, and inspections) across the full spectrum of programs, policies, procedures, and functions of the Intelligence Enterprise, Special Access Programs, Nuclear Enterprise, and related security issues within DoD.

Policy and Oversight

The Office of the Deputy Inspector General for Policy and Oversight provides oversight and policy for audit and investigative activities within the DoD; provides technical advice and support to DoD IG projects; and operates the DoD IG subpoena program.

Special Plans and Operations

The Office of the Deputy Inspector General for Special Plans and Operations provides assessment oversight to facilitate informed decision-making by senior civilian and military leaders of the Department of Defense and U.S. Congress in order to accomplish priority national security objectives.

Independence

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).

Oversight planning

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

Working with Congress

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.

Defense Hotline

About the Defense Hotline

The Defense Hotline provides a confidential means of reporting instances of fraud, waste, abuse of authority, and mismanagement. DoD IG manages the Defense Hotline. Complaints received by the Defense Hotline are referred to the appropriate inspector general, defense agency, or investigative agency for inquiry or investigation. Defense Hotline staff work closely with the inspectors general of the military services and Defense agencies to ensure that complaints are efficiently and effectively investigated and reported.

The Defense Hotline is staffed by professional investigators knowledgeable in military and civilian policies, procedures and regulations; Defense contracting procedures; and provisions of agency ethics regulations.

History of Inspectors General

Personal flag of the office holder of the Inspector General for the US Department of Defense

Oversight community

Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency

The Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) includes 73 statutory Inspectors General of a number of large governmental agencies as well as smaller independent agencies. The Inspector General Act of 1978, amended by the IG Reform Act of 2008, established the CIGIE that consists of seven committees: Audit, Human Resources, Information Technology, Inspection and Evaluation, Investigations, Integrity, and Legislation. The CIGIE addresses integrity, economy, and effectiveness issues that transcend individual government agencies; and increases the professionalism and effectiveness of personnel. The CIGIE develops policies, standards, and approaches to aid in the establishment of a well-trained and highly skilled workforce. DoD IG is an active participant in the CIGIE, serving as a member of the CIGIE Executive Council; as chair of the CIGIE Information Technology Committee; and as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Public Inquiry.

Defense Council on Integrity and Efficiency

The Defense Council on Integrity and Efficiency is patterned after the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. The DCIE is chaired by the inspector general and meets on a quarterly basis to discuss issues of common interest, share information and best practices, and build closer working relationships among members of the oversight community within the Department.

See also

• United States Department of Defense
• Defense Criminal Investigative Service
• Department of Defense Whistleblower Program
• Inspector General

Footnotes

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Department of Defense Inspector General website http://www.dodig.mil/sar/SAR_Apr_Sept_09.pdf.