What is an Inspector General?
Every federal agency has an Office of the Inspector General (IG) responsible for overseeing how federal funds are spent and for working with the agency to minimize fraud, waste, and abuse. For agencies that received Recovery Act funds, the IGs also are responsible for reviewing their agencies’ Recovery spending to ensure that Recovery-related projects meet legal and administrative requirements. The IGs review their agencies’ administrative practices to ensure that effective controls are in place for managing Recovery funds. After completing a review, the IG issues a report outlining any weaknesses or challenges and makes recommendations to improve controls. The IGs also work with managers of federal programs and recipients of Recovery funds to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. If an allegation of fraud, waste, or abuse is received by an Inspector General, he or she will determine the validity of the claim and, if necessary, take further action.
The Inspector General is a personal staff officer of the commander, providing the commander with a sounding board for sensitive issues. The IG is an extension of the commander, his or her eyes, ears, and conscience. The role of the Inspector General is to determine and report on the economy, efficiency, discipline, morale, esprit de corps, readiness, and resources of the command. In other words, the Inspector General is interested in every aspect of the command. There are two categories of Inspectors General: • Detailed and Assistant IGs are officer and senior NCOs who serve tours as full-time Inspectors General. These individuals are school trained, and wear the IG insignia. • Acting Inspectors General (AIGs) are commissioned officers who perform limited IG functions. They receive complaints, but can only act on matters which are administrative in nature (e.g., pay problems). IG Functions The four basic functions of the Inspector General are used to accomplish our mission. Those funct
