The Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, creates independent audit and investigative units, called Offices of Inspector General (OIGs), at 61 Federal agencies.  The mission of the OIGs, as spelled out in the Act, is to:

• Conduct and supervise independent and objective audits and investigations relating to agency programs and operations.
• Promote economy, effectiveness and efficiency within the agency.
• Prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse in agency programs and operations.

• Review and make recommendations regarding existing and proposed legislation and regulations relating to agency programs and operations.
  
  To ensure objectivity, the IG Act empowers IGs with:

• Independence to determine what reviews to perform.
• Access to all information necessary for the reviews.
• Authority to publish findings and recommendations based on the reviews.

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