December 17, 2020
MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES 

Improving government–wide efficiency, effectiveness, 

and integrity and enhancing the professionalism 

of CIGIE members. 

VISION 

Advancing good government through collaboration. 

VALUES 

• Integrity 

• Accountability 

• Transparency 

• Collaboration 

• Excellence 
 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

The Role of Inspectors General 

In accordance with the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (IG Act),1 virtually every federal 

agency has an Inspector General (IG). There are 75 federal IGs. Approximately half are appointed by 

the President subject to Senate confirmation, and approximately half are appointed by the agency 

head. 

According to the IG Act, the role of an IG is to prevent and detect 

waste, fraud, and abuse relating to each agency’s programs and THE ROLE OF AN IG IS TO 

operations and to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness PREVENT AND DETECT in the agency’s operations and programs. WASTE, FRAUD, AND 

IGs are nonpartisan and are selected without regard to political ABUSE RELATING TO 

affiliation. They have a dual reporting requirement—to their agency EACH AGENCY’S 

heads and to Congress. IGs are required by the IG Act to keep both PROGRAMS AND 

their agency heads and Congress fully and currently informed about OPERATIONS AND TO 

problems and deficiencies in their agencies’ programs and PROMOTE ECONOMY, operations, as well as the necessity for and progress of corrective EFFICIENCY, AND action. 

EFFECTIVENESS IN THE 

Offices of Inspector General (OIGs) are located within their AGENCY’S OPERATIONS 

agencies but must conduct their audits, investigations, evaluations, AND PROGRAMS. 

and special reviews independently from their agencies. For 

example, agency heads may not prevent the IGs from initiating, 

carrying out, or completing any audit, evaluation, or investigation, 

except in limited circumstances. IGs must maintain their independence, in both fact and 

appearance, to provide credible oversight. 

Under the IG Act, IGs are given broad statutory authorities, including access to all agency records 

and information. IGs also have the authority to subpoena relevant documents and information from 

non-federal organizations and individuals. 

IGs should meet regularly with the heads of their agencies to foster effective communications. 

According to the IG Act, IGs must have direct and prompt access to agency heads. 

1 Pub. L. No. 95-452, 92 Stat. 1101 (codified at 5 U.S.C. app.) 

Presidential Transition Handbook 1 
 

 

 

 

 

West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C. (Source: iStock) 

The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), to which all 75 IGs belong, 

provides training for OIG employees; develops policies, professional standards, best practices, and 

common approaches for the work of the OIGs; and coordinates reviews by OIGs on issues that span 

multiple agencies. In addition, through its Integrity Committee, CIGIE receives, reviews, and refers 

for investigation allegations of wrongdoing made against IGs, designated staff members of those 

IGs, and the Special Counsel and Deputy Special Counsel of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). 

In 2016, CIGIE established the CIGIE Presidential Transition Working Group to coordinate on behalf 

of the IG community with eligible Presidential candidates’ transition teams and to provide 

information about the role of federal IGs to the transition teams and to appointees in the new 

Administration. The CIGIE Presidential Transition Working Group first drafted this handbook in 2016 

and updated it in 2020. 

Presidential Transition Handbook 2 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transition Issues Relating to Inspectors General 

Reflecting their independent, nonpartisan role, unlike other political 

appointees, IGs typically remain in office when Presidential 

Administrations change. This practice has been followed for more than TO SUSTAIN THE 

40 years. INDEPENDENT ROLE OF 

IGS DURING 

To sustain the independent role of IGs during a Presidential transition, APRESIDENTIAL 

transition teams should consider scheduling separate briefings by the TRANSITION, IGs, parallel to briefings by other senior leaders in their agencies. The 

TRANSITION TEAMS transition teams should also pay close attention to the IGs’ 

congressionally mandated management challenges reports—annual SHOULD CONSIDER 

reports that explain what the IGs consider as the most important SCHEDULING SEPARATE 

management and performance challenges facing their agencies. BRIEFINGS BY THE IGS, 

PARALLEL TO BRIEFINGS The transition teams should also focus attention, in coordination with BY OTHER SENIOR the Office of Presidential Personnel, on promptly filling any vacant IG 

LEADERS IN THEIR positions. The IG within each agency is a critically important position, 

and vacant positions should be filled with a permanent IG as quickly as AGENCIES. 

feasible. 

To promote an effective relationship with the IG and to support the mission of the IG, after taking 

office the head of each agency should consider: 

• Scheduling a meeting with the IG to discuss issues affecting the agency, including significant 

ongoing and completed IG audits, investigations, and evaluations; 

• Establishing a regular meeting schedule with the IG; and 

• Sending the agency workforce a message of support for the IG’s mission, underscoring IG 

independence; the IG’s right of access to information; employees’ duty to cooperate with 

the IG; and their duty to report illegal conduct and suspected waste, fraud, and abuse to the 

IG. 

IGS ARE NONPARTISAN AND ARE SELECTED WITHOUT REGARD TO 

POLITICAL AFFILIATION. THEY HAVE A DUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENT—TO 

THEIR AGENCY HEADS AND TO CONGRESS. IGS ARE REQUIRED BY THE IG ACT 

TO KEEP BOTH FULLY AND CURRENTLY INFORMED ABOUT PROBLEMS AND 

DEFICIENCIES IN THEIR AGENCIES’ PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS 

THE NECESSITY FOR AND PROGRESS OF CORRECTIVE ACTION. 

Presidential Transition Handbook 3 
THE ROLE OF INSPECTORS GENERAL 
2 Pub. L. No. 95-452 (Oct. 12, 1978), 92 Stat. 1101 (codified at 5 U.S.C. app.). See Congressional Research Service, 

Federal Inspectors General: History, Characteristics, and Recent Congressional Actions (June 2016), available at 

www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43814.pdf. 3 One additional federal IG, the IG for the House of Representatives, is not a member of CIGIE. 4 The exceptions are the U.S. Postal Service IG (a 7-year term) and the U.S. Capitol Police IG (a 5-year term with the 

possibility of reappointment for no more than two additional terms). 

 

 

 

 

 

THE ROLE OF INSPECTORS GENERAL 

The Inspector General Act 

Following a series of scandals involving fraud in federal programs, IGs were created by statute in a 

few civilian agencies, including the Department of Agriculture (in 1962) and the Department of 

Health, Education, and Welfare (the predecessor to the Department of Health and Human Services) 

(in 1976). After congressional hearings in the mid-1970s that exposed waste and fraud in executive 

agencies, Congress enacted the IG Act in 1978, which established IGs in 12 agencies.2 Since 1978, 

the IG Act has been amended several times to provide IGs more authority and to establish IGs 

throughout the federal government, in virtually every federal agency. 

The purpose of the IG Act was to create independent, objective IGs whose responsibility is to 

prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse and to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness 

in each agency’s operations. 

Currently, there are 75 federal IGs.3 Approximately half (called Establishment IGs or PAS IGs) are 

appointed by the President subject to Senate confirmation, and approximately half (called 

Designated Federal Entity or DFE IGs) are appointed by the head of the agency, which can be an 

individual, a board, or a commission. See the Appendix for CIGIE’s current membership list, which 

also identifies Establishment IGs and DFE IGs. 

IGs are nonpartisan. According to the IG Act, they must be selected without regard to political 

affiliation, based solely on “integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial 

analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations.” 

IGs do not have a term of office.4 Establishment IGs can only be 

removed by the President, and DFE IGs can only be removed by THE IG ACT CONTAINS 

their agency head. Unlike other political or high-level political CONGRESSIONAL appointees, IGs typically remain in office when Presidential NOTIFICATION Administrations change. Moreover, the IG Act contains 

PROCEDURES congressional notification procedures regarding the removal of 

REGARDING THE IGs. If the President intends to remove or transfer an 

REMOVAL OF IGS. Establishment IG, or an agency head intends to remove a DFE IG, 

the reasons for the action must be communicated in writing to 

both Houses of Congress at least 30 days before the removal or 

transfer. This provision has been invoked only three times—once 

in 2009 and twice in 2020.

Presidential Transition Handbook 5 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Role and Authorities of Inspectors General 

IGs have a dual reporting requirement—to both the agency head and to Congress. IGs are required 

to keep both fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies relating to agency 

programs and operations. 

IGs typically brief their agency heads on important audits, investigations, evaluations, and other 

reviews they conduct. In addition, IGs often testify before congressional committees, and they 

regularly receive requests from, provide briefings to, and participate in meetings with congressional 

members and their staffs. 

To fulfill their mission, IGs are granted broad authorities. Among other powers, IGs are authorized 

to: 

• Obtain timely access to information and documents within their agencies in relation to any 

program or operation over which the IG has responsibility; 

• Request information or assistance from any federal, state, or local agency; 

• Subpoena records and documents from any non-federal entity or individual; 

• Take statements under oath; 

• Have direct and prompt access to the agency head for any purpose pertaining to the IG’s 

responsibilities; and 

• Select, appoint, and employ officers and employees as necessary to carry out the functions, 

powers, and duties of the OIG. 

Inspector General Independence 

IGs must perform their audits, investigations, evaluations, and special reviews objectively and 

independently from the agency. 

Several key provisions of the IG Act seek to ensure IG independence, in both fact and appearance. 

For example, according to the IG Act, an agency head may not prevent the IG from initiating, 

carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation, except in very limited circumstances.5 

Moreover, IGs report only to the agency head or the officer next in rank below the agency head. The 

IG Act specifies that each IG “shall report to and be under the general supervision of the head of the 

establishment involved or, to the extent such authority is delegated, the officer next in rank below 

such head, but shall not report to, or be subject to supervision by, any other officer of such 

establishment.” In addition, as noted above, the IG Act requires the IG to have direct and prompt 

5 Under the IG Act, the heads of seven agencies (the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, and Treasury; the Federal 

Reserve Board; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and the U.S. Postal Service) may prevent their respective IGs from initiating 

or completing an investigation or audit, or issuing a subpoena, but only for reasons specified in the IG Act (see, e.g., IG Act, § 8). These 

reasons include preserving national security interests, protecting ongoing criminal prosecutions, or limiting the disclosure of 

information that could significantly influence the economy or market behavior (see, e.g., IG Act, § 8D). If agency heads invoke this 

power, they must send an explanatory statement to certain congressional committees within 30 days. 

Presidential Transition Handbook 6 
 

 

 

 

 

 

access to the agency head for any purpose related to the performance of the IG’s responsibilities. 

There is no statutory definition of “general supervision.” However, this supervision is limited and 

may not be exercised in a way that would inhibit IGs’ discretion to perform their mission, to 

undertake an audit or investigation, to issue subpoenas, or to see these matters through to 

conclusion.6 

To ensure independence, each OIG is considered “a separate agency” for certain administrative 

purposes. For example, many OIGs operate their own personnel offices and determine the 

recruitment, screening, selection, promotion, and discipline of their employees. In addition, many of 

the larger OIGs operate their own information technology networks, separate from the agency’s 

computer networks. 

IGs are also required by law to obtain legal counsel independent of the agency counsel. Specifically, 

the IG Act requires an IG to obtain legal advice from a counsel who reports directly to the IG or to 

another IG. In addition, the IG Act provides that a DFE IG may seek such advice from CIGIE. 

According to the IG Act, an IG’s budget requests must be separately identified within their agency 

budgets when submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and by OMB to Congress. 

Also, IGs may comment to Congress on the sufficiency of their budgets if the amount proposed in 

the President’s budget would “substantially inhibit the [IG] from performing the duties of the 

office.” 

To ensure IGs’ access to relevant information, the IG Act requires IGs to report to their agency heads 

“without delay” the circumstances of any unreasonable refusal of their information requests. The IG 

Empowerment Act of 2016 specifically revised the IG Act to reinforce the fact that IGs are entitled to 

timely access to all agency records needed to perform their oversight roles. 

The IG Act also empowers IGs to request information or assistance from any federal, state, or local 

government. To ensure IGs have sufficient resources, the IG Act authorizes IGs to enter into 

contracts and other arrangements to support their work. Finally, 2016 revisions to the IG Act include 

a requirement that OIGs include in their Semiannual Reports to Congress information describing 

“any attempt” by the agency to interfere with their independence, including through “budget 

constraints” or restriction or significant delays in access to information. 

The Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 contained language to be used in setting the pay of all 

IGs.7 Establishment IGs are compensated at an amount equivalent to level III of the Executive 

Schedule plus 3 percent. Pay for DFE IGs is set by a formula detailed in the Inspector General Reform 

Act of 2008, which ensures that the agency head cannot reduce the IG’s pay based on a 

disagreement with the IG’s work. 

6 Although a few court decisions have analyzed the “general supervision” language of the IG Act, one notable 

appellate decision, United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission v. Federal Labor Relations Authority, 25 F.3d 

229 (4th Cir. 1994), reviewed the legislative history of the “general supervision” language and described the 

agency head’s supervisory authority over the IG as “nominal.” Id. at 235. 

Presidential Transition Handbook 7 
 

 

 

 

 

Inspector General Work and Processes 

Although some projects are statutorily mandated, in general, IGs have broad latitude to determine 

the reviews they conduct and the reports they issue. 

The IG Act requires most Establishment IGs to appoint only two specific officials—an Assistant 

Inspector General for Auditing and an Assistant Inspector General for Investigations. There is no 

corresponding requirement that DFE IGs appoint these officials; in practice, however, this is the 

model followed by many DFE IGs. 

IGs regularly conduct audits of their agency’s programs and 

operations, including congressionally mandated audits, such as OIG AUDITS, WHICH ARE 

annual financial statement audits and the annual evaluation of CONDUCTED IN information security and privacy programs under the Federal ACCORDANCE WITH Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) of 2014. OIG 

audits also cover the performance of agency contractors and GENERALLY ACCEPTED 

grantees. OIG audits, which are conducted in accordance with GOVERNMENT 

Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (called the AUDITING STANDARDS 

“Yellow Book”), OMB guidance, CIGIE guidance, and other (CALLED THE “YELLOW professional standards, can help reduce waste, fraud, abuse, and BOOK”), OMB mismanagement. OIG audits often result in significant taxpayer GUIDANCE, CIGIE savings, improved agency effectiveness, and other efficiencies. 

GUIDANCE, AND OTHER 

Many IGs have also established offices that perform inspections or PROFESSIONAL 

evaluations of their agency’s programs and operations. These STANDARDS, CAN HELP 

projects can also improve the performance and effectiveness of REDUCE WASTE, FRAUD, 

agency operations, as well as reduce waste, fraud, abuse, and ABUSE, AND mismanagement. These reviews are conducted according to MISMANAGEMENT. CIGIE’s Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation (called the 

“Blue Book”). 

IG audits, evaluations, and inspections often make recommendations to management for 

improvement. Although an IG cannot compel agency management to implement any 

recommendation, the agency is required to respond to each IG recommendation and state whether 

it agrees or disagrees with the recommendation. The status of an IG’s recommendations must be 

included in each IG’s Semiannual Report to Congress. In addition, IG recommendations are often the 

subject of congressional inquiry and hearings. IGs regularly testify before Congress about their 

reports, their recommendations, and their view of management corrective actions in response to IG 

recommendations. 

IGs also conduct criminal, civil, and administrative investigations related to the employees, 

programs, operations, grants, and contracts of their agencies. The subjects of an investigation may 

be agency employees, contractors, or consultants, or any person or entity involved in alleged 

wrongdoing affecting the agency’s programs or operations. 

Presidential Transition Handbook 8 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With regard to criminal investigations, the IG Act gives many, but not all, IGs law enforcement 

authority to assist in such criminal investigations.8 These authorities include the ability to carry 

firearms while engaging in official duties; to make arrests without a warrant; and to seek and 

execute warrants for arrests, searches of premises, and seizures of evidence. IIGs refer evidence of 

criminal violations to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution or recovery of monetary 

damages and penalties. OIGs may also work with the Department of Justice on certain civil matters. 

With regard to administrative investigations, IGs report the results of these investigations to agency 

management officials for consideration of disciplinary or remedial action. 

In addition, several IGs have created offices that conduct special reviews, combining the 

multidisciplinary skills of investigators, auditors, evaluators, and lawyers. These special reviews can 

also be hybrid if warranted, involving systemic evaluations of an agency program or operation as 

well as any potential misconduct identified during the course of the review. One example of such a 

project is a 2017 joint review by the Department of State and Department of Justice OIGs of the 

post-incident responses by the Department of State and Drug Enforcement Administration to three 

deadly force incidents in Honduras under a joint Honduran–U.S. counter-narcotics program. 

Another example is the Department of Justice OIG’s review of certain applications filed with the 

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA) in 2016 and 2017 and a related investigation. 

IGs also coordinate efforts with other agencies to combat broad-scale fraud and mismanagement. 

For example, in 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services OIG coordinated with state 

and federal law enforcement partners on a nationwide health care fraud enforcement effort that 

resulted in charges against more than 300 defendants in numerous jurisdictions. As another 

example, numerous OIGs, including the Department of the Interior OIG and the Department of 

Health and Human Services OIG, worked closely on the Guardians Project, a federal law 

enforcement task force that investigates corruption and fraud involving federal funding in Indian 

Country. 

Each IG is authorized to receive complaints relating to potential misconduct or waste, fraud, or 

abuse in connection with agency programs and operations. The IG may not disclose the identity of 

an agency employee who makes such a disclosure without the employee’s consent, except when 

disclosure is “unavoidable” during the course of the investigation. Other laws also restrict the 

disclosure of complainants’ identities, and most IGs allow complainants to request confidentiality or 

file complaints anonymously. 

Many OIGs manage an OIG Hotline to receive and process complaints about fraud, waste, or abuse 

related to agency programs and operations. Although some of the tens of thousands of calls made 

each year to OIG Hotlines are misdirected, frivolous, or otherwise not productive, many lead to IG 

investigations and other projects that result in prosecutions, cost savings, and efficiency 

recommendations. 

8 Some IGs are granted law enforcement authority through the IG Act, while other IGs require an initial determination of eligibility 

by the Attorney General. See IG Act, § 6(e). A small number of IGs have been granted law enforcement authority through other laws. 

Presidential Transition Handbook 9 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under the IG Act, OIGs also help protect whistleblowers from 

retaliation for protected disclosures. Federal law explicitly prohibits UNDER THE IG ACT, OIGS 

government personnel from retaliating against an employee who ALSO HELP PROTECT 

acts as a whistleblower by reporting suspected waste, fraud, or WHISTLEBLOWERS 

abuse to the OIG; moreover, OIGs must investigate claims of FROM RETALIATION FOR retaliation by employees of contractors or grantees and refer those 

matters to the agency head for action. In addition, the IG Act PROTECTED 

requires Establishment IGs to appoint a Whistleblower Protection DISCLOSURES. FEDERAL 

Coordinator to educate agency employees about the prohibitions LAW EXPLICITLY 

on retaliation for protected disclosures. PROHIBITS 

To further facilitate the reporting of waste, fraud, or abuse to IGs, GOVERNMENT 

each agency homepage must contain a direct link to the website of PERSONNEL FROM 

the agency’s IG. RETALIATING AGAINST 

AN EMPLOYEE WHO 

Maintaining Transparency ACTS AS A 

WHISTLEBLOWER BY Transparency is a key attribute of IG work. The IG Act requires OIGs 

REPORTING SUSPECTED to post final public audit, inspection, or evaluation reports (or 

portions of them) on their websites. These reports must be posted WASTE, FRAUD, OR 

on the IG’s public websites not later than 3 days after being ABUSE TO THE OIG. 

submitted in final form to the agency. In addition, in 2017, CIGIE 

launched Oversight.gov to consolidate in one place all public 

reports from federal IGs to improve the public’s access to information about the government. The 

site includes a publicly accessible, text searchable repository of reports published by IGs. 

Each IG also must issue Semiannual Reports to Congress detailing, among other items, significant 

problems and deficiencies identified by the IG during the preceding 6-month period, listing current 

and pending recommendations, identifying cost savings from their reports, and summarizing 

prosecutorial referrals made during the period. As noted above, under the IG Act, the report also 

must describe any disagreement with significant management decisions. The IG Empowerment Act 

of 2016 revised the IG Act to require OIGs to include in their Semiannual Reports information 

regarding the numbers of and nature of investigative activities, including information on 

investigations involving senior government officials where misconduct was substantiated; 

information on whistleblower retaliation; and information on certain closed audits, evaluations, 

inspections, and investigations of senior government officials that were not disclosed to the public. 

Presidential Transition Handbook 10 
 

 

 

 

Agency IGs must issue Semiannual Reports to Congress detailing significant problems and deficiencies during the 

preceding 6-month period. 

In addition to the Semiannual Report to Congress, IGs have other mandatory reporting 

requirements, such as annual audits of agency financial statements, annual evaluations of 

information security programs and practices, annual discussion of the top management challenges 

in their agencies, and annual reports on agency improper payments. A list of some significant 

recurring mandatory reporting requirements is contained in the Appendix. 

The IG Act also authorizes an IG to report “immediately” to the agency head when the IG becomes 

aware of “particularly serious or flagrant problems, abuses, or deficiencies relating to the 

administration of programs and operations.” In turn, the agency head must transmit the report— 

and any comments—to the appropriate committees or subcommittees of Congress within seven 

calendar days. In practice, this so-called “Seven-Day Letter” is a powerful tool available to the IG in 

compelling circumstances requiring immediate congressional attention, but it has rarely been used. 

OIGs are also a resource for the government in times of emergency or crisis, and they may be called 

upon to address specific programs or projects. For example, the IG Act was amended to provide for 

coordinated and comprehensive execution of oversight during overseas contingency operations. 

This responsibility is specifically assigned to the IGs for the Department of Defense, Department of 

State, and U.S. Agency for International Development. More recently, in 2020, section 4018 of the 

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act established the Special Inspector 

General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) to oversee audits and investigations of various expenditures 

and programs initiated pursuant to the act. In addition, the CARES Act required CIGIE to establish 

the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) to promote transparency of the 

coronavirus response funds provided in the CARES Act and other related legislation and to oversee 

those funds and the coronavirus response more generally. 

Presidential Transition Handbook 11 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recoveries and Cost Savings 

IG reports and investigations regularly contribute to significant recoveries and cost savings to 

taxpayers. CIGIE’s FY 2019 Annual Report to the President and Congress reported that the combined 

work of approximately 13,000 federal OIG employees resulted in significant improvements to the 

economy and efficiency of programs government-wide, with potential savings totaling 

approximately $40.8 billion. Based on the OIG community’s aggregate budget of approximately $2.5 

billion, these potential savings represent about a $16 return on every dollar invested in OIGs. 

The potential savings total includes: $29.2 billion in potential savings from audit recommendations 

and $11.6 billion from investigative receivables and recoveries. 

In addition, OIGs strengthened agency programs through: 

• 2,685 audit, inspection, and evaluation reports issued; 

• 18,778 investigations closed; 

• 1,030,743 hotline complaints processed; 

• 4,191 indictments and criminal informations; 

• 1,288 successful civil actions; 

• 4,052 suspensions or debarments; and 

• 4,155 personnel actions. 

IGs regularly make recommendations to agency management for improvement in the operations 

and programs of the agency. Although the agency is not required to implement the 

recommendations, the agency must respond to the recommendations, and IGs report open 

recommendations in their Semiannual Report to Congress. In addition, some OIGs report open 

recommendations on Oversight.gov. IG recommendations regularly result in more efficient and 

effective programs, in addition to the monetary recoveries discussed above. 

The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) 

CIGIE is the coordinating entity for federal IGs. Congress established 

CIGIE as an independent entity within the Executive Branch with CONGRESS ESTABLISHED 

passage of the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008. CIGIE AS AN 

CIGIE’s mission as set forth in the IG Act includes a requirement to INDEPENDENT ENTITY 

address integrity, economy, and effectiveness issues that transcend WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE 

individual government agencies. For example, CIGIE coordinates BRANCH WITH PASSAGE 

projects among OIGs on issues that span multiple agencies. In OF THE INSPECTOR addition, CIGIE’s mission as defined by the IG Act requires it to 

GENERAL REFORM ACT increase the professionalism and effectiveness of OIG personnel by 

developing policies, standards, and common approaches among OIGs. OF 2008. 

Presidential Transition Handbook 12 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A key initiative in this area is the CIGIE Training Institute, which includes an Audit, Inspection & 

Evaluation Academy, an Inspector General Criminal Investigator Academy, and a Leadership and 

Mission Support Academy. These programs train employees throughout the OIG community. Finally, 

CIGIE must also maintain an Integrity Committee, through which CIGIE receives, reviews, and refers 

for investigation allegations of wrongdoing made against IGs, designated staff members of those 

IGs, and the Special Counsel and Deputy Special Counsel of OSC. 

CIGIE has also established a series of standing committees to coordinate among IGs, including 

committees focused on audits, technology, inspections and evaluations, investigations, professional 

development, legislation, and CIGIE’s budget. 

CIGIE has a panel to recommend to the Office of Presidential Personnel and to agency heads 

suitable candidates for vacant IG positions. For a list of vacant IG positions, see page 17. 

Another key CIGIE function is to oversee periodic external 

peer reviews of an OIG’s investigative, audit, and inspection ANOTHER KEY CIGIE and evaluation work by another OIG. These peer reviews 

FUNCTION IS TO OVERSEE ensure that these core OIG activities are conducted in 

PERIODIC EXTERNAL PEER accordance with professional standards. CIGIE also 

REVIEWS OF THE OIGS’ coordinates and communicates an OIG position to Congress 

on potential legislation affecting the IG community. For INVESTIGATIVE, AUDIT, AND example, CIGIE advocated for clarification that OIGs are INSPECTION AND entitled to full access to information necessary to accomplish EVALUATION WORK BY IG responsibilities. These efforts culminated in specific 

ANOTHER OIG. THESE PEER provisions that were incorporated in the IG Empowerment 

REVIEWS ENSURE THAT Act. Among other updates, the IG Empowerment Act confirms 

THESE CORE OIG ACTIVITIES that IGs are entitled to full and prompt access to all agency 

records. It also exempts OIGs from requirements of the ARE CONDUCTED IN 

Paperwork Reduction Act and of the Computer Matching and ACCORDANCE WITH Privacy Protection Act to promote efficient collection of 

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. information. 

OIGs work closely with OMB. The OMB Deputy Director for 

Management serves as CIGIE’s Executive Chair, signifying the 

strong partnership between the Executive Branch’s management 

and performance mission and the OIG’s independent oversight 

mission. Through CIGIE, the OIG community also meets 

periodically with the U.S. Government Accountability Office to 

share work plans, deconflict work projects, and discuss matters 

of mutual interest. 

CIGIE annually reports to the President and Congress on the 

combined work of approximately 13,000 federal OIG 

employees, which results in significant improvements to the 

economy and efficiency of programs government wide. 

Presidential Transition Handbook 13 
TRANSITION ISSUES 

RELATING TO INSPECTORS GENERAL 
 

 

 

 

 

TRANSITION ISSUES RELATING TO INSPECTORS GENERAL 

Historically, because of their nonpartisan, independent status, IGs have remained in office when 

Presidential Administrations change. 

The first Presidential Administration change after the passage of 

the IG Act occurred with the 1980 election of President Reagan. SINCE 1981, EVERY 

His Administration asked for the resignation of all Presidential PRESIDENT HAS 

appointees and did not make an exception for IGs. This created EXEMPTED IGS AS A 

controversy and concern that the removal of IGs gave the GROUP FROM THE appearance of an attempt to politicize these independent, 

nonpartisan offices. Congressional representatives explained that REQUIREMENT THAT 

it was not intended the IGs be automatically removed on a POLITICAL APPOINTEES 

wholesale basis without regard to their individual merits RESIGN WHEN 

whenever there was a change in Administrations. In response, the ADMINISTRATIONS 

Reagan Administration decided to reappoint several of the CHANGE. dismissed IGs. 

Since the 1981 transition, every President has exempted IGs as a group from the requirement that 

political appointees resign when Administrations change. 

The Role of Inspectors General in the Transition to a New Administration 

IGs can perform a valuable role during Presidential transitions. 

Based on their experience and ongoing work, IGs are an IGS CAN PERFORM A 

important source of information about the key issues that will VALUABLE ROLE DURING confront the new Administration’s management team. They and 

PRESIDENTIAL their staffs have deep institutional and historical knowledge 

TRANSITIONS. about the challenges facing their agencies. 

In the past, the transition teams for many agencies have met individually with the IG of that agency 

for a briefing on the IG’s ongoing and recently completed work, as well as the IG’s view of the 

important issues within the agency that will confront the new Administration. It is useful for the 

transition teams to meet with the IG of that agency early in the transition process. Reflecting the 

IGs’ independence and unique perspective, transition teams should meet with the IGs separate from 

their meetings with other management officials from that agency. 

A critical document for the transition team to review is an annual report created by many IGs on the 

top management challenges within their agency. The Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 requires 

most IGs to report annually on their agencies’ top management and performance challenges. The 

report typically provides a list of the top challenges, the IG’s description of the challenges and the 

agency’s progress in addressing each challenge, and a summary of ongoing and completed OIG work 

that relates to the challenge. The report can provide a useful overview for the transition team and 

new Administration appointees in understanding the scope of the issues they will confront in each 

Presidential Transition Handbook 15 
 

 

agency. CIGIE encourages transition teams and new agency leadership to obtain recent 

management challenges reports and discuss with IGs their assessment of these challenges. 

New Administration Officials’ Interaction with Inspectors General 

Once a new Administration takes office, it is critical for each IG and the agency’s leadership to have 

regular and candid communications. After leadership of an agency is appointed, it is important that 

they establish regular communications with the IG of the agency. 

Many agency heads and deputy agency heads meet at least monthly with their IG. Those meetings 

enable the IG to inform the agency leadership about ongoing OIG work, the results of completed 

work, the status of open recommendations from OIG work, and the scope and status of major 

investigations. IGs are also able to answer questions about the processes and procedures the OIGs 

use in their work. In addition, the agency heads have the opportunity to discuss their priorities and 

their views on IG reviews that could be valuable for agency programs. IGs can raise any 

impediments to their work or any areas that the IG believes management needs to focus attention 

on for corrective action. On these and other issues, effective and regular communication between 

agency leadership and the OIG is important to establish an effective and candid relationship. 

In this regard, agency cooperation with the OIG, including full access to agency information and 

employees, is essential for the OIG to be effective. The new agency head should consider sending 

the agency workforce a message of support for the role of the OIG, emphasizing the duty of agency 

employees to cooperate with OIG audits, evaluations, inspections, and investigations; the OIG’s right 

of access to information; and each employees’ duty to report illegal conduct and suspected waste, 

fraud, and abuse to the OIG. The tone of agency cooperation and support for the role of the OIG is 

set at the top of an agency. 

Presidential Transition Handbook 16 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filling Inspector General Vacancies 

The IG is a critically important position within each agency. 

Although the IG has the potential to significantly improve the THE IG IS A CRITICALLY 

performance of each agency, the IG may not be among the first IMPORTANT POSITION 

positions that a transition team or the new Administration acts to WITHIN EACH AGENCY. 

fill when taking office. However, it is important for the new 

Administration to focus on filling vacant IG positions expeditiously. 

In the past, IG positions have often remained vacant for significant 

periods of time, generating concern and criticism. Although Acting 

IGs have performed admirably in many cases, a confirmed IG is in a 

much better position to effectively fulfill the responsibilities of the 

office. 

Pursuant to a requirement in the IG Act, CIGIE provides recommendations to the White House or 

the appropriate appointing authority for vacant IG positions. CIGIE has established a committee that 

reviews potential IG candidates and submits recommendations of qualified candidates for vacant IG 

positions. 

The following is a list of current IG vacancies, by date vacated (as of December 7, 2020). 

Agency Appointment 

Type 

Days Vacant 

Export-Import Bank OIG PAS 2,356 

Central Intelligence Agency OIG PAS 2,138 

Department of Defense OIG PAS 1,795 

Office of Personnel Management OIG PAS 1,754 

Tennessee Valley Authority OIG PAS 1,173 

Department of Education OIG PAS 736 

Department of Health & Human Services 

OIG PAS 

556 

Department of the Treasury OIG PAS 527 

Federal Communications Commission OIG PAS 315 

Department of Transportation OIG PAS 312 

International Trade Commission OIG DFE 282 

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation OIG DFE 225 

Office of the Inspector General of the 

Intelligence Community PAS 

219 

Department of State OIG PAS 207 

Department of Labor OIG PAS 170 

Presidential Transition Handbook 17 
APPENDIX 
 

APPENDIX 

CIGIE Inspector General Offices 

CIGIE’s website provides contact information for most OIGs, including links to each OIG’s website: 

https://www.ignet.gov/content/inspectors-general-directory. 

OIGs in Establishment Agencies 

Agency for International Development 

Corporation for National 

and Community Service 

Department of Agriculture 

Department of Commerce 

Department of Defense 

Department of Education 

Department of Energy 

Department of Health and Human 

Services 

Department of Homeland Security 

Department of Housing 

and Urban Development 

Department of the Interior 

Department of Justice 

Department of Labor 

Department of State and U.S. Agency 

for Global Media 

Department of Transportation 

Department of the Treasury 

Department of Veterans Affairs 

Environmental Protection Agency and 

the Chemical Safety and Hazard 

Investigation Board 

Export-Import Bank of the United States 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 

Federal Housing Finance Agency 

General Services Administration 

National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration 

Office of Personnel Management 

Small Business Administration 

Social Security Administration 

Tennessee Valley Authority 

Treasury Inspector General for 

Tax Administration 

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

U.S. Railroad Retirement Board 

Presidential Transition Handbook 19 
 

 

 

 

OIGs in Designated Federal Entities 

Amtrak 

Appalachian Regional Commission 

Board of Governors of the Federal 

Reserve System and Consumer 

Financial Protection Bureau 

Committee for Purchase From People 

Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled 

(AbilityOne Program) 

Commodity Futures Trading Commission 

Consumer Product Safety Commission 

Corporation for Public Broadcasting 

Defense Intelligence Agency 

Denali Commission 

Election Assistance Commission 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Commission 

Farm Credit Administration 

Federal Communications Commission 

Federal Election Commission 

Federal Labor Relations Authority 

Federal Maritime Commission 

Federal Trade Commission 

Legal Services Corporation 

National Archives and Records 

Administration 

National Credit Union Administration 

National Endowment for the Arts 

National Endowment for the Humanities 

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency 

National Labor Relations Board 

National Science Foundation 

Peace Corps 

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation 

Postal Regulatory Commission 

Smithsonian Institution 

US International Development Finance 

Corporation 

U.S. International Trade Commission 

U.S. Postal Service 

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 

Presidential Transition Handbook 20 
 

 

 

Other OIGs 

There are also Inspectors General established pursuant to statutes other than the IG Act. These 

statutes may incorporate some, but not necessarily all, of the provisions of the IG Act. 

OIG Authorizing Legislation 

Architect of the Capitol 2 U.S.C. § 1808 

Central Intelligence Agency 50 U.S.C. § 3517 

Office of the Inspector General of the 

Intelligence Community 

50 U.S.C. § 3033 

Library of Congress 2 U.S.C. § 185 

Special Inspector General for Afghanistan 

Reconstruction 

National Defense Authorization Act for FY 

2008, Pub. L. No. 110-181, § 1229(b) (Jan. 

2008) 

Special Inspector General for Pandemic 

Recovery 

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 

(CARES) Act of 2020, Pub. L. No. 116-136, § 

4018 (Mar. 27, 2020) 

Special Inspector General for the Troubled 

Asset Relief Program 

Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 

2008, Pub. L. No. 110-343, § 121 (Oct. 3, 2008) 

U.S. Capitol Police 2 U.S.C. § 1909 

U.S. Government Accountability Office 31 U.S.C. § 705 

U.S. Government Publishing Office 44 U.S.C. § 3901 

Presidential Transition Handbook 21 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OIG Major Reporting Requirements 

The following list sets forth some of the recurring reporting requirements applicable to most OIGs. 

OIGs are generally required to post publicly available reports on their websites within 3 days of 

issuance. 

Report/Requirement Source Subject Matter Frequency 

OIG Semiannual Report to Congress 

Inspector General Act of 1978, as 

amended 

IGs must prepare a Semiannual report 

summarizing their activities during the 

immediately preceding 6-month period. 

Semiannual 

Report: April 30 

and October 31 

to the agency 

head, who must 

transmit the 

report to the 

appropriate 

Congressional 

Committee no 

later than 30 days 

after receipt. 

Financial Statement Audit 

Chief Financial Officer Act of 1990, 

Accountability of Tax Dollars Act of 

2002, and Government Management 

Reform Act of 1994 

For agencies that have an IG, each financial 

statement prepared under section 3515 by 

an agency shall be audited in accordance 

with applicable generally accepted 

government auditing standards. 

Annual 

Annual FISMA Reviews 

Federal Information Security 

Management Act 

IGs report results of annual IT security 

reviews of agency programs and systems. 

Annual 

Agency Management and IGs issue a report or statement summarizing Annual 

Performance Challenges the most serious management and 

Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 performance challenges facing the agency 

and briefly assessing the agency's progress 

in addressing those challenges. 

Purchase and Travel Card Oversight 

Report 

Government Charge Card Abuse 

Prevention Act of 2012 

IGs must: (1) submit a joint report on 

purchase card violations semi-annually; (2) 

conduct periodic (minimum annually) risk 

assessments of the agency's purchase card 

program; and (3) submit an annual purchase 

and travel card audit recommendation 

status report. 

(1) Semiannually in 

January and July; 

(2) Annually; and 

(3) Annually 

Improper Payment Reporting 

Improper Payments Elimination and 

Recovery Act of 2010 

IGs must issue a report assessing whether 

the agency: (1) published an annual financial 

statement; (2) if required, conducted a 

program specific assessment for each 

program or activity; (3) if required, 

published improper payment estimates for 

all programs and activities; (4) published 

programmatic corrective action plans; (5) 

published improper payment reduction 

targets; (6) reported an improper payment 

rate of less than 10 percent for each 

program and activity for which an estimate 

was published. 

Annual 

Presidential Transition Handbook 22 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report/Requirement Source Subject Matter Frequency 

Report on Federal Entities Cyber 

Threat Indicators 

Consolidated Appropriations (FY 

2016) - Cybersecurity Information 

Sharing Act of 2015 

IGs of the appropriate Federal entities, in 

consultation with the IG of the Intelligence 

Community and the Council of Inspectors 

General on Financial Oversight, jointly 

submit to Congress an interagency report on 

the actions of the executive branch of the 

federal government relating to cybersecurity 

information sharing. 

Every 2 years 

Council of Inspectors General on The Council of Inspectors General on Annual 

Financial Oversight Annual Report Financial Oversight is required to report 

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform annually about concerns and 

and Consumer Protection Act recommendations as well as issues that may 

apply to the broader financial sector. 

Accountability for Federal Funding 

Report 

Digital Accountability and 

Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act) 

IGs, in consultation with the Comptroller 

General, issue a report assessing the 

completeness, timeliness, quality, and 

accuracy of data sampled and the 

implementation and use of data standards 

by the federal agency. 

Every 2 years (last 

reporting deadline 

November 2021) 

Presidential Transition Handbook 23 
WITH THEIR DEEP INSTITUTIONAL AND 

HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CHALLENGES 

FACING THEIR AGENCIES, INSPECTORS GENERAL 

ARE A VALUABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT 

THE KEY ISSUES THAT WILL CONFRONT THE NEW 

ADMINISTRATION’S MANAGEMENT TEAM. 
www.ignet.gov