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About the Office of the Inspector General
The Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, created the OIG as an independent entity within the Institution to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse; to promote economy and efficiency; and to keep the head of the Institution and the Congress fully and currently informed of problems at the Institution. The OIG reports directly to the Smithsonian Board of Regents and to the Congress.
The Office of the Inspector General consists of the Inspector General, Offices of Audits and Investigations, Counsel to the Inspector General, and administrative staff.
Related information:
Office of Audits
Understanding the Audit Process
Other OIG Activities
Understanding the Investigative Process
OIG Mission
The OIG mission is to contribute to the strategic advancement of the Smithsonian Institution through independent and transparent oversight.
OIG Authority
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is an independent, objective office within the Smithsonian Institution. The OIG reports only to the Smithsonian Board of Regents and to Congress.
As mandated by the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, the OIG:
Conducts and supervises audits and investigations relating to Smithsonian programs and operations;Promotes economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the Institution; Prevents and detects fraud, waste, and abuse in Institution programs and operations;
Reviews and makes recommendations regarding existing and proposed legislation and regulations relating to Smithsonian programs and operations;
Keeps the Regents and the Congress fully and currently informed of problems in Institution programs and operations.
The OIG conducts whatever reviews and investigations the Inspector General deems appropriate. The OIG has access to any information available to the Institution.
The OIG may keep confidential any complaints it receives, and no one may retaliate against an employee for complaining to the OIG.
No one may prohibit or interfere with any OIG review or investigation.
