U.S. Department of Transportation OIG
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is committed to fulfilling its statutory responsibilities and supporting members of Congress, the Secretary, senior Department officials, and the public in achieving a safe, efficient, and effective transportation system. Since OIG was established in 1979, we have been dedicated to providing independent and objective reviews of the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of Department of Transportation (DOT) programs and operations, and to detecting and preventing fraud, waste, abuse, and criminal violations of laws affecting DOT.
By law, the Inspector General (IG) reports to the Secretary of Transportation and Congress. OIG is the principal law enforcement office within DOT with authority to carry firearms, execute warrants, and make arrests. OIG often collaborate with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement entities, and must report possible criminal violations to the U.S. Attorney General. OIG’s Office of Investigations also manages our Hotline Complaint Center that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This office is also responsible for investigating whistleblower complaints, including those referred by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.
OIG’s Office of Auditing and Evaluation is comprised of auditors, analysts, information technology experts, economists, statisticians, engineers, accountants, and other subject matter experts. In addition to performance audits aimed at improving the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of transportation programs, our audit staff specialize in financial management, information technology, and acquisition and procurement audits. While OIG’s work is akin to that of private sector auditors and management consultants, OIG reports are made available to the public via the USDOT website.
OIG neither issues regulations nor sets departmental policy. OIG’s role is to provide facts for the policy-makers in the Department and Congress. One of OIG’s key deliverables is our statutorily required annual report on DOT’s top management challenges (TMC), which provides a forward looking assessment for the coming fiscal year to aid DOT’s operating administrations in focusing attention on the most serious management and performance issues facing the Department. For fiscal year 2019, OIG identified eight major challenges facing DOT:
1. Effectively implementing FAA’s new safety oversight strategy
2. Protecting against a wide range of threats to aviation safety and security
3. Maintaining focus on the railroad industry’s implementation of positive train control
4. Improving NHTSA’s data use, processes, and oversight of vehicle safety defects
5. Providing effective stewardship over surface infrastructure safety and investments
6. Modernizing the National Airspace System while introducing new capabilities and making sound investment decisions
7. Systematizing cybersecurity strategies to deter surging cyber threats
8. Harnessing innovative procurement and financing practices while maintaining oversight of acquisitions, grants, and assets
OIG investigates allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, and other violations of law by DOT employees, contractors, grantees, and regulated entities. Some of the most significant issues we investigated fiscal year 2019 include:
OIG conducts independent and objective audits and reviews of DOT programs and activities to ensure they operate economically, efficiently, and effectively. Some of the significant issues reviewed fiscal year 2019 include: