Inspectors General

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Inspector General Act of 1978, the basic authority governing statutory offices of inspector general (IG), and the 10th anniversary of the Inspector General Act Amendments of 1988, which extended the IG's basic reporting requirements and established IG offices in additional government organizations. GAO surveyed IGs and found that their work covers a broad spectrum of agency programs and operations. In general, the IGs responded that they have the expertise and resources necessary to assemble the staff needed to do the major types of work for which they are responsible. Additionally, although they generally anticipate the level of work to remain the same or slightly increase across the range of areas they review, IGs anticipated the greatest increase to be in information technology reviews. IGs also indicated that they were generally satisfied with their role and the overall legislation governing them, but did identify certain potential areas for modification, which this report discusses in detail.

GAO noted that: (1) IGs' work covers a broad spectrum of agency programs and operations; (2) in general, the IGs responded that they have the expertise and resources necessary to assemble the teams of staff needed to perform the major types of work for which they are responsible; (3) additionally, while they generally anticipate the level of work to remain the same or slightly increase across the range of areas they review, IGs anticipated the greatest increase to be in information technology reviews; and (4) IGs also indicated that they were generally satisfied with their role and the overall legislation governing them, but did identify certain potential areas for modification.