Inspector General (IG)
An independent official within each federal agency who investigates fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement — reporting to both the agency head and Congress.
How It Works
Every major federal agency has an Inspector General appointed to conduct audits and investigations. IGs can issue subpoenas, access agency records, and refer criminal cases to the Department of Justice. IG reports often reveal contractor fraud, improper payments, and systemic management failures. High-profile IG investigations have uncovered billions in defense contractor overbilling, healthcare fraud in Medicare, and misuse of disaster relief funds. The Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) coordinates across all 73 federal IGs.
Related Terms
- Government Accountability Office (GAO) — The independent, nonpartisan agency that audits federal spending, investigates how taxpayer dollars are used, and reports findings to Congress.
- USASpending.gov — The official U.S. government website that tracks all federal spending — contracts, grants, loans, and other financial assistance — searchable by agency, recipient, and location.
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About This Definition
This definition is part of the TaxDollarData Federal Spending Glossary — 31 terms explaining how the U.S. government spends taxpayer money. All definitions are written in plain language for taxpayers, journalists, contractors, and researchers.