Office of Inspector General for the Department of Transportation
Formed | 1978 |
---|---|
Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
Parent agency | U.S. Department of Transportation |
Inspector General | Eric J. Soskin |
Website | www |
The U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG) is one of the Inspector General offices created by the Inspector General Act of 1978. The Inspector General for the Department of Transportation, like the Inspectors General of other federal departments and agencies, is charged with monitoring and auditing department programs to combat waste, fraud, and abuse.
The Inspector General is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation and assists Congress, the Secretary of Transportation, and senior department officials in achieving a safe, efficient, and effective transportation system that meets the national interests and enhances the quality of life.
Under the Inspector General Act of 1978, the Office of Inspector General is given autonomy to do its work without political interference. Although chosen by the President, Inspectors General are required to be selected based on integrity and ability, not political affiliation. The Inspector General Act of 1978 prevents officials in the scrutinized agency from interfering with audits or investigations and requires the IG to keep the Secretary of Transportation and Congress informed of findings, although much of OIG's work is accomplished with the cooperation of officials whose programs are being reviewed. Within the Office of Investigations, the OIG employs both criminal investigators and general investigators.[1]
The OIG carries out its mission by issuing audit reports, evaluations, and management advisories with findings and recommendations to improve program delivery and performance. In fiscal year 2006, OIG issued 76 audit reports, which identified more than $893 million in financial recommendations.
History of Inspectors General
Inspector General[2] | Date started[2] |
---|---|
Eric J. Soskin | January 11, 2021[3] |
Howard R. Elliott (Acting) | May 15, 2020[4] |
Mitch Behm (Acting) | February 1, 2020[5] |
Calvin L. Scovel III | October 27, 2006 |
Todd J. Zinser (Acting) | February 11, 2006 |
Kenneth M. Mead | May 29, 1997 |
Joyce Fleischman (Acting) | August 12, 1996 |
Mario A. Lauro, Jr. (Deputy) | July 8, 1996 |
Mary Schiavo | October 31, 1990 |
Raymond J. DeCarli (Acting) | January 1, 1990 |
John W. Melchner | October 12, 1986 |
Joseph J. Genovese (Acting) | January 1, 1986 |
Joseph P. Welsch | July 18, 1981 |
Joseph J. Genovese (Acting) | January 22, 1981 |
Frank S. Sato | May 10, 1979 |
Audit
The Office of Auditing and Evaluation supervises and conducts independent and objective audits and other reviews of DOT programs and activities to ensure they operate economically, efficiently, and effectively. This office is divided according to specific DOT program areas into four sub-offices: Aviation; Information Technology and Financial Management; Surface Transportation; and Acquisition and Procurement.[6]
Leadership
In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier General Calvin L. Scovel III, to become the Transportation Department's Inspector General (I.G.)[7] In January 2020, Scovel announced his retirement. In May 2020, President Donald Trump nominated Eric Soskin, a senior trial attorney in the Department of Justice for the last 14 years. He was from Indiana and was selected to replace Scovel.[8] Soskin was confirmed by the Senate in December 2020. Soskin was sworn in as the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation on January 11, 2021.[9]
Office of Investigations
The Office of Investigations is composed of criminal and general investigators who are responsible for conducting criminal, civil, and administrative investigations of fraud and a variety of other allegations affecting DOT, its operating administrations, programs, and grantees (grant funds). The Office of Investigation's top priorities involve crimes with a public safety impact, procurement and grant fraud schemes that significantly impact DOT funds, consumer and workforce fraud, and employee integrity violations. The Office of Investigations also manages a Hotline Complaint Center and investigates whistleblower complaints, including those referred by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.[10]
References
- ^ "Investigations | Office of Inspector General | U.S. Department of Transportation".
- ^ a b "Inspector General Historical Data" (PDF). Council of Inspector Generals on Integrity and Efficiency. July 25, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ "The Inspector General | Office of Inspector General | U.S. Department of Transportation". www.oig.dot.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ "The Inspector General | Office of Inspector General | U.S. Department of Transportation". www.oig.dot.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ "Trump's Decision to Fire the State Department's Watchdog Draws Bipartisan Concern on Capitol Hill". Government Executive. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ "Audits". www.oig.dot.gov. Office of Inspector General. Retrieved 2017-02-15. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Nominations to the Department of Transportation, United States Senate, September 21, 2006. Retrieved May 16, 2020].
- ^ State Department Inspector General fired, Politico, Meredith McGraw and Nahal Toosi, May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
- ^ "PN2029 - Nomination of Eric J. Soskin for Department of Transportation, 116th Congress (2019-2020)". www.congress.gov. 2020-12-21. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
- ^ "Investigations". www.oig.dot.gov. Office of Inspector General. Retrieved 2017-02-15. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
External links
- Official website
- v
- t
- e
Department OIGs
agencies
- Agency for International Development
- Corporation for National and Community Service
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Export-Import Bank
- Federal Communications Commission
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
- Federal Housing Finance Agency
- General Services Administration
- NASA
- National Reconnaissance Office
- National Security Agency
- Office of Personnel Management
- Small Business Administration
- Social Security
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- Tax Administration (IRS)
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Railroad Retirement Board
federal entities
- Amtrak
- Appalachian Regional Commission
- Federal Reserve System & Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- AbilityOne
- 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 Election Commission
- Federal Labor Relations Authority
- Federal Maritime Commission
- Federal Trade Commission
- Legal Services Corporation
- National Archives & 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
- Development Finance Corporation
- International Trade Commission
- Postal Service
- Securities and Exchange Commission
- Architect of the Capitol
- Capitol Police
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Government Accountability Office
- Government Publishing Office
- House of Representatives
- Intelligence Community
- Library of Congress
- Coalition Provisional Authority
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Iraq Reconstruction