Department of Defense Hotline | CLASSIFIED COMPLAINTS

DEFENSE HOTLINE|CLASSIFIED COMPLAINTS

DOD INSPECTOR GENERAL MISSION

The mission of the Defense Inspector General is to provide independent, relevant, and timely oversight of the Department of Defense that: supports the Warfighter; promotes accountability, integrity, and efficiency; advises the Secretary of Defense and Congress; and informs the Public.

QUICK REFERENCE LIST

Hotline Phone:
800-424-9098(Toll-Free)
703-604-8799(Commercial)
664-8799(DSN)

Southwest Asia Hotline:
877-363-3348(Toll-Free)
664-1151(DSN)

Hotline Fax Number:
703-604-8567(Commercial)
664-8567(DSN)

GOVERNING STATUTES & REGULATIONS

Inspector General Act of 1978
Inspector General Reform Act of 2008
DoD Directive 1401.03
DoD Directive 5106.01
DoD Directive 5505.06
DoD Instruction 5505.2
DoD Directive 6490.1
DoD Instruction 6490.4
DoD Instruction 7050.01
DoD Directive 7050.06
DoD IG Instruction 7050.11
10 U.S.C. § 2409

ABOUT CLASSIFIED COMPLAINTS & WHAT TO REPORT

You are currently on a DoD Unclassified Internet Site. As such, the Defense Hotline web pages you are currently viewing are designed to only convey information pertaining to the filing of unclassified complaints. You may not file or submit a classified complaint via the complaint form presented on this web site, if you intend on discussing classified information within your allegations.

If you have information that you believe to be a violation of wrongdoing involving classified information, you will need to report this information using appropriate security channels, as described in the section below. Classified complaints are generally time sensitive due to nature of the information and therefore warrant immediate attention. The DoD Hotline will make every effort to address these in a timely manner. In order to better assist you in resolving your complaint, we encourage you to take caution and follow established procedures. Failure to do so could cause a delay in processing your complaint.

The below listed violations are relevant topics and should be reported to the DoD Hotline:

Breach of classified systems involving Special Access Programs (SAPs) - DOD recognizes three types of SAPs: Acquisition (AQ–SAP), Intelligence, (IN–SAP) and Operations and Support (OS–SAP).
Nuclear Surety
Unauthorized Disclosures

Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act (ICWPA) - Please see section below for more information
Security violations/compromise
Intelligence Oversight

INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ACT (ICWPA)

If you wish to pursue filing a complaint under the ICWPA, it is highly recommended that you contact the Defense Hotline at (800) 424-9098, where an investigator will advise you on filing procedures and timelines. As this unclassified web site cannot receive any SECRET or TOP SECRET information, you should visit the applicable classified Hotline web pages in order to submit your complaint.

The Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act (ICWPA) of 1998 provides a secure means for employees to report to Congress allegations regarding classified information.

The ICWPA is a statute that provides a process by which employees, or contractor employees, of the Defense Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Security Agency can report matters of "urgent concern" to the intelligence committees of Congress. DoD IG Instruction 7050.11, dated 15 February 2007, implements the ICWPA within the DoD Office of Inspector General.

Despite the title of the ICWPA, this statute does not grant special statutory protection for intelligence community employees from reprisal for whistleblowing. All Federal employees are afforded protections against reprisal for engaging in certain protected activities, via other applicable Federal antidiscrimination or whistleblower protection laws.

Please note that in order to submit an ICWPA complaint the following elements must be met:

Eligible Originator: Only applies to employees (civilian, military or contractor) assigned to the four DoD intelligence agencies (DIA, NSA, NRO, and NGA). Does not apply to activities of the military services, combatant commands, or Office of Secretary of Defense.
Urgent Concern: Complaint must be of an "urgent concern" which is defined as follows:
- A serious or flagrant problem, abuse, violation of law or Executive Order, or deficiency relating to the funding, administration, or operations of an intelligence activity involving classified information, but does not include differences of opinion concerning public policy matters;
- A false statement to Congress, or a willful withholding from Congress, on an issue of material fact relating to the funding, administration, or operation of an intelligence activity; and/or
- An action, including a personnel action described in section 2302(a)(2)(A) of Title 5, constituting reprisal or threat of reprisal prohibited under section 7(c) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, in response to an employee reporting an urgent concern.

HOW TO FILE CLASSIFIED COMPLAINTS

As you are viewing these pages from a DoD Unclassified Internet Site, you cannot file classified complaints via this site. In order to report complaints involving classified information, you must carefully follow the instructions below. Please ensure that the documents are appropriately and properly marked as to classification level and that the transmission or delivery method is commensurate to the level of classification.

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CLASSIFIED COMPLAINTS INVOLVING UP TO SECRET INFORMATION:

To submit complaints involving SECRET information, please visit the DoD Inspector General Hotline pages on the Secure Internet Protocol Router Network, otherwise known as the SIPRNET system. The links below are not live links and are presented for information and reference only, as you cannot reach the SIPRNET system from this unclassified site. Further coordination to speak on a secured line can be arranged.

You may submit your complaint via the following methods:

(Preferred) SIPR Website: http://www.dodig.smil.mil/hotline
                    SIPR Email:      Hotline@dodig.smil.mil

                    Mailing Address:    DEFENSE HOTLINE
                                                     THE PENTAGON
                                                     WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301-1900

If you submit your complaint involving SECRET information by registered mail or courier, ensure that you follow
DoD 5200.1-R, Information Security Program, and DoD 5200.1PH, DoD Guide to Marking Classified Documents.

We recommend that you contact the Defense Hotline at 1-800-424-9098 (unsecured line) with questions or concerns involving this process. Unclassified e-mail questions may also be directed to hotline@dodig.mil.

CLASSIFIED COMPLAINTS INVOLVING UP TO TOP SECRET INFORMATION:

To submit complaints involving TOP SECRET information or above, please visit the DoD Inspector General Hotline pages on the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS), found at: http://www.dodig.ic.gov/hotline/index.html. (Note: This link is not live and will not work from unclassified systems or unsecured internet connections.)

You may also coordinate with your respective security office on courier options. TOP SECRET complaints cannot be sent via postal systems. Alternatively, you may contact the Defense Hotline at 1-800-424-9098 (unsecured line) to coordinate delivery. Further coordination to speak on a classified, secured line can be arranged, if requested or deemed necessary.

Submit online form at: http://www.dodig.ic.gov/hotline/index.html
JWICS E-mail: hotline@dodig.ic.gov

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