Investigations

The Office of Investigations is comprised of criminal and general investigators that 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, fraud schemes that significantly impact DOT funds, and employee integrity violations. Common public safety investigations include corporate conspiracies to evade truckers' hours-of-service regulations, substandard aviation parts, and transport of hazardous materials. Common fraud investigations include bid-rigging and collusion, time and materials overcharging, product substitution, disadvantaged business enterprise fraud, bribery and kickbacks, and theft and embezzlement.  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.