History
The Inspector General Act of 1978 (IG Act) established Offices of Inspector General in 12 federal government departments and agencies to improve their efficiency and economy. When Congress amended the IG Act in 1988, it established statutory inspector general offices in 33 designated federal entities, including the CPB. In 2015, there are 72 Inspectors General in federal departments, agencies, and other entities.
Authorities and Responsibilities
The CPB Inspector General serves as an independent and objective evaluator of CPB operations and initiatives. OIG provides the CPB Board of Directors, CPB management, and Congress with analyses and recommendations on controls and accountability over CPB operations and initiatives.
Under the IG Act, OIG has the authority and responsibility to:
- Conduct audits and investigations that the Inspector General deems necessary;
- Review and comment on legislation and regulations;
- Recommend policies and procedures to promote efficient and effective operations and to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse at CPB and its grantees;
- Receive and investigate complaints from employees concerning possible violations of laws, rules, or regulations, mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, and specific dangers to public health and safety. If requested, the Inspector General must protect the identity of employees who submit complaints unless the Inspector General determines that disclosure is unavoidable. The Inspector General must also ensure that no retaliation or reprisal is taken against employees who submit complaints.
- OIG has specific powers and protections enabling the office to do its work, including:
- Access to all relevant records, documents, and information at CPB, its grantees and contractors;
- Authority to subpoena documents and, if necessary, to enforce that subpoena in the appropriate federal district court;
- Discretion to perform any audit or investigation that the Inspector General considers necessary;
- Authority to administer oaths, affirmations, or affidavits needed to conduct audits and investigations; and
- Authority to contract for services, and to select, appoint, employ, and organize, as necessary, staff to carry out purposes of the IG Act.
Click here for the full text of the Inspector General Act