Who We Are
The VA OIG has more than 900 professional staff organized into four directorates: Investigations, Audits and Evaluations, Healthcare Inspections, and Management and Administration (including the OIG hotline). The OIG also has offices for the counselor to the inspector general, data and analytics, congressional relations, and public affairs. In addition to its Washington, DC, headquarters, the OIG has field offices located throughout the nation.
The VA OIG engages in extensive coordination and collaboration, including
- fully informing the Secretary, VA leaders, Congress, and the veteran community about identified problems and discussing opportunities for improvements;
- regularly engaging veteran service organizations and other groups for their insights and expertise;
- testifying before Congress, and routinely briefing congressional staff;
- working with law enforcement partners to investigate and report criminal and civil violations of law to the U.S. Department of Justice for potential prosecution;
- coordinating with other OIGs and oversight entities;
- operating a hotline for complainants and triaging allegations for proper disposition with internal and external subject matter experts; and
- providing accessible, credible, and transparent reports to the public and media.
Our Governing Authority
The OIG was established by the Inspector General Act of 1978 (as amended) as an independent agency to broadly oversee the VA. The OIG is also specifically charged by the Veterans Benefits and Services Act of 1988 with providing oversight of the medical care that the Veterans Health Administration delivers to veterans. Under these statutes, the inspector general is responsible for the following:
- Deterring and preventing fraud that targets VA programs, operations, and services to veterans and VA.
- Conducting and supervising audits and investigations involving VA programs and operations.
- Making recommendations to promote the efficiency, and effectiveness of VA operations.
- Detecting and stopping VA-related criminal activity, waste, abuse of authority, and mismanagement.
- Reviewing the actions of VA personnel and people or entities engaged in VA grants, contracts, or other agreements.
- Inspecting and evaluating VA medical facilities, and reviewing allegations associated with risks to patient safety and the quality and timeliness of VHA health care.
- Keeping the Secretary and Congress fully and currently informed about significant problems and deficiencies, as well as the need for related corrective action.