Mandatory Disclosures

Peer Reviews

The Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) maintains a quality assurance program to ensure that work performed adheres to established professional standards, VA OIG policies and procedures, and is carried out economically, efficiently, and effectively. Also, in accordance with the IG Act and other professional standards, VA OIG's functions are subject to external peer reviews. These peer reviews provide an additional external level of assurance of VA OIG's adherence to prescribed standards, regulations, and legislation through a formal objective assessment of its operations.

The Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) prescribes the methodology for performing peer reviews of the various OIG functions. Below are the latest external peer reviews of VA OIG's Audit, Inspection, and Evaluation functions.

Cancelled Programs and Contracts

Pursuant to EO Radical Transparency About Wasteful Spending, below is a list of cancelled programs and contracts:

  • Cancelled an internal OIG DEIA program, eliminating three positions for annual savings of $498,744.
  • Cancelled an OIG directorate’s all-hands training and development meeting, saving $455,064.
  • Cancelled two management training contracts focused on employee leadership development, saving $192,935.
  • Cancelled one data analytics consulting contract and one policy development consulting contract, for a combined monthly savings of about $72,000.
  • Cancelled ASL Interpreter Services contract no longer needed for a savings of $37,021 in FY25.
  • Cancelled a digital news subscription for a savings of $9,800 in FY25.
  • Cancelled a site visit to Denver for a savings of $10,450 in FY25.
  • Cancelled an OPM SES orientation for a savings of $2,030 in FY25.
  • Cancelled a management software program training for a savings of $2,495 in FY25.
  • Cancelled a CFE exam review course for a savings of $2,449 in FY25.
  • Cancelled training course for report editors for a savings of $2,900 in FY25.

FY 2025 Conference Spending Statement

During FY 2025, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted three events in which expenses exceeded $100,000. Below are conference details to include cost, date, location of conference, and other pertinent data.

Office of Inspector General Leadership Meeting

Expenses: $217,998.64
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Date: November 18–21, 2024
Explanation: This meeting provided OIG Senior Executives, Senior Leaders, and Directors an opportunity to meet in-person to discuss current issues, share information, develop strategies for the future, and other OIG initiatives. The event included two days of in-depth meetings with OIG leadership, VA OIG components, and other outside entities. As a geographically dispersed agency, this meeting provided opportunities to network, develop deeper relationships, and help build our team to ensure everyone is working toward common goals. The meeting included a forum for team members to discuss tools, technologies, processes, and to apply them in our organization to improve our information products, workflow, and processes. 

OIG Senior Executives, Senior Leaders, and Directors must work in a cooperative spirit, collaborate and communicate regularly, and share information. OIG is staffed with employees throughout the country. This event featured training from various internal divisions, VA OIG leaders, and other outside entities. Participants benefited from the opportunity to build stronger working relationships with people with whom they do not regularly see or interact. While teleconferencing was considered, it was not a viable option because the meeting required input from all participants as well as face-to-face group discussions and interactive planning. Having all participants convene to provide input, share ideas, ask detailed questions, and conduct group break-out sessions was not possible with teleconferencing. The meeting required input from all participants, as well as including small group discussions, and interactive training. An all-hands meeting provided critical face-to-face contact encouraged by the IG.

Number of Participants Whose Travel Expenses Were Paid by Agency: 152

Office of Audits and Evaluations Cohort D & E Meeting

Expenses: $256,529.10
Location: Orlando, Florida Date: August 3–8, 2025
Explanation: This meeting provided OAE senior executives, directors, managers, and staff in each Cohort an opportunity to meet in-person to discuss current audit issues, share information, and review OAE and other OIG initiatives. They provided non-contracted training that enabled the staff to effectively work together to address and solve organizational issues. This developed and maintained the staff’s professional competency by completing training hours that went towards satisfying the mandatory continuing professional education requirements the audit staff are required to complete as stated in the Government Auditing Standards. This meeting helped build the directorate, cohorts, and division, and provided a forum for team members to discuss tools, technologies, processes, and how to apply them in the organization to improve our information products, workflow, and process. 

OAE senior executives, directors, managers, and staff must work in a cooperative spirit, communicate regularly, and share information. Teleconferencing was considered but determined not to be a viable alternative as it does not allow the ability to properly network. The meeting required input from all participants, as well as small group discussions. Having all participants convene to provide input on a wide range of issues and ideas, as well as having small group breakout sessions was not logistically feasible with teleconferencing.

Number of Participants Whose Travel Expenses Were Paid by Agency: 137

Office of Audits and Evaluations Operational Planning Meeting

Expenses: $242,043.84
Location: San Antonio, Texas Date: September 21–26, 2025
Explanation: This meeting was an opportunity for all OAE Senior Staff, Directors, and Managers to meet face-to face, share and review the FY 2026 audit plan; address and provide solutions for current audit issues, share information, and collaborate on OAE and OIG initiatives. This meeting was critical to continuing to build the team, provided a forum for all members to discuss new tools, technologies, processes, and how to apply them in our organization to improve our information products, workflow, and processes. 

OAE Senior Staff, Directors, and Managers must work in a cooperative spirit, communicate regularly, share information, and collaborate to prevent duplicative work and identify ways to strengthen future projects. Teleconferencing was considered but determined not to be a viable alternative. The meeting required input from all participants, as well as included small group discussions therefore, the in-person forum provided significantly more value than virtual. Having all participants convene to provide input on a wide range of issues and ideas, as well as having small group breakout sessions was not logistically feasible with teleconferencing.

Number of Participants Whose Travel Expenses Were Paid by Agency: 102