As the Acting Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Defense (DoD), and the former IG of the Department of Justice (DOJ), I am often asked about general principles that apply to the work of IGs. IGs occupy some of the most important but least understood positions in the federal government. There are IGs in most federal agencies – 73 IGs in total – and IGs are different in many ways. However, based on my experience in the IG community, I believe several basic principles apply to the work of IGs on the federal as well as the state and local levels. This article is my attempt to summarize these key principles.
