The OIG is composed of more than 230 staff, including auditors, accountants, criminal investigators, inspectors, attorneys, forensic specialists, financial analysts, information technology, management, and business professionals. Staff work in one of six components highlighted below. The OIG headquarters is in Washington, D.C., with regional and field offices across the country. Here are the addresses, phone numbers, and contacts for OIG regional and field offices.
The Immediate Office of the Inspector General
The Immediate Office of the Inspector General is responsible for the coordination and oversight of the OIG’s mission. In addition to providing overall leadership and setting the direction of the OIG, the Immediate Office also provides internal management support; Congressional, media, and public liaison; communications services; oversight of external reporting of activities; and the organization’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts. The Immediate Office is composed of the Inspector General, the Deputy Inspector General, and their executive staff; and three direct report offices: Congressional and Communications Services, Quality and Integrity Group, and the Chief Diversity Officer.
- Congressional and Communications Services. Congressional and Communications Services coordinates communications between the OIG and the Congress, the media, and the public. Congressional and Communications Services produces materials for external and internal audiences, manages the OIG public-facing website and social media accounts (Facebook/Meta and Twitter), and produces the OIG’s Eye on ED podcast. Congressional and Communications Services also provides editing, writing, and graphic design services to all OIG components and facilities OIG internal communications and events.
- Quality and Integrity Group. The Quality and Integrity Group provides internal oversight of the OIG and its employees, ensuring compliance, accountability, and ongoing improvement throughout the organization. Organizationally structured within the Immediate Office, the Quality and Integrity Group is independent of other IG office components. The Quality and Integrity Group conducts internal quality assurance reviews and internal control assessments of OIG activities, conducts internal investigations into allegations of misconduct by OIG personnel, and facilitates the OIG’s enterprise risk management activities.
- Chief Diversity Officer. The Chief Diversity Officer leads the OIG’s effort to ensure integration of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility into our business processes, building an inclusive workplace environment, and retaining, developing, advancing, and recruiting a diverse and talented OIG team.
Audit Services
Audit Services is responsible for audit-related activities aimed at improving Department programs and operations, including Federal student aid, K–12 schools, charter schools, special education, vocational education, adult education, and more. Audit Services conducts analyses, internal and external audits, inspections, reviews, and special studies designed to improve Department programs and operations. When Audit Services identifies problems, it proposes solutions to help ensure Department programs and operations run as effectively and efficiently as possible. Audit Services also recommends changes needed in Federal laws and the implementation of regulations. The work of Audit Services, often conducted at the request of the Congress, can have a significant impact on some of the most important Federal education laws in the country, including the Higher Education Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Investigation Services
Investigation Services is composed of law enforcement professionals who conduct criminal and civil investigations involving Department programs, operations, and funding. Investigation Services’ special agents investigate suspected fraudulent activities by Department employees, contractors, grant recipients, school officials—in essence any entity or individual that awards, disburses, or receives Department funds or participates in its programs. Investigation Services also tackles cybercrime affecting and involving the use of Department IT systems. Investigation Services maintains the OIG Hotline, which provides an opportunity for the public to report suspected fraud, waste, and abuse involving Department programs, operations, and funding. It also operates a full-time, state-of-the-art computer laboratory for conducting and coordinating digital forensic analysis and data analysis, and it processes digital evidence. Investigation Services also conducts outreach and fraud awareness briefings with strategic partners, and it collaborates with other OIG components to develop appropriate enforcement actions and to identify programs vulnerable to fraud.
Technology Services
Technology Services leverages technology to provide products and services that enhance and advance the OIG’s mission. Technology Services conducts information technology audits and security reviews, such as the OIG’s annual Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) audit, which identify risks and offer recommendations to improve the Department’s management of its IT systems. Technology Services also provides data analytics in support of OIG audits and investigations, and it maintains the OIG’s systems, IT infrastructure, and security posture.
Legal Services
Legal Services manages the OIG’s legal and Freedom of Information Act functions. Legal Services’ attorneys provide advice and assistance to the Inspector General and OIG staff on a full range of subjects, including Federal education law; administrative, criminal, and civil law and procedure; and the civil False Claims Act. Our attorneys represent the OIG in administrative litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. OIG attorneys review OIG audit and other reports, administrative subpoenas, memoranda, policy, contracts, agreements, and personnel actions issued or entered into by the OIG for legal sufficiency and compliance with Federal statutes and regulatory requirements. OIG attorneys also provide oral or written legal opinions and guidance to OIG staff on Department programs and OIG operations. They also administer the Federal ethics program for OIG staff and act as liaison to the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney’s Office in criminal and civil matters.
Management Services
Management Services provides administrative and management support to the Inspector General and all OIG components. Management Services also formulates, executes, and oversees the OIG budget; develops and maintains administrative and management policy and procedures; performs human resource support activities; performs facilities and properties management duties; and fulfills the OIG’s external reporting requirements.
For more information on OIG components, contact the OIG Public Affairs Office.