Who We Are
National Archives Office of Inspector General (OIG)
We are an independent and objective unit within the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) that helps the Agency to more effectively and efficiently meet their mission. We bring particularly serious problems, abuses, or deficiencies to the immediate attention of Congress while keeping the Archivist of the United States informed.
We are agents of positive change striving for continuous improvement in our agency’s management, programs and operations, and in our own office.
Congress passed the Inspector General Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-452) establishing Offices of Inspector General within 12 Federal Agencies. In 1988 the Act was revised (Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended) to incorporate other Federal agencies including NARA. The OIG was formally established at NARA in April 1989.
Mission Statement
To promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness at NARA by detecting and preventing fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in its programs and operations while keeping stakeholders informed.
Vision Statement
To impartially deliver independent and thorough oversight that transforms NARA into a more efficient and effective organization.
Inspector General: Dr. Brett M. Baker
What We Do
We provide audits, investigations, and other products concerning NARA, its contractors and grantees, and other relevant parties to promote economy and efficiency and to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse. Twice a year we provide a Semi-annual Report to Congress detailing the work we have done in the previous six months, including results of audits and investigations, proposed corrective actions and other accomplishments. In addition, NARA’s Office of Inspector General:
- Functions as an independent unit of NARA
- Coordinates or recommends policies for agency activities and for relationships between NARA and other federal agencies to promote efficiency and prevent waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement
- Reviews proposed or existing legislation affecting the agency for impact on the economy and efficiency of operations
- Keeps the Archivist of the United States and Congress fully and currently informed of fraud, serious problems, abuses, and deficiencies; recommend corrective action, and; reports progress in implementing corrective action
- Reports suspected violations of federal criminal law to the appropriate personnel at the Department of Justice
Audits
The Audit Unit of the Office of the Inspector General conducts and coordinates audits and other reports of the programs, operations, and activities of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Audits examine:
- the management and financial operations of the agency, including its field offices
- the economy and efficiency with which agency operations are managed and the program results achieved
- program effectiveness
- compliance with laws, regulations, and internal policies in carrying out programs
The overall objective of an audit is to recommend improvements in the management and conduct of NARA’s programs and activities. Audits are conducted in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards, including the Government Auditing Standards [U. S. Government Accountability Office Yellow Book].
Inspections and evaluations are conducted in accordance with Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation (Blue Book).
Investigations
The Office of Investigations performs investigations of criminal, civil, and administrative misconduct related to NARA programs and operations. Investigations examine specific allegations, reports, or other information indicating possible violations of law or regulation. In accordance with statutory requirements, we refer apparent criminal violations to the Department of Justice for prosecution.
Investigations conducted by OIG criminal investigators usually are the result of allegations received from:
- agency management and other agency employees
- referrals from other parts of the NARA OIG
- Inspectors General of other agencies
- the Congress
- the general public
The Office of Investigations works closely with the OIG's Audit Unit, the OIG Counsel, and other subject matter experts as necessary. When appropriate, the Office of Investigations works with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Hotline (Online Complaint Form)
The Office of Investigations also maintains the Online Complaint Form. This is a confidential channel for complaints about NARA programs and operations, concerning:
- violations of law or regulations
- gross waste of funds
- abuse of authority
- substantial and specific dangers to public health and safety