FAQs
How was the position of the Inspector General of the IC created?
The Intelligence Authorization Act of 2010 created the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community (IC IG) with the statutory authority and independence of other Senate-confirmed Inspectors General to conduct IC-wide audits, investigations, inspections, and evaluations. The IC IG is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Who is the Inspector General of the IC?
Tamara A. Johnson is serving as the Acting Inspector General of the Intelligence Community.
What is the role of the Inspector General of the IC?
The IC IG conducts independent and objective audits, investigations, inspections, and reviews to promote economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and integration across the IC.
The statutory IC IG Forum was established by the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 2010. The Intelligence Community Inspector General chairs the Forum, which is composed of IC Inspectors General with oversight responsibilities for IC elements. The IC IG Assistant Inspectors General chair the Forum subcommittees. Forum members collaborate on IC-wide projects; share information and best practices; resolve jurisdictional issues; and facilitate access to employees, contractors, and other materials that may be of assistance to Forum members. The IG uses the Forum to understand and prioritize IC-wide projects, to seek key IG stakeholder buy-in on projects, and to develop strategies on how to best leverage limited IG resources across the community.
Why have an Inspector General of the IC?
Much like the relationship between other Inspectors General and their respective Agency directors, the IC IG supports the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in ensuring that the programs and activities under the DNI’s control are executed in an efficient and effective manner; conducted in accordance with the Constitution, federal laws, and pertinent regulations; and are free from fraud, waste, or abuse. To ensure proper oversight of these programs and activities, the IC IG’s authorities must mirror the authorities of the DNI, which are unique in that the DNI is responsible for the intelligence activities of the 17 organizations (including the ODNI) that comprise the U.S. Intelligence Community.
Does the IC IG report to the DNI?
While the IC IG operates under the direct supervision and direction of the DNI, the IC IG has dual reporting responsibilities in that some IG matters must also be reported to the Congress. To ensure the independence, objectivity, and integrity of the IC IG Office, only the President can remove the IC IG from office, with prior notification to Congress.
Does the IC IG have to report to Congress?
The IC IG has notification and reporting obligations to the intelligence oversight committees, and must report particularly serious or flagrant problems, abuses, or deficiencies relating to IC programs to both the DNI and to Congress immediately. In addition, the IC IG reports to Congress on a semiannual basis on the activities of the IC IG.
Does the IC IG have authority to conduct investigations, audits, inspections, and reviews of other IC organizations?
Per IAA-2010, the IC IG may, with reasonable notice to the head of any IC element and in coordination with that IC element’s Inspector General, conduct investigations, audits, inspections, or reviews of the element and its activities.
If the IC IG has authority to conduct investigations, audits, inspections, and reviews of other IC organizations, how will the IC Inspectors General conduct investigations, audits, inspections, and reviews within their own agencies?
Some audits, inspections, investigations, or reviews will have overlapping jurisdiction between the IC IG and one or more IC agency Inspectors General. In such cases, the jurisdictional issue will be resolved among the Inspectors General involved through the Intelligence Community Inspectors General Forum (IC IG Forum), which comprises all statutory or administrative Inspectors General with oversight responsibility for an element of the IC. The IC IG Forum was established by the IAA-2010 and creates a mechanism for all IC IG Forum members to share best practices, promote efficiencies in IG efforts, and resolve jurisdictional issues.
If an IC employee or contractor wants to report an urgent concern to Congress, can the IC IG assist?
Yes. Per the IAA-2010, the IC IG is authorized to receive urgent concerns from IC employees and contractors who wish to report such matters to Congress. The IC IG will advise the IC employee or contractor on how to proceed with reporting urgent concerns to Congress in accordance with DNI guidance. However, the IC employee or contractor may opt to report urgent concerns to their respective IC agency Inspector General and follow the guidance provided by that Inspector General. Regardless, IC employees and contractors must follow proscribed procedures when reporting urgent concerns to Congress to ensure that their activities are authorized and that their conduct is protected under Whistleblower protection laws.
Divisions and Offices
Audit
The IC IG Audit Staff (Audit) conducts financial and performance audits of the IC and the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. Audit focuses on detecting fraud, waste, and mismanagement; improving economy, efficiency, and effectiveness; ensuring that laws and regulations are followed; and promoting effective management controls. Audit provides actionable recommendations to improve IC and ODNI programs and activities.
Investigations
The IC IG Investigations Division (INV) investigates allegations of violations of criminal and civil laws and administrative regulations arising from the conduct of IC and ODNI employees and contractors. The division has unique authority to investigate matters related to DNI programs and activities across the IC. The division also plays a principal role in conducting IC-wide administrative investigations into unauthorized disclosures of classified information.
Under ICD 701 (see also: Summary of provisions applicable to IC IG and IC Elements), the IC IG will:
- Review unauthorized disclosure cases where the FBI decides not to investigate or the FBI investigates but the Department of Justice declines prosecution, in coordination with the other Office(s) of Inspectors General involved, to determine whether an Inspector General administrative investigation is warranted.
- Coordinate with other Offices of Inspectors General within the IC to determine, in consultation with the Department of Justice, which Tier 2 and Tier 3 cases (as defined in ICD 701, Annex B) may be suitable for administrative investigation.
- Coordinate with other Offices of Inspectors General within the IC to ensure cases suitable for administrative investigation are reviewed, appropriately investigated, and not closed prematurely.
- Coordinate with other Offices of Inspectors General within the IC to conduct independent investigations.
- Maintain a repository of notifications from IC elements regarding any loss or compromise of classified information, preliminary inquiries, and Crimes Reports on unauthorized disclosures submitted by IC elements, and monitor all submissions to final disposition.
Inspections & Evaluations
The Inspections and Evaluations (I&E) Division's mission is to conduct oversight activities of programs within the DNI's responsibility and authority. The I&E Division provides the IC IG with an alternative to traditional audit and investigative disciplines to assess ODNI and IC programs and activities. The CIGIE Quality Standards for Inspections and Evaluations (Blue Book) gives the Division flexibility to develop tailored approaches for determining efficiency, effectiveness, impact, and/or sustainability of agency operations, programs, or policies. Inspections and evaluations typically analyze information, measure performance, assess allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, identify savings opportunities, highlight best practices, and determine compliance with law, regulation, and/or policy.
Counsel to the Inspector General
The IC IG Counsel provides independent, objective, and confidential legal advice on a variety of legal and policy issues that impact the IC IG mission. The Counsel manages two portfolios: Legal and Policy Reviews and Legislative Reviews and Congressional Engagements.
Mission Support
The IC IG Mission Support (MS) division provides expertise in financial management, human capital/talent management, facilities & logistics management, continuity of operations, administration, classification management, FOIA, information technology, communications, and quality assurance to support all IC IG operations. MS also manages responsibilities associated with the IC IG Forum, a group dedicated to generating ideas to address shared concerns and mutual challenges for consideration and decision by Inspectors General.
Center for Protected Disclosures
The IC IG's Executive Director for the IC's Center for Protected Disclosures works closely with the IC IG Forum, the DoD IG, and CIGIE to establish and implement a comprehensive whistleblower and source protection program for members of the IC IG Forum.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Title 5, U.S.C. Section 552, as amended -- known as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) -- requires federal agencies to ensure that agency information is available for public inspection and copying, and enables individuals to access records of such agencies, subject to statutory exemptions, for any public or private purpose. The 1996 Electronic Freedom of Information Amendment to Title 5, U.S.C. Section 552 provides for public access to information in an electronic format.
The IC IG does not accept FOIA or Privacy Act (PA) requests directly. The Information Management Division (IMD), under the Policy & Strategy Division, is the central point for all incoming FOIA and PA requests for the ODNI. The IMD staff coordinates all ODNI responses regarding the release of records and information.
For more information on FOIA and PA requests, or to make record requests, read released records, and more, visit https://www.dni.gov/foia.
IC IG Leadership
Derrick N. Brown
Acting Principal Deputy
Inspector General
The ICIG has the authority to initiate and conduct independent audits, inspections, investigations, and reviews of programs and activities within the responsibility and authority of the Director of National Intelligence.
Mission
The ICIG’s mission is to provide independent and objective oversight of the programs and activities within the responsibility and authority of the Director of National Intelligence, and to lead and coordinate the efforts of the Intelligence Community Inspectors General Forum.
Strategic Goal
The ICIG’s goal is to have a positive and enduring impact throughout the Intelligence Community, to lead and coordinate the efforts of an integrated Intelligence Community Inspectors General Forum, and to enhance the ability of the United States Intelligence Community to meet national security needs while respecting our nation’s laws and reflecting its values.
Independence
The Inspector General is nominated by the President and confirmed by, and with the advice and consent of, the United States Senate. The Inspector General is independent, both in fact and appearance, and provides effective and objective leadership. The Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community bases its findings and conclusions on independent and objective analysis of the facts and evidence that become known to it through its exhaustive audits, investigations, inspections, and programmatic reviews.
Core Values
- Integrity
- Commitment
- Diversity
- Transparency