U.S. Inspectors General

In 1978, Congress established the offices of inspectors general to investigate waste, fraud, and mismanagement in federal agencies and to promote efficiency and effectiveness in government programs without regard to partisan interests.Inspectors general are unique among federal officials: they are independent of the agencies they monitor, and they report to the executive and legislative branches of government. Often, the investigations of inspectors general draw considerable public attention when they uncover serious misdeeds or mismanagement.In this book, two public policy experts provide an in-depth exploration of how inspectors general operate, the work they do, and their impact. They emphasize the strategic environment in which inspectors general work and interact with a variety of stakeholders, inside and outside the government. Based on in-depth case studies, a survey of inspectors general, and a review of public documents related to their work, this book will be of interest to scholars and students of public policy and public management, journalists, and ordinary citizens interested in how the government works-or doesn't work-on their behalf.