§ 373.5 - Responsibilities and functions.

(a) The Inspector General, Department of Defense, shall:

(1) Be the principal adviser to the Secretary of Defense on all audit and criminal investigative matters covered under Pub. L. 95-452 and for matters relating to the prevention and detection of fraud, waste, and abuse in the programs and operations of the Department of Defense.

(2) Initiate, conduct, and supervise such audits and investigations in the Department of Defense, including the Military Departments, as the IG considers appropriate.

(3) Provide policy direction for audits and investigations relating to fraud, waste, and abuse and program effectiveness.

(4) Evaluate and review the work of all DoD activities relating to contract audit, internal audit, internal review, military exchange audit, and independent public accountant audit service programs.

(5) Investigate fraud, waste, and abuse uncovered as a result of contract and internal audits, as the IG considers appropriate.

(6) Develop policy, monitor and evaluate program performance, and provide guidance with respect to all DoD activities relating to criminal investigation programs.

(7) Monitor and evaluate the adherence of DoD auditors to internal audit, contract audit, and internal review principles, policies, and procedures.

(8) Develop policy, evaluate program performance, and monitor actions taken by all DoD Components in response to contract audits, internal audits, internal review reports, and audits conducted by the Comptroller General of the United States.

(9) Monitor and give particular regard to the activities of the internal audit, inspection, and investigative units of DoD Components (including those of the Military Departments) with a view toward avoiding duplication and insuring effective coverage, coordination, and cooperation.

(10) Provide policy direction for and conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations relating to DoD programs and operations.

(11) Review existing and proposed legislation and regulations relating to DoD programs and operations and make recommendations thereon in accordance with section 4(a)(2) of Pub. L. 95-452 concerning their impact on economy and efficiency or on the prevention and detection of fraud and abuse in DoD programs and operations.

(12) Recommend policies for and conduct, supervise, or coordinate other activities carried out or financed by the Department of Defense for the purpose of promoting economy and efficiency in the administration of, or preventing and detecting fraud and abuse in, its programs and operations.

(13) Recommend policies for and conduct, supervise, or coordinate relationships between the Department of Defense and other Federal agencies, State and local governmental agencies, and nongovernmental entities with respect to:

(i) All matters relating to the promotion of economy and efficiency in the administration of, or the prevention and detection of fraud and abuse in, programs and operations administered or financed by the Department of Defense; or

(ii) The identification and prosecution of participants in such fraud or abuse.

(14) Keep the Secretary of Defense and Congress fully and currently informed concerning fraud and other serious problems, abuses, and deficiencies relating to the administration of programs and operations administered or financed by the Department of Defense, recommend corrective action concerning such problems, abuses, and deficiencies, and report on the progress made in implementing such corrective action.

(15) Receive and investigate, consistent with Section 7 of Pub. L. 95-452 and DoD Directive 7050.1 complaints or information concerning the possible existence of an activity constituting a violation of law, rules, or regulations, or mismanagement, gross waste of funds, or abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to the public health and safety involving the Department of Defense.

(16) Organize, direct, and manage the OIG and all resources assigned thereto.

(17) Perform other duties as assigned by the Secretary of Defense.

(b) The Secretaries of the Military Departments shall maintain authority, direction, and operational control over their audit, inspection, and investigative organizations, including responsibility for their effectiveness and the scope of their activities.

(c) The Assistant Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) shall maintain authority, direction, and operational control over the Defense Contract Audit Agency including responsibility for the effectiveness and scope of the Agency's activities.