The IG community has recognized more than 87 individuals and groups at an annual awards event sponsored by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.
The work of IG offices in 2014 included identifying $13.8 billion in potential savings from audit recommendations; $32.7 billion in potential savings from investigative recoveries and receivables; over 5,500 indictments and criminal informations; over 5,800 successful prosecutions; over 5,100 suspensions and debarments; and over 547,000 hotline complaints processed, the group said.
Investigations honored include: one by the Energy IG that led to a successful prosecution regarding special education funds; one by the Agriculture IG that led to convictions on charges of defrauding the crop insurance program; one by the VA IG that led to convictions on charges regarding misuse of patient information; a multi-agency investigation into fraud against federal disability programs; and investigations into safety, bid-rigging, services to veterans, and more.
The recognition comes at a time when the IG community is in a running dispute with the Justice Department over a legal ruling regarding access to certain information. That followed general complaints that the Obama administration does not fully cooperate with auditors and investigators under the IG Act. Those complaints have resulted in several congressional hearings and pending legislation to strengthen IG powers.
