About Us

The Office of Inspector General at the Department of Commerce monitors the Department's use of the roughly $5 billion it spends each year on a diverse range of programs and activities: through its 14 operating units, Commerce provides national and local weather services, advances technological and scientific innovation, protects and restores environmental resources, provides key economic and demographic data (including the decennial census of Americans), promotes international trade, and supports local, regional, and national economic development. These activities in one way or another touch the lives of every American, impact U.S. business and industry, and play a critical role in the nation's economic well-being.

To keep the Department accountable for its use of federal funds, we conduct audits, evaluations, and investigations of Commerce activities. We report our findings to Congress and agency management so that they can objectively assess the return on the public's investment and improve operations as needed.