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About Amtrak OIG

Vision, Mission, and Authority

Vision

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) strives to provide Amtrak’s employees, its customers, the public, and the Congress with the highest quality service and programs through vigilance, timely action, accuracy, and an overall commitment to excellence across the broad range of OIG responsibilities.

Mission

The OIG will conduct and supervise independent and objective audits, inspections, evaluations, and investigations relating to agency programs and operations; promote economy, effectiveness and efficiency within the agency; prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in agency programs and operations; review security and safety policies and programs, and, review and make recommendations regarding existing and proposed legislation and regulations relating to Amtrak’s programs and operations.

Authority

The Inspector General Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-452, 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3), as amended in1988 (P.L. 100-504), established the Office of Inspector General for Amtrak to consolidate existing investigative and audit resources into independent organizations headed by an Inspector General (IG) to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness; and, prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse. Subsequently, the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-409) amended and strengthened the authority of the Offices of the Inspectors General. 
The OIG Strategic Plan reflects the OIG’s goals and perceptions of how best it can affect the mission of OIG’s, as spelled out in the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, (IG Act):

  • Conduct and supervise independent and objective audits inspections, evaluations, and investigations relating to agency programs and operations;
  • Promote economy, effectiveness and efficiency within Amtrak and the OIG;
  • Prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse in Amtrak programs and operations;
  • Review security and safety policies and programs;
  • Make recommendations regarding existing and proposed legislation and regulations relating to Amtrak's programs and operations; and
  • Keep the head of Amtrak and Congress fully and currently informed of problems in company programs and operations.

 

To ensure objectivity, the IG Act empowers Inspector Generals with:

  • Independence to determine what reviews to perform;
  • Access to all information necessary for the reviews;
  • Authority to publish findings and recommendations based on the reviews.

 

Guiding Principles and Values

OIG principles and values are important because they form the building blocks used to accomplish its mission and conduct its day-to-day operations:

Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General will:

  • Quality, Relevant, and Timely — Provide valuable and timely service. Work products are high quality, relevant, timely, and add value and are responsive to the needs of Amtrak, and its stakeholders;
  • Independence and Objectivity — Be committed to carry out its mission with objectivity and independence, both in appearance and fact. Conflicts, improper influence, or other impediments do not interfere with our work;
  • Customer Service — Strive to be aware of the needs of stakeholders and work with Amtrak’s chairman, the Board of Directors, and the Congress to improve program management;
  • Innovation — Be innovative, question existing procedures, and suggest improvements. New ideas and creativity are fundamental to continued growth, development, and problem solving;
  • Respecting and Developing People — Create an environment that supports gathering, sharing, and retaining knowledge, fosters treating everyone fairly and with mutual respect through words and actions, ensures professional growth, and values the diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives of employees; and,
  • Professionalism — Be committed to our professional standards and will foster relationships with stakeholders that rely on communication and cooperation. Relationships with program managers are based on a shared commitment to improving program operations and effectiveness.