The executive branch
inspector general
An independent watchdog inside a federal agency, auditing and investigating waste, fraud, and abuse, and reporting to both the agency head and Congress.
In full
The Inspector General Act of 1978 put an IG in most major agencies with dual reporting: to the agency head and, unfiltered, to Congress. IGs cannot be blocked from an investigation by the agency they audit, and semiannual reports are public. Presidents may remove IGs but must give Congress 30 days' notice and reasons, a protection tested repeatedly.
Also written as: IG
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.