The EXIM Bank Office of Inspector General (OIG) was authorized by Congress in 2002 (P.L. 107-189) amending the Inspector General Act of 1978 . The OIG commenced operations in August 2007. The OIG is headed by an Inspector General who is appointed by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the United States Senate.
The Inspector General provides independent and objective reviews of EXIM Bank's operations. The Inspector General is required to keep both the Chairman and Congress fully and currently informed about the problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of EXIM Bank's programs and operations and the necessity for corrective action.
The Inspector General provides objective information to promote integrity, economy, efficiency and effectiveness in EXIM Bank's management, decision-making and accountability. The OIG seeks to serve as an agent of positive change, focusing on eliminating fraud, waste and abuse and identifying problems and making recommendations for corrective actions to EXIM Bank's management.
To work together most effectively, the OIG and EXIM Bank should strive to:
Foster open communications at all levels
EXIM Bank should promptly respond to OIG requests for information to facilitate OIG activities and should be open to acknowledging the existence of challenges that the OIG can help to address. The OIG will seek to avoid undertaking its work or presenting its findings without reasonable notice to management. With limited exceptions primarily related to investigations, the OIG will seek to keep the Chairman advised of its work and its findings on a timely basis, and will seek to provide information helpful to EXIM Bank at the earliest possible stage.
Interact with professionalism and mutual respect
Representatives of EXIM Bank and the OIG should always act in good faith and expect the same from the other. We share as a common goal the successful accomplishment of EXIM Bank's mission of serving both U.S. exporters and the U.S. taxpayer.
Mutual respect for each mission
EXIM Bank's officers, directors and employees should recognize the OIG's independent role in carrying out its mission within EXIM Bank, and the OIG's responsibility to report to Congress and the Chairman. The OIG will seek to carry out its work with a minimum of disruption to the primary work of EXIM Bank.
Thorough, objective and fair
The OIG will seek to perform its work thoroughly, objectively and with due consideration to the point of view of EXIM Bank's management and board. When working with the OIG, EXIM Bank's staff should objectively consider differing opinions and means of improving operations. Both the OIG and EXIM Bank's staff should recognize successes in addressing management challenges and advancing EXIM Bank's mission.
Engagement
The OIG and EXIM Bank's management and Board will work cooperatively in identifying the most important areas for OIG work, as well as the best means to address the results of that work, while maintaining the OIG's required independence. In addition, EXIM Bank's leadership will need to recognize that the OIG's limited resources must also be applied to address work that is initiated within the OIG, requested by members of Congress or mandated by law or regulation.
Exchanging information
The OIG will seek to keep abreast of EXIM Bank's programs and operations, and to keep EXIM Bank's management and Board informed of OIG activities and concerns that are raised in the course of the OIG's work. EXIM Bank's management, Board and staff should ensure that the OIG is kept up to date on current matters and events affecting EXIM Bank or that may affect it in the future. EXIM Bank and the OIG will implement mechanisms, both formal and informal, to ensure prompt and regular feedback.
* Portions of this statement were taken from "Working Relationship Principles for Agencies and Offices of Inspector General" prepared by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) , formally known as the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency and the Executive Council on Integrity and Efficiency.