The Office of Investigations is comprised of Criminal Investigators and investigative support staff that are responsible for conducting criminal, civil, and administrative investigations of fraud and a variety of other allegations affecting USDA, USDA programs, and related crimes. The Office of Investigations’ top priorities include crimes impacting Health and Safety, Infrastructure, Inflation Reduction, Nutrition Programs, Farm Programs, Animal Care and Welfare, and Senior Management Level Misconduct. The Office of Investigations also manages a Hotline Unit, which assesses complaints received, and investigates whistleblower complaints, including those referred by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.
About Office of Investigations
Criminal Investigators stationed in more than 50 offices nationwide conduct investigations in:
- Frauds in subsidy, price support, benefits, and insurance programs
- False claims
- Thefts of Federal Government property or funds
- False statements
- Conflict of interest
- Bribery (to influence an official act)
- Smuggling
- Gratuities
- Food safety
- Animal Welfare Act violations
- Assaults on employees, workplace violence
- Misconduct investigations, including of senior management at the GS-15, SES, and political appointee levels
- Issues involving classified materials, terrorism with a nexus to USDA programs and operations, USDA-related national security functions
- Violations affecting public health and safety
Investigative Priorities
Any suspected instances of fraud or mismanagement of funds should be reported to the Hotline Unit.
OIG Investigations is a law enforcement entity within USDA, with Department-wide investigative oversight jurisdiction and Federal law enforcement authority.
OIG Criminal Investigators conduct investigations of fraud, waste, and abuse involving USDA programs, operations, and personnel.
OIG Criminal Investigators are authorized to make arrests, execute warrants, and carry firearms.
Report violations of laws and regulations relating to USDA programs, particularly if you witness or have knowledge of any of the following:
- Criminal activity, such as: bribery, smuggling, theft, fraud, endangerment of public health or safety
- Mismanagement / waste of funds
- Animal fighting crimes
- Workplace violence
- Employee misconduct
- Conflict of Interest
Online
https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline
Call
Hotline: 800-424-9121
Hotline Local (DC): 202-690-1622
Hotline Fax: 202-690-2474
Write
United States Department of Agriculture
Office of Inspector General
P.O. Box 23399
Washington, D.C. 20026-3399
The enforcement of animal welfare laws is very important to USDA OIG, and we work closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to investigate allegations consistent with or related to the following federal statutes:
- The Animal Welfare Act 7 U.S.C. §§ 2131 - 2160
- The Animal Fighting Venture Prohibition Act, 18 U.S.C. § 49
- The Horse Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1821- 1831
- Transportation of Animals, also known as, the Twenty-Eight Hour Law, 49 U.S.C. § 80502
- The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, formerly known as the Animal Crush Video Statute, 18 U.S.C. § 48
USDA OIG’s principal litigation partner when violations of animal welfare laws are uncovered is the Department of Justice (DOJ), Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), who, together with U.S. Attorneys' Offices, works to ensure full effect is given to the federal statutes and enforcement regimes that provide for the humane treatment of captive, farmed, and companion animals across the United States.
Where appropriate, ENRD's Environmental Crimes Section (ECS) brings criminal prosecutions under these laws against, for example, people who are involved in the illegal blood sports of dog and cock fighting. In these cases, ECS works with investigators from USDA OIG, various Department of Justice law enforcement agencies (Federal Bureau of Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, and other investigative partners.
ENRD also developed a civil program aimed at filing civil forfeiture actions to acquire title to animals involved in fighting operations. ENRD’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section litigators stand ready to file civil forfeiture actions which can often result in animals being permanently removed from their alleged abusers far more quickly than through the criminal forfeiture process. From 2015-2023, USDA OIG’s efforts, in cooperation with DOJ, have led to the rescue of more than 2,400 dogs from suspected dog fighting operations around the country.
Additionally, over the course of hundreds of animal welfare investigations, USDA OIG has learned that certain forms of animal cruelty, such as dog and cockfighting, can be part of a highly organized interstate criminal industry that not only harms animals, but also threatens public safety. Other criminal activities, including drug trafficking, unlawful possession of firearms, illegal gambling, stolen vehicles and property offenses, and child endangerment, are frequently associated with dog and cockfighting ventures.
For more information, please visit the Department of Justice website - About the Animal Welfare Litigation Program.
To learn more about dogs rescued from animal fighting, please visit the U.S. Marshals Service website - Help A Rescue Dog.
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), through strategic partnerships, prepares the federal law enforcement community to safeguard America’s people, property, and institutions.
The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) is an independent entity established within the executive branch to address integrity, economy and effectiveness issues that transcend individual Government agencies and aid in the establishment of a professional, well-trained and highly skilled workforce in the Offices of Inspectors General.
The Office of Compliance and Integrity (OCI) is the internal affairs investigative division designated by the Office of Inspector General to investigate allegations of criminal and serious administrative misconduct by OIG employees.
To report alleged misconduct by OIG employees to OCI, please email: OCI@oig.usda.gov or fax at: 202-260-8993.