More Resources Downloadable Hotline Posters Contractor Business Ethics Compliance Program and Disclosure Form Privacy Policy Whistleblower Protections ARRA Whistleblower Complaint Form Routine Uses Information

Anyone suspecting fraud, waste or abuse involving Department of Education funds or programs should call or write the Inspector General's Hotline (choose the method of contact which best suits you):

• Send an email message to oig.hotline@ed.gov
• Call the OIG Hotline's toll free number 1-800-MIS-USED. The Hotline's operating hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM, Eastern Time; Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM, Eastern Time except for holidays.
• Complete and submit a Complaint Form (English, Español)
• To ensure complete anonymity, download a hardcopy of the special complaint form, complete, and mail to:

  Inspector General's Hotline
  Office of Inspector General
  U.S. Department of Education
  400 Maryland Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC 20202-1500

Your report may be made anonymously or in confidence.

To report suspected fraud, waste or abuse involving other Inspector General agencies, click this link for a directory: http://www.ignet.gov/igs/homepage1.html

For more information about Identity Theft or to report Identity Theft that does not involve federal education funds, visit the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Page or the White Collar Crime Center.

ARRA Whistleblower Protection

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), an employee of any non-Federal employer, such as a private company or a state or local government, who reports gross mismanagement, gross waste, substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, abuse of authority, or violation of law, rule, or regulation, relating to ARRA funds or contracts, may not be discharged, demoted or otherwise discriminated against because of his or her disclosure. This Act provides protection from reprisal only to non-Federal employees who report waste, fraud or abuse connected to the use of ARRA funds.

Under ARRA, the Department of Education Office of Inspector General (ED/OIG) has jurisdiction to investigate whistleblower complaints alleging reprisal for protected disclosures related to Department of Education ARRA funds. To file a complaint please complete the ARRA Whistleblower Complaint Form which can be downloaded from the above More Resources box. Once you complete the form you have the option of sending it to the Hotline electronically, faxing or mailing. The appropriate addresses are posted on this website.

Important: If you submit the form/complaint electronically, please make sure you include ARRA Whistleblower claim in the subject line of the e-mail.

Individuals wishing to report such activities may also contact the nearest OIG office at the following locations: