Inspector General Mission

When I raised my right hand and took the oath as Inspector General of the United States Department of Labor, I did not feel like I was starting something new. I felt like I was continuing something I began decades ago—enforcing the law, protecting people who can’t protect themselves, and holding powerful interests accountable.

I have spent my life in public service wearing different uniforms—as a volunteer fire chief, a detective, as a local official, as a Member of Congress, and now as a federal Inspector General. But the purpose behind every one of those roles has always been the same: to make sure the system works for the people it is supposed to serve.

This job matters because when oversight fails, real people get hurt.

Workers lose wages. Families lose benefits. Taxpayers get robbed. Criminals thrive.

I will work with civilians, special agents, and others to change that.

Long before I ever set foot in Congress, I was a law enforcement officer walking neighborhoods, responding to calls, and seeing firsthand what happens when the law is not enforced. I worked fraud cases. I dealt with organized crime. I saw victims who had been cheated, exploited, or abused—often by people who thought they were untouchable. Those experiences shaped me. They taught me that crime is not always loud. Sometimes it happens quietly, through paperwork, shell companies, fake invoices, and manipulated systems. But the damage is just as real.

When I later served in elected office and in Congress, I never forgot that. I pushed for tougher penalties for fraud, stronger oversight of government programs, and protections for workers and victims. I learned how federal agencies operate—where the money flows, where the loopholes are, and where criminals look for opportunities.

So, when President Donald J. Trump nominated me to serve as Inspector General of the Department of Labor, I didn’t see it as a political appointment. I saw it as a law enforcement mission.

The confirmation process was rigorous, as it should be. Inspectors General are not supposed to be political allies or bureaucratic ornaments. We are independent watchdogs. We are there to challenge, to investigate, and to speak truth. I was questioned by Senators from both parties about my independence, my views on whistleblowers, my commitment to following the facts wherever they lead, and my willingness to investigate wrongdoing even when it is uncomfortable.

My answer was simple: I have spent my career doing exactly that.

After hearings, background checks, and scrutiny, the Senate confirmed me. That vote was not a gift. It was a responsibility and one I take very seriously.

The Department of Labor touches nearly every American worker. Wages. Workplace safety. Unemployment insurance. Job training. Benefits. Enforcement. When those systems work, they lift people up. When they are abused, they become magnets for criminals.

My mission as Inspector General is straightforward. I am committed to protecting American workers, protecting taxpayers, and enforcing the law. We will aggressively pursue fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct without fear or favor. The Office of Inspector General is not just an auditing shop. We are a law enforcement agency. Our criminal investigators carry badges and guns for a reason. They execute search warrants. They make arrests. They put criminals in behind bars. Under my leadership, that enforcement mission will be front and center.

One of the most alarming examples of what happens when oversight breaks down is what we have seen in Minnesota. There, massive fraud schemes targeted federal programs meant to feed families, support workers, and help people get back on their feet. Instead, organized criminal networks set up shell companies, falsified records, and stole tens of millions of dollars. These were not clerical errors. These were deliberate criminal enterprises.

That money didn’t just disappear. It was stolen from taxpayers and from the very people those programs were meant to help. Minnesota is not unique. It is a warning. Wherever federal dollars flow, criminals will follow. And wherever oversight is weak, fraud will grow. My office is expanding investigations not only in Minnesota but across the country to identify these schemes, dismantle them, and hold the people behind them accountable. We will use data. We will use interagency partnerships. And we will use old-fashioned police work.

Some of the most heartbreaking cases we deal with involve human trafficking, especially labor trafficking. People are brought into this country or moved around it, forced to work in brutal conditions, threatened, abused, and exploited for profit. Sometimes they are hidden in plain sight—in construction, agriculture, domestic work, and other industries. These are not just violations of labor law. They are crimes against humanity. As Inspector General, I am making the fight against trafficking a top priority. We are strengthening partnerships with Homeland Security, the FBI, and state and local law enforcement to identify trafficking rings that exploit workers and abuse federal programs. Every case we bring is not just about enforcement; it is about rescuing victims.

At the end of the day, this office exists for one reason: to protect American workers. When someone steals wages, that is not a bookkeeping issue, it is food off a family’s table. When benefits are stolen, that is rent that doesn’t get paid. When training programs are hijacked, that is opportunity taken away from people who need it most. By rooting out fraud and abuse, we make sure federal programs serve the people they were created to help. That is why this job matters.

While this is a national office, its impact is felt in local communities, including right here on Long Island and in towns and cities across America. When we stop fraud, we protect honest businesses. When we shut down trafficking rings, we protect neighborhoods. When we enforce the law, we restore trust. Oversight in Washington means fairness on Main Street and more affordable communities.

I am also focused on transforming this office itself. That means modern systems, strong whistleblower protections, and a culture of independence and integrity. I want every investigator, auditor, and analyst to know they have the backing of their Inspector General when they do the right thing.

No fear. No favoritism. Just the facts and the law.

From the small village of Island Park to the streets of Brownsville, Brooklyn to the halls of Congress to the Inspector General’s office, I have always believed in one thing: the law matters and it must be enforced.

That is exactly what we are going to do for as long as I hold this position.

Stay tuned… 

Anthony D’Esposito serves as Inspector General of the Department of Labor. Previously, he served in Congress, representing New York’s 4th Congressional District. Anthony served as a Councilman in the Town of Hempstead after retiring from the NYPD as a highly decorated Detective. He also served as Chief of the Island Park Fire Department and helped lead the all-volunteer organization’s response to Super-Storm Sandy. The Congressman appears frequently on Fox News, Newsmax, ABC National News, and 77 WABC Sid and Friends in the Morning. To contact, email [email protected].