The WMATA Hotline is operated and managed by the WMATA OIG. Because the WMATA OIG operates independently from WMATA, you can be assured that your submission is not, in any way, monitored or filtered by WMATA. The WMATA OIG will, as appropriate, take action on your submission. Each method of making a complaint is provided directly to the WMATA OIG. Choose the method which is best suited to you.
Choose a method below for reporting a complaint or information to the WMATA OIG:
Providing Information
The more information you provide, the better we will be able to determine appropriate measures to address your concerns.
If possible, you should include information that answers the following questions:
- Who committed the wrongdoing (name of person, company or organization), who may have been a victim, and who may be a witness?
- What exactly did the person, company or organization do?
- Where did the wrongdoing take place?
- When did the wrongdoing happen?
- Why did the person, company, or organization commit the wrongdoing?
In addition, please include information about any other potential leads, documents, or evidence that may be helpful.
You may provide information anonymously, but you should be aware that if we require further information to assess your complaint, we may not be able to act on your report unless you disclose your identity to us.
What to Expect After Reporting Information to the Hotline
Upon receipt of your information, the WMATA OIG may take any one of the following actions:
- Initiate an investigation, audit, evaluation, or inspection;
- Refer the matter to Metro Police or other law enforcement;
- Refer the matter to WMATA management for appropriate review and action; and/or
- Refer the information to another Federal agency, including other Offices of Inspector General.
If the information we receive does not have enough detail for us to proceed or if we cannot assess the merit of the information, we may postpone taking action until further, specific details are reported.
If you have provided your identity, unless you are contacted directly by one of our special agents or other staff, there will be no communication from our office to you except for correspondence that may advise you that your matter has been referred.
The information you provide will be processed according to our internal policies and guidelines, and appropriate action will be taken pursuant to those policies and guidelines. The decision to take action relating to a Hotline report through an investigation, audit evaluation, inspection, or otherwise is made solely by WMATA OIG.
Confidentiality and Privacy
It is WMATA OIG policy that WMATA OIG personnel will not disclose the identity of individuals submitting a complaint or information to the WMATA Hotline unless the individual consents to such disclosure, or unless the WMATA Inspector General determines that such disclosure is unavoidable in the course of an investigation. While rare, such disclosure may become necessary if required by law, in certain situations involving a specific danger to health, safety, or national security, or in other exigent circumstances.
You are not required to identify yourself when submitting a WMATA Hotline complaint.
In addition to filing anonymously (where you do not give the WMATA Hotline any identifying information), you may also indicate your election of consent or non-consent to disclosure. Please keep in mind that, if you choose to file anonymously, OIG will be unable to request additional information from you and may be unable to investigate your complaint effectively. Also, if you request confidentiality and decline to waive it later if so requested, this may limit OIG’s ability to ensure proper handling and disposition of the matter and may result in closure due to insufficient information.
Matters Which May Be Resolved Via Different Channels
Certain matters may be better resolved through other channels instead of the WMATA Hotline. A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) identify matters which are NOT generally investigated by the WMATA OIG.
WMATA Hotline Pamphlets and Poster
WMATA Hotline pamphlet
WMATA Hotline poster
WMATA OIG Audit Process pamphlet
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Thank you for reporting information to the WMATA OIG
While we appreciate the information you report, we will not provide you with the “status” of any action(s) taken as the result of your report. There are many reasons for this, including the need to maintain integrity and appropriate confidentiality in OIG investigations, as well as to protect the legitimate privacy interests of individuals affected by our investigations
Thank you for reporting your concerns to us, and for your participation in preventing waste, fraud and abuse and promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in WMATA activities.