---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 7020"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "7020"
heading: "Inspector General"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/7020"
units:
  - "Subtitle B — Army"
  - "Part I — Organization"
  - "Chapter 703 — Department of the Army"
---

# §7020. Inspector General

- (a) There is an Inspector General of the Army who shall be detailed to such position by the [Secretary](/usc/10/7551.md?p=5) of the Army from the [general officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-4) of the Army. An [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) may not be detailed to such position for a tour of duty of more than four years, except that the [Secretary](/usc/10/7551.md?p=5) may extend such a tour of duty if he makes a special finding that the extension is necessary in the public interest.
- (b) When directed by the [Secretary](/usc/10/7551.md?p=5) or the Chief of Staff, the Inspector General shall—
  - (1) inquire into and report upon the discipline, efficiency, and economy of the Army; and
  - (2) perform any other duties prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/10/7551.md?p=5) or the Chief of Staff.
- (c) The Inspector General shall periodically propose programs of inspections to the [Secretary](/usc/10/7551.md?p=5) of the Army and shall recommend additional inspections and investigations as may appear appropriate.
- (d) The Inspector General shall cooperate fully with the Inspector General of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense in connection with the performance of any duty or function by the Inspector General of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense under [chapter 4](/usc/5/chptI/ch4.md) of title 5 regarding the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Army.
- (e) The Inspector General shall have such deputies and assistants as the [Secretary](/usc/10/7551.md?p=5) of the Army may prescribe. Each such deputy and assistant shall be an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) detailed by the [Secretary](/usc/10/7551.md?p=5) to that position from the [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of the Army for a tour of duty of not more than four years, under a procedure prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/10/7551.md?p=5).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title V, § 501(a)(7), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1038, § 3020; renumbered § 7020, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1838; amended Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(b)(30), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4346.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 3039 of this title prior to enactment of Pub. L. 99–433.

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “chapter 4 of title 5” for “the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 3)”.

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 3020 of this title as this section.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.