SIGTARP (Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program)

SIGTARP, or the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, is an independent agency established to oversee and audit the U.S. government’s $700 billion rescue effort during the 2008 financial crisis. Its role is to ensure taxpayer dollars are used properly, to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, and to promote transparency. SIGTARP investigates misconduct, reports findings to Congress, and provides recommendations to improve the program’s effectiveness, helping hold financial institutions and government agencies accountable and restoring public trust in the bailout process.