SIGTARP was established by Section 121 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 ("EESA").

Under EESA, the Special Inspector General has the duty, among other things, to conduct, supervise and coordinate audits and investigations of the purchase, management and sale of assets under the Troubled Asset Relief Program ("TARP").

The SIGTARP’s authority to carry out its duties can be found in Section 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978, which includes the power to issue subpoenas.