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State Department's Office of Inspector General Should Be More Independent and Effective

AFMD-83-56 Published: Jun 02, 1982. Publicly Released: Jul 05, 1982.
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Highlights

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the operations of the Department of State's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to determine how differences between its authorizing legislation, the Foreign Service Act of 1980, and the Inspector General Act affect the State OIG work.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
Congress should either repeal section 209 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 and create an independent IG in State by placing State under the Inspector General Act of 1978 or conform section 209 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to the Inspector General Act of 1978.
Closed – Implemented
Section 150 of P.L. 99-93, August 16, 1985, placed the State IG under the Inspector General Act of 1978, as recommended by GAO.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of State The Secretary of State and IG should establish an investigative capability within the IG office to enable OIG to conduct its own investigations. In this regard, they should consider transferring from the Office of Security to OIG those qualified investigators assigned to the Office of Security's new General Fraud and Malfeasance Branch.
Closed – Implemented
State authorized the transfer of four positions to IG to be filled by criminal investigators under the GS system. The April 1984, IG annual report stated that IG will get a total of 10 slots, 5 by transfer from the Office of Security and 5 new ones, under Civil Service and not Foreign Service. State established an investigative capability in OIG.
Office of the Inspector General of State The Secretary of State and IG should establish an investigative capability within the IG office to enable OIG to conduct its own investigations. In this regard, they should consider transferring from the Office of Security to OIG those qualified investigators assigned to the Office of Security's new General Fraud and Malfeasance Branch.
Closed – Implemented
Please call 202/512-6100 for information.
Office of the Inspector General of State IG should stop participating in departmental decisionmaking processes such as the Department's Priorities Policy Group and Committee on Foreign Service Posts.
Closed – Implemented
The Deputy IG stated that IG is no longer an active participant in State decisionmaking processes. Although he continues to meet with such committees on an ad hoc basis, his participation is limited to an advisory role.
Office of the Inspector General of State IG should establish a quality review system to ensure that the work of the office complies with government audit standards.
Closed – Not Implemented
The Deputy IG stated that he still does not have the staff resources to set up an effective quality review system, but agreed that such a system is necessary to ensure compliance with audit standards. IG management is working on plans to formalize a quality review system within the IG organization.
Department of State The Secretary of State and IG should work together to establish a permanent IG staff of qualified auditors, and discontinue OIG reliance on a temporary staff whose tenure, promotions, and reassignments are decided by departmental managers.
Closed – Not Implemented
State and IG initially disagreed and planned no corrective action. The Deputy IG stated that enactment of section 150 of P.L. 99-93 gives IG no alternative but to adopt this recommendation. Plans are being made to establish a permanent staff of qualified auditors, and to curtail the extent to which IG relies on temporary staff.
Office of the Inspector General of State The Secretary of State and IG should work together to establish a permanent IG staff of qualified auditors, and discontinue OIG reliance on a temporary staff whose tenure, promotions, and reassignments are decided by departmental managers.
Closed – Not Implemented
State and IG initially disagreed and planned no corrective action. The Deputy IG stated that enactment of section 150 of P.L. 99-93 gives IG no alternative but to adopt this recommendation. Plans are being made to establish a permanent staff of qualified auditors, and to curtail the extent to which IG relies on temporary staff.

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Agency missionsAudit oversightAuditing standardsFinancial managementInspectors generalMonitoringPersonnel managementProgram managementProposed legislationDiplomats