Department of Homeland Security
Office of Inspector General
Semiannual Report
to the CongressOctober 1, 2017 - March 31, 2018
Department of Homeland Security
Office of Inspector General
Semiannual Report
to the CongressOctober 1, 2017 - March 31, 2018
“The audits, inspections, and investigations we conducted during this reporting period will improve treatment and care of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees at detention facilities; make progress toward implementing controls to regulate access to the Department of Homeland Security facilities and systems; and improve oversight and controls for identifying and processing aliens who are known or suspected terrorists.”
- John V. Kelly, Acting Inspector General
During this reporting period, the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) completed audits, inspections, and investigations to promote economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity in the Department’s programs and operations.
Our audits resulted in questioned costs of $129,898,737 of which $12,723,707 did not have supporting documentation. The Department recovered or deobligated from audits $439,807 (appendix 6). We issued 3 reports identifying $72,692,524 in funds put to better use. Additionally, we reported $3,459,877 in recoveries, fines, and restitution from investigations.
DOLLAR IMPACT
| Type of Impact | Amount |
|---|---|
| Questioned Costs | $129,898,737 |
| Funds to be Put to Better Use | $72,692,524 |
| Management Agreement that Funds be Recovered/Deobligated from Audits | $439,807 |
| Funds Recovered/Deobligated from Audits | $439,807 |
We issued 59 reports, including management alerts, and reports on Disaster Relief Fund spending (appendix 5), as well as 393 investigative reports, while continuing to strengthen our transparency and internal oversight.
Our reports provide the DHS Secretary and Congress with an objective assessment of the issues the Department faces. The reports also offer specific recommendations to correct deficiencies and improve the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of DHS’ programs.
Since 2003, our work has inspired significant Department and congressional action to correct deficiencies identified in our audit, inspection, and investigative reports. We issued more than 10,298 recommendations to improve the economy, effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity of the Department’s programs and operations. As of March 31, 2018, the Department took action to address all but 578 of those recommendations. Congress has also taken notice of our work and called on us to testify 152 times since our office was created.
During this reporting period, we issued 59 new reports and 202 unique recommendations to the Department; we closed 130 recommendations, issued in this and prior periods, because of the Department’s actions. Congress also recognized our work by calling on us to testify four times about our efforts to improve the Department.
We initiated 577 and closed 423 investigations. Our investigations resulted in 62 arrests, 68 indictments, 30 convictions, and 13 personnel actions. We have included, in accordance with the Inspector General Empowerment Act of 2016, information regarding number of persons referred to state and local prosecuting authorities and indictments that resulted from prior referrals to prosecuting authorities.
DOLLAR IMPACT
| Type of Impact | Amount |
|---|---|
| Recoveries from Investigations (Not from Fines and Restitution) | $2,705,898 |
| Fines from Investigations | $49,005 |
| Restitution from Investigations | $704,974 |
During this reporting period, we issued 59 reports containing 202 recommendations. Our Semiannual Report to Congress highlights a number of audits and inspections that we conducted the eight focus areas below. Click each focus area for a description.
As part of our review of the CBP IT system outage, we identified deficiencies with CBP software capacity testing and maintenance, system monitoring, and business continuity and disaster recovery processes. Although DHS has addressed requirements of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015, DHS faces challenges to effectively share cyber threat information across Federal and private sector entities. DHS has not made much progress in implementing and managing requirements of the HSPD program.
Our audit of controls over firearms and sensitive assets disclosed components do not safeguard and effectively track sensitive assets. We issued Management Alerts in the law enforcement area that addressed a safety issue at the FLETC Artesia warehouse, and ICE’s training model that needed further evaluation.
Our reports on the Department’s efforts to prevent terrorism and other threats focused on DHS’ implementation of Executive Order #13769; challenges ICE faces to screen aliens who may be known or suspected terrorists; and Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) contribution to aviation transportation security.
Our Reports of Investigation disclosed an HSI special agent conspiring to commit wire fraud; a TSA Security Officer for assisting a drug trafficking organization; a USCG contractor providing defective parts; a CBPO and two civilians for possession of marijuana; and an FPS officer submitted fraudulent travel vouchers.
* Note: This chart excludes investigative reports.