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.
* Note: This chart excludes investigative reports.