The Journal contains articles of interest to the Inspector General community that cover issues of fraud, waste and abuse that impact government agencies and programs. The current edition has been divided into two sections; Audit and Investigations, and Outreach. The Audit and Investigations section includes articles on Fraud in Mortgage-Backed Securities and Financial and Programmatic Accountability. The section on Outreach includes a look back by a veteran auditor, reflecting on her 20 years in the inspector general community.
To view the Journal click here.
DoD IG Semiannual Report to The Congress Is Issued
December 17, 2008 –The Department of Defense Inspector General Semiannual Report to the Congress has been issued for the reporting period of April 1, 2008 to September 30, 2008. The report is a summary of the efforts of the DoD IG to provide “Global Oversight of a Global Department.” It also provides a summary of the efforts by the individual services in the areas of investigations and auditing.
The report includes a four-page insert highlighting the evaluation of munitions accountability in Afghanistan, an assessment of DoD funding in Pakistan, an audit which resulted in a cost avoidance of $520.6 million for DoD and U.S. taxpayers, and a joint investigation involving the Defense Criminal Investigative Service that led to the indictment of four persons for attempting to defraud the government on a $298 million contract to supply ammunition to Afghan National Army and Afghan security forces.
A section on “Acquisition Processes and Contract Management” is included in the chapter on Audit Oversight, while the chapter on the Global War on Terror includes highlights of efforts both in Iraq and Afghanistan. The report also contains a section on the new Office of Special Plans and Operations. To view the report click here. To view the insert click here.
DoD IG Produces Video to Assist Field Agents in the Use of Subpoenas
December 5, 2008 – The DoD Office of Inspector General (DoD IG) Investigative Policy and Oversight Directorate (IPO) has released a video promoting the use of DoD IG subpoenas in the investigation of fraud and serious crimes.
The ten-minute video was produced by IPO, the Office of Congressional Communications and Liaison (OCCL), and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), with speaking roles by representatives of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command (USACIDC), the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI).
The video was designed to give DoD special agents a better understanding of how subpoenas can be an important tool in the investigative process and features first-hand accounts of success stories from field agents who have used them. The success of the subpoena program is highlighted by the fact that during fiscal years 2006 and 2007, DCIS cases that employed subpoenas resulted in the recovery of more than $163 million.
The DoD IG Subpoena Video is the latest in a series of proactive efforts to assist DoD field agents in pursuing cases involving fraud as well as other serious criminal violations. In September, the DoD IG posted a special web page targeting fraud crimes titled “Fraud Indicators in Procurement and Other Defense Activities.”
To see the new DoD IG Subpoena Video, click here. To see a copy of the transcript of the DoD IG Subpoena Video, click here. For viewing tips, click here.
Contractor Disclosure Program replaces Voluntary Disclosure Program
November 26, 2008 – Effective December 12, 2008, the Federal Acquisition Regulation will require Defense contractors to make timely notification when credible evidence exists of certain violations of criminal law and violations of the civil False Claims Act in connections with the award or performance of contracts.
Defense contractors should make these disclosures in writing to the Inspector General, DoD. An online contractor disclosure submission system is planned in the near future. For additional information click here or click on the link in the column at left.
FY 2009 Update to the Comprehensive Audit Plan For Southwest Asia (Section 842) Is Issued
November 21, 2008 – The Department of Defense Inspector General released the “FY 2009 Update to the Comprehensive Audit Plan for Southwest Asia.” The plan was facilitated by the DoD IG Southwest Asia Joint Planning Group and includes the individual audit plans of the Inspectors General of the Department of Defense, Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development; and the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
The plan also includes the planned audit work of the U.S. Army Audit Agency, Naval Audit Service, Air Force Audit Agency, and Defense Contract Audit Agency because of the major contributions they make to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of support to the military. The recently appointed Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction was briefed on the update effort and that office will provide its planned and ongoing oversight efforts in the next update to the plan. (more)
Acting DoD Inspector General Makes Trip to Southwest Asia
November 13, 2008 – Acting DoD Inspector General Gordon S. Heddell recently returned from a trip to Southwest Asia, where he met with senior U.S. military commanders and members of the Iraqi inspectors general community.
Mr. Heddell also reviewed DoD IG operations and met with DoD IG auditors, investigators and inspectors in Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq, as well as with Afghanistan-assigned personnel.
In Iraq, Mr. Heddell met with Gen Ray Odierno, Commander, Multi-National Forces – Iraq, to discuss on-going and future audit activities. He also met with Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, Commander, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq.
Mr. Heddell, accompanied by Ambassador Kenneth P. Moorefield, Assistant Inspector General for Special Plans and Operations, also traveled to Taji where they met with Brig. Gen. Steve Salazaar, Commanding General Coalition Military Assistance Training Team Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq.
In Kuwait, Mr. Heddell met with the U.S. Army Central Deputy Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Charles Anderson, to discuss audit activities and operations in theater. Mr. Heddell participated in a tour of Camp Arifijan and later visited the Life Support Area at Ali Al Saleem Air Base to see the in-flow and out-flow of personnel at the transportation hub for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
In Qatar, he received a command briefing from Maj. Gen. Douglas Raaberg, Deputy Combined Force Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command, at Al Udid Air Base. With the base engineer, he toured the construction expansion of Al Udid Air Base that will host CENTCOM (Forward) and Special Operations Command (SOCOM) (Forward) headquarters.
The DoD IG Briefs Counterparts from Afghanistan
November 7, 2008 – Senior members of the inspectors general community from Afghanistan visited with Acting DoD Inspector General Gordon S. Heddell, who provided them with an organizational briefing and a tour of the DoD Hotline facilities.
The group was led by Maj. Gen. Sardar Mohammad Abul Fazil, the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense Inspector General, and Brig. Gen. Abdul Rashid, Deputy Inspector General for the Afghanistan National Army General Staff Office of Inspector General.
The visit allowed the members of the group to see where their respective organizations are in comparison with the U.S. organizations and programs upon which their agencies
are modeled.