Overseas Contingency Operations

This first quarterly report to Congress provides initial details of the overseas contingency operation (OCO) known as Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS). The Lead Inspector General (Lead IG) agencies—the Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General, Department of State Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General—have responsibility for oversight reporting on the OCO.

The United States renewed its commitment to Afghanistan to help build and sustain an enduring security capability, but has transitioned to a new phase.  Operation Enduring Freedom concluded on December 31, 2014, and OFS began the next day. OFS provides the framework for continued U.S. support with its two complementary missions: U.S. forces will continue counterterrorism efforts to prevent the resurgence of al-Qaeda and its remnants and will also conduct a train, advise, and assist program to improve the capabilities of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces under NATO’s Resolute Support mission.

On April 1, 2015, the Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General for Integrity and Efficiency designated the DoD Inspector General as the Lead IG for OFS, pursuant to section 8L of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended. The three Lead IG agencies continue to coordinate with the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction and the other oversight partners of the Southwest Asia Joint Planning Group (SWA JPG), who have conducted audits, evaluations, inspections, and investigations in Afghanistan for more than 7 years.

For the past several years, the SWA JPG has written an annual joint strategic oversight plan (JSOP) for Afghanistan, which is published in the Comprehensive Oversight Plan for Southwest Asia (COPSWA). The SWA JPG oversight partners will again publish a JSOP for FY 2016, but this plan will also constitute the JSOP for OFS, as mandated by section 8L. The Lead IG agencies and their oversight partners of the SWA JPG will continue to work together to provide coordinated whole-of-government oversight in Afghanistan to deter fraud, waste, and abuse and promote effective stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

To view or download the print version of this Quarterly Report to the United States Congress,click here.

This first quarterly and biannual report to Congress describes the U.S. government’s response to the 2014 outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in West Africa.   In this report, we are describing activities and resources associated with Operation United Assistance, the U.S. mission to combat the Ebola virus disease in West Africa, and helping inform Congress and the public about efforts to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the Ebola virus. This report covers the period from the start of the outbreak through March 31, 2015.

The Ebola epidemic in West Africa had infected about 25,000 people resulting in almost 10,400 fatalities worldwide. National healthcare systems and economies in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea have been severely impacted. As a global health threat and a national security priority, the Ebola virus disease outbreak spurred a U.S. Government response that has been significant in size, scope, and cost. Several federal departments and agencies are involved in the whole-of-government response for reducing Ebola transmission in West Africa, as well as efforts to address second-order effects and better prepare international health systems for future outbreaks. The resources committed to this international crisis, including $4.829 billion in fiscal year 2015 emergency appropriations, are extensive.

The November 2014 activation of U.S. military reservists in association with the U.S. mission to combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Operation United Assistance, triggered provisions of the Inspector General (IG) Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), as amended, related to oversight of contingency operations. Under Section 8L of the IG Act, the Offices of Inspector General (OIGs) for the Department of Defense (DoD), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Department of State (DOS) are required to coordinate oversight efforts and report on the progress of overseas contingency operations and corresponding oversight efforts. In light of the whole-of-government response to the outbreak and the significant role that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has had in international Ebola response efforts, HHS OIG has also actively engaged in these coordination efforts.

Under Section 8L, DoD’s IG was designated as the Lead IG on February 24, 2015, after the designation of the contingency operation. The DoD IG, in turn, appointed USAID’s Acting Deputy IG as the Associate IG to lead related oversight planning, coordination, and reporting activities.

This report provides background information on the Ebola virus and prior outbreaks, as well as developments relating to the current outbreak that originated in West Africa. It also provides information on the framework for the U.S. Government response and how it is organized and staffed. In addition, this report addresses the funding and appropriations supporting the effort, discusses related programs and activities, and describes oversight, coordination, and planning work undertaken by the respective OIGs.

To view the Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, click here.

This first combined quarterly and biannual report to Congress provides initial details of the programs and operations that support the U.S. strategy to counter the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), including military operations under the complex overseas contingency operation (OCO) known as Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). The Lead Inspector General (Lead IG) agencies—the Department of Defense Inspector General (DoD IG), Department of State Office of Inspector General (DoS OIG), and U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General (USAID OIG)—have responsibility for oversight reporting on the OCO.

The U.S. airstrikes to support counter-ISIL efforts in Iraq and Syria began in August 2014 and are considered part of the OIR contingency designation. A month after these targeted attacks began, on September 10, 2014, President Obama announced a broader strategy to degrade and defeat ISIL. Six days later, President Obama appointed General John Allen (USMC, retired) as the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL. His main focus is to help build membership, integrate capabilities, maintain cohesion, and sustain the international coalition efforts in a comprehensive, international strategy to defeat ISIL. More than 60 countries have joined the international coalition to support a broad diplomatic, economic, and military response to ISIL.

In October 2014, the military mission for Iraq and Syria was named OIR, and on October 17, the Secretary of Defense designated it an OCO. Pursuant to section 8L of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, the Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General for Integrity and Efficiency designated DoD Inspector General Jon T. Rymer as the Lead Inspector General for OIR on December 17, 2014. Inspector General Rymer immediately appointed DoS Inspector General Steve A. Linick as the Associate Inspector General for OIR to act in a coordinating role.

At the onset of the OCO, the Lead IG agencies had already developed a comprehensive framework for their joint oversight strategy. These agencies have always had plenary authority to conduct independent and objective oversight. For more than a decade, while they conducted independent oversight of their agencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, they also worked jointly on several projects requiring cross-agency collaboration. Since 2008, they have met quarterly, along with the Government Accountability Office, the Special Inspectors General for Iraq and Afghanistan Reconstruction, and the Service Auditors General to coordinate their oversight and avoid duplication of effort.

Section 8L provides a new mandate for the three Lead IG agencies to work together from the outset of an OCO to develop and carry out joint, comprehensive, and strategic oversight. Each IG retains statutory independence, but together, they will apply their extensive regional experience and in-depth institutional knowledge to conduct integrated, strategic oversight of the whole-of-government mission to destroy ISIL and address the severe humanitarian crisis in Iraq and Syria.

To view the Quarterly Report and Biannual Report to the United States Congress, click here.