The OIG provided a draft of this audit report to the DEA for review and comment. The DEA’s written response is included in Appendix VII of this final report. The DEA concurred with all of the recommendations in the audit report. Our analysis of the DEA’s response and a summary of actions necessary to close each recommendation are below.
Status of Recommendations:
Resolved. The DEA concurred with our recommendation to develop a plan to ensure that the DEA meets its intelligence analysts hiring goal.
Resolved. The DEA concurred with our recommendation to maintain an adequate applicant hiring pool for intelligence analysts. The DEA stated that the Intelligence Division will monitor projected attrition rates of DEA intelligence analysts, will identify qualified applicants with existing U.S. Government security clearances, and will expect to be at the 3-1 ratio of applicants to hire within 6 months.
Resolved. The DEA concurred with our recommendation to continue its practice of establishing annual hiring goals specifically for intelligence analysts.
Resolved. The DEA concurred with our recommendation to consider re-evaluating the Basic Intelligence Research Specialist (BIRS) training curriculum to determine if any classes could be taught through more economical means, such as web-based training or at field office locations. The DEA stated that the Intelligence Training Section is developing web-based training programs to be used in the fall of 2009. At the completion of each 14-week BIRS course, the Review Committee will reconvene to evaluate the BIRS curriculum, including student and trainer input.
Resolved. The DEA concurred with our recommendation to establish an adequate system to monitor the status of the security clearances of intelligence analysts. The DEA stated that the Office of Security Programs is researching a tracking system and will study the feasibility of implementing the system at the DEA in conjunction with the current Eagle Eye system.
Resolved. The DEA concurred with our recommendation to ensure that all intelligence analysts have Top Secret clearances. The DEA stated that upon favorable adjudication of the requisite background, all intelligence analysts will be granted Top Secret clearances.
Resolved. The DEA concurred with our recommendation to ensure that intelligence analysts undergo required security reinvestigations every 5 years. The DEA stated that the Personal Security Section received approval to hire seven personnel security specialists to backfill vacant positions and that these additional personnel will be assigned to address the reinvestigation program.
Resolved. The DEA concurred with our recommendation to ensure that the customer surveys recently incorporated into the intelligence reports are utilized to assess and evaluate the quality, usefulness, and effectiveness of each product. The DEA stated that it will analyze the evaluation forms from a broader perspective on a 6-month basis to determine if product quality, usefulness, or effectiveness requires changes or improvements. The DEA stated the first evaluation is due in June 2008.
Resolved. The DEA concurred with our recommendation to develop a more efficient process for reviewing and transmitting Reports Officer cables, especially terrorist-related cables. The DEA stated that the Intelligence Division will issue a teletype amending the Reports Officer cable review and approval process. The teletype will mandate that Reports Officer cables be electronically forwarded to the Office of Enforcement Operations for review and to the originating office to obtain approval for dissemination. The DEA will require that approval or disapproval be provided to DEA headquarters within 5 working days.
This recommendation can be closed when the DEA provides the OIG with a copy of its plan to ensure that the DEA meets its intelligence analyst hiring goal and supporting documentation that the DEA has implemented this plan.
This recommendation can be closed when the OIG receives the DEA’s projected number of new hires for intelligence analysts and attrition rate through the end of FY 2008 and a report containing the number of applicants in its hiring pool for intelligence analysts during the same period.
This recommendation can be closed when the OIG receives adequate supporting documentation that the DEA has established a separate hiring goal for intelligence analysts in FY 2008 and will continue to do so in future years.
This recommendation can be closed when the DEA provides the OIG with a list of potential web-based training classes it is considering deploying, the timeline for establishing the web-based training and its implementation, and current actions being taken to establish the web‑based training.
This recommendation can be closed when the DEA provides the OIG with documentation substantiating that an adequate system for tracking and monitoring security clearances for all intelligence analysts has been implemented.
This recommendation can be closed when the DEA provides the OIG with documentation that all intelligence analysts have current Top Secret clearances or that the paperwork has been submitted to begin the appropriate background investigation for a Top Secret clearance.
This recommendation can be closed when the DEA provides the OIG with its plan (including implementation date and timeline) that describes how reinvestigations for Top Secret clearances will be accomplished in accordance with time specifications.
This recommendation can be closed when the DEA provides the OIG with a report analyzing the Reader Comment Cards completed by external report users. This report should contain a list of best practices and a plan to implement reasonable corrective actions to improve the timeliness and usability of the DEA’s reports.
This recommendation can be closed when the DEA provides the OIG with a copy of the teletype amending the Reports Officer cables review and approval process.