This semiannual report summarizes the broad range of audits, inspections, evaluations, investigations, and special reviews that the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted from October 1, 2010, through March 31, 2011.
In this challenging economic climate, the OIG continues to focus on ways for the Department of Justice (Department) to cut costs without sacrificing effectiveness. For example, in one review we identified improvements the Department could make in its procedures for negotiating rates that the Department pays to house federal prisoners at state and local detention facilities. In another review, we examined official travel by United States Attorneys exceeding federal government lodging rates and recommended ways for the Department to improve its travel practices and control costs.
Other reports we issued focused on the Department’s law enforcement activities, such as our review of Project Gunrunner, the Department’s efforts through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to combat firearms trafficking on the Southwest border. We recently initiated a review of the guidelines and internal controls the Department had in place during its firearms trafficking investigation, Operation Fast and Furious. In addition, we have several ongoing efforts to examine the Department’s counterterrorism efforts, including our follow-up review on the nomination process for the Government’s terrorist watchlist. We also continue to investigate significant allegations of misconduct by Department personnel.
I want to thank the Department and Congress for their continued support of our work. I also want to express my sincere appreciation for the hard work and dedication of OIG employees to the OIG mission.
Finally, the most significant event during the past six months was the departure of Inspector General Glenn A. Fine. Glenn was a senior leader in the OIG for more than 15 years, and served the last 10 as the Inspector General. Under his leadership, the OIG established an outstanding record of accomplishment and earned the respect of the Department, the federal government, Congress, and the public. I want to express my personal gratitude to Glenn for his extraordinary contributions to public service as the Inspector General. He will be greatly missed, but he will be remembered for his “tough but fair” legacy.
Cynthia A. Schnedar
Acting Inspector General
April 29, 2011