This semiannual report summarizes the work of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) from April 1, 2011, through September 30, 2011. Our audits, inspections, evaluations, investigations, and reviews during this period addressed many of the top management and performance challenges facing the Department of Justice (Department).

In the current climate of lean economic times and budget limitations, the OIG continues to focus oversight on areas where the Department can save money and enhance efficiency. Of particular importance, we are continuing our oversight of several of the Department’s information technology development projects. During the past six months, we released a report examining the Department’s $1 billion project to upgrade and consolidate the six accounting systems used by the Department and its components into the new Unified Financial Management System. This report found that the project has experienced delays in schedule and an increase in costs, and that the original scope of the project has been significantly reduced. We are continuing our work on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) planned $451 million dollar project to develop the Sentinel case management project and on the Department’s development of the planned $1.2 billion Integrated Wireless Network to facilitate communication among federal law enforcement officials in different agencies.

We also looked at other areas where the Department can implement cost savings or improve efficiency, including a report identifying ways that the U.S. Marshals Service could improve its management of complex assets that are seized in financial crimes and a report identifying steps the Department can take to minimize conference-related costs.

OIG reviews in other areas included a review of the FBI’s ability to address the threat of cyber intrusions in which we identified steps the FBI could take to enhance its investigations of these incidents. We also released an audit report finding that the FBI Laboratory had achieved a significant accomplishment by reducing its backlog of convicted offender, arrestee, and detainee DNA samples to a manageable monthly workload. We are continuing our review of issues raised concerning the Department’s actions in the implementation of the gun trafficking investigation known as Operation Fast and Furious. And importantly, our Investigations Division continues to investigate significant allegations of criminal or administrative misconduct related to Department personnel or programs.

We believe that our work in these and other matters will help ensure that the Department pursues its mission in a manner that is effective, efficient, and just. I want to thank the Department and Congress for their continued support, and I particularly want to thank the OIG employees for their hard work and dedication. Together, we are achieving the important OIG mission of improving the critical functions of the Department of Justice.

Cynthia A. Schnedar
Acting Inspector General
October 31, 2011