Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected the executive direction, policy and program implementation, resource management, and information management operations of Embassy Brussels.
What OIG Recommends
OIG made 25 recommendations: 23 to Embassy Brussels and 2 to the U.S. Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In its comments on the draft report, the Department concurred with 22 recommendations and disagreed with 3 recommendations. OIG considers 22 recommendations resolved and 3 recommendations unresolved. The Department’s response to each recommendation, and OIG’s reply, can be found in the Recommendations section of this report. The Department’s formal responses are reprinted in their entirety in Appendix B.
What OIG Found
- The Ambassador and the Deputy Chief of Mission led Embassy Brussels in a professional and collaborative manner and acted with integrity. Embassy staff said the Ambassador was open to their views and concerned with staff morale.
- The Country Team, led by the Ambassador, achieved several policy goals, especially regarding Belgium’s support for Ukraine and its announcement that it would increase its defense spending to 2 percent (from 1.1 percent) of gross domestic product.
- The Political-Economic Section produced high quality reporting and contributed to the mission’s successes on the policy front.
- The Consular Section struggled to handle its workload with high demand for nonimmigrant visas after the United States lifted travel restrictions.
- The Joint Administrative Services Section, which supports the three U.S. missions in Brussels, had several management control issues. The Department of State concurred with the embassy that it needed more management staff to maintain service standards.
- The locally employed staff retirement fund was underfunded by approximately $1 million.
- Spotlight on Success: The Public Diplomacy Section used its extensive local contacts, including exchange program alumni, in communities throughout Belgium to reach new at-risk populations to counter violent extremism.
- Spotlight on Success: The Consular Section, faced with a backlog of loss of nationality cases, developed a streamlined process to handle more cases while maintaining Department standards. This process is being considered for use by other consular sections.
- Spotlight on Success: Information Management staff developed an innovative solution that meets Department security standards to provide embassy personnel access to their mobile devices and mobile applications while working in controlled access areas.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
Embassy Brussels should advise and brief U.S. citizens in Belgium in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels, in coordination with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, should replace existing partitions in the consular workspace with partitions that comply with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels, in coordination with the Bureaus of Consular Affairs and Overseas Buildings Operations, should provide a wheelchair-accessible restroom option for consular customers.
Embassy Brussels, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should bring its fire protection program into compliance with Department standards.
The U.S. Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, in coordination with Embassy Brussels, should require that all residences are inspected and certified in the Post Occupational Safety and Health Officer Certification Application in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels should bring its swimming pool safety program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should address the outstanding life and safety issue regarding stairs at the Marine Security Guard residence.
Embassy Brussels should bring the railings on the balconies, stairs, and around a patio at the residence of the chief of mission to the U.S. Mission to the European Union into compliance with Department residential safety standards.
Embassy Brussels should obtain authorization from the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations to use shipping containers for permanent storage or dismantle and remove them, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels should comply with all Department Motor Vehicle Safety Management Program standards for chauffeurs and incidental drivers under chief of mission authority.
Embassy Brussels should bring its property management program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels should close out procurement files in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels should bring its contracting officer’s representative program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels should perform regular reviews of the locally employed staff contracting officer’s transactions, in accordance with Department standards.
The U.S. Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, in coordination with Embassy Brussels, should submit its living quarters expenditure reports in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels should submit its hotel and restaurant surveys to the Bureau of Administration’s Office of Allowances in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels, in coordination with the Bureaus of Budget and Planning, the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, European and Eurasian Affairs, and Global Talent Management, should implement a plan to fully fund the locally employed staff defined benefit pension plan to comply with Belgium’s labor laws and address long-term funding concerns.
Embassy Brussels, in coordination with the Bureaus of Budget and Planning, the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, and European and Eurasian Affairs, should reprogram additional Department-funded information management positions to International Cooperative Administrative Support Services-funded positions, in accordance with Department standards, so funds of up to $243,993 over 3 years per position can be put to better use.
Embassy Brussels should implement a schedule to require alternate cashiers to serve as principal cashier, in accordance with Department guidelines.
Embassy Brussels should cease paying for residential internet for vacant residences that do not have an alarm system connected to internet, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels should categorize, assess, and authorize its locally developed applications in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels should replace the unauthorized wireless access points operating within its facilities with an approved wireless network.
Embassy Brussels should establish the capability for dedicated internet network end users to access the network with unique accounts in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels, in coordination with the U.S. Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, should obtain proper approval for its video conferencing system in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Brussels, in coordination with the U.S. Mission to the European Union and the U.S. Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, should implement a records management program that complies with Department standards.