Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected the executive direction, policy and program implementation, resource management, and information management operations of Embassy Ankara. The inspection included Consulate General Istanbul, Consulate Adana, Consular Agency Izmir, and Branch Office Gaziantep.
What OIG Found
• The Chargé d’Affaires and acting Deputy Chief of Mission led Mission Türkiye in a professional and collaborative manner. They had good coordination and cooperation with the leadership at Consulate General Istanbul and Consulate Adana.
• The mission played a key role in facilitating approval by Türkiye for the accession of Finland and Sweden to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
• The mission provided essential support to regional crises such as assisting Syrian refugees, assisting U.S. citizens, and responding to a devastating earthquake in Türkiye.
• Mission Türkiye’s consular operations were generally well led and coordinated; however, crisis management and workload growth strained limited managerial capacity.
• The mission had internal control deficiencies related to property management, contract administration, and procurement.
• The mission’s local compensation plan and human resources policies required updates, and the mission was missing required facility and residential safety inspections.
• Spotlight on Success: Consular staff developed an automated electronic screening tool to evaluate visa applicants for affiliation with sanctioned entities. This innovation subsequently was adopted by other missions.
What OIG Recommends
OIG made 27 recommendations to Embassy Ankara. In its comments on the draft report, the embassy concurred with all 27 recommendations. OIG considers all 27 recommendations resolved. The embassy’s response to each recommendation and OIG’s reply can be found in the Recommendations section of this report.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
Embassy Ankara should install outside signage at the public entrances of the three consular facilities at the embassy, Consulate General Istanbul, and Consulate Adana, providing consular information in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara, in coordination with the Bureau of Consular Affairs and the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should provide protection from the elements for consular applicants in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara, in coordination with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, should ensure appointments for U.S. citizen consular services are made available in Consulate Adana on a regular and predictable basis in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should fulfill its support visit schedule in accordance with Mission Türkiye’s memorandum of understanding.
Embassy Ankara should submit the hardship differential survey for Consulate Adana in accordance with Department guidelines.
Embassy Ankara should manage its motor vehicle program in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should bring its property management program in compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should bring the mission’s furniture and appliance pool program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should comply with Department training standards in the use of powered industrial trucks, such as forklifts, at Consulate General Istanbul.
Embassy Ankara should bring the mission’s contract administration program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should bring the mission’s purchase card program into compliance with Department guidelines.
Embassy Ankara should conduct acquisition planning in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should require Consulate General Istanbul and Consulate Adana to conduct and document annual blanket purchase agreement reviews, in compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should require the local travel management center for Mission Türkiye to operate in accordance with Department guidelines.
Embassy Ankara should perform and document workplace hazard inspections of its high-risk workplaces in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should complete post occupational safety and health officer certifications for all residential and non-residential properties in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should request a mission-wide exception to Department fire standards in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should implement and practice a confined space management program in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should comply with all Department Motor Vehicle Safety Management program standards for chauffeurs and incidental drivers.
Embassy Ankara, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should request approval for the construction project at Consulate Adana in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should update Mission Türkiye’s locally employed staff handbook in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should implement a process to document and regularly update its human resources policies and standard operating procedures.
Embassy Ankara, in coordination with the Bureau of Global Talent Management, should update its local compensation plan to comply with government of Türkiye labor law in accordance with Department standards, and should only make payments for benefits contained within the plan.
Embassy Ankara should relocate the telecommunications demarcation point outside the information systems server room in Consulate General Istanbul, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should remove prohibited devices in Consulate General Istanbul in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should cease using resources intended for official use to support residential internet services in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Ankara should require information system administrators at the embassy, Consulate General Istanbul, and Consulate Adana to complete required information assurance training in accordance with Department standards.