Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected the executive direction, consular, resource management, and information management operations of Embassy Kolonia.
What OIG Recommended
OIG made 16 recommendations to improve Embassy Kolonia’s consular, resource management, and information management operations. In its comments on the draft report, the Department concurred with all 16 recommendations. OIG considers all 16 recommendations resolved. 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 written response is reprinted in its entirety in Appendix B.
What OIG Found
- Staffing gaps, curtailments, collateral duty assignments, and a lack of training contributed to management control deficiencies throughout the embassy— including in management, security, information management, and consular operations.
- The embassy did not meet Department of State guidance for consular crisis preparation.
- The embassy met day-to-day computing and communications needs; however, OIG found significant deficiencies in the implementation of effective information management and information security.
- Embassy Kolonia generally received good support from Embassy Manila in security, information management, and management operations.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
Embassy Kolonia should implement an Equal Employment Opportunity program that is in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Kolonia should review nonimmigrant visa adjudications according to Department standards.
Embassy Kolonia should take the actions to prepare for a consular crisis according to Department guidance.
Embassy Kolonia should assess and test its warden system in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Kolonia, in coordination with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, should obtain a general authorization from the Bureau of Consular Affairs to issue travel letters to U.S. citizens in emergency situations.
Embassy Kolonia should conduct purchase card procurement reviews in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Kolonia should collect all outstanding charges for personal use of official vehicles.
Embassy Kolonia, in coordination with Embassy Manila and the Bureau of Administration, should seek to ratify its unauthorized commitment in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Kolonia, in coordination with Embassy Manila, should review $707,000 in unliquidated obligations and deobligate any funds that are no longer needed.
Embassy Kolonia should conduct monthly unannounced cash counts at unpredictable times in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Kolonia should complete all overdue employee performance reports in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Kolonia, in coordination with Embassy Manila, should update and test the annual information technology contingency plan for its unclassified and classified networks in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Kolonia, in coordination with Embassy Manila, should establish a local Information Technology Configuration Control Board in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Manila should complete and document Information Systems Security Officer reviews at Embassy Kolonia as required by Department standards.
Embassy Kolonia should install a temperature monitoring device in the unclassified server room in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Kolonia, in coordination with Embassy Manila, should establish a records management program in accordance with Department guidelines.