Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected the Bureau of Counterterrorism’s executive direction, policy and program management, administrative operations, and information management and information security activities.
What OIG Recommended
OIG made 11 recommendations to the Bureau of Counterterrorism. In its comments on the draft report, the Bureau of Counterterrorism concurred with all 11 recommendations. OIG considers all 11 recommendations resolved. The bureau’s response to each recommendation, and OIG’s reply, can be found in the Recommendations section of this report. The bureau’s formal written response is reprinted in its entirety in Appendix B.
What OIG Found
- The Coordinator for Counterterrorism exhibited decisive leadership, marked by setting clear strategic goals and communicating them effectively to staff. This enabled the Bureau of Counterterrorism to navigate major shifts in its mission since 2016.
- At times, the Coordinator engaged in conduct that negatively affected employee morale and productivity.
- The bureau established effective internal policy coordination and communication processes.
- Employees from other Department of State bureaus and Federal agencies expressed differing opinions about the bureau’s effectiveness in promoting its policy goals in interagency processes.
- The Bureau of Counterterrorism did not provide sufficient policy guidance, training, and administrative support to overseas employees responsible for coordinating and reporting on regional counterterrorism issues.
- Vacancies in 22 percent of the bureau’s Civil Service positions hampered operations.
- The bureau’s Office of the Executive Director did not have systems in place to measure the results of key administrative activities and efficiently communicate with customers. As a result, bureau staff expressed dissatisfaction with the administrative and support services delivered by the office.
- The bureau did not follow Department procedures for software development.
- The lack of information technology contingency plans placed at risk the bureau’s ability to support these functions in the event of an unplanned disruption.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
The Bureau of Counterterrorism should implement a system to identify and mitigate internal control risks for its programs.
The Bureau of Counterterrorism should implement a plan to improve policy guidance, training, and administrative support for Regional Field Coordinators.
The Bureau of Counterterrorism should update and enforce standard operating procedures to ensure issuance of the Country Reports on Terrorism by the congressionally mandated deadlines.
The Bureau of Counterterrorism, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, should designate an employee with substantive knowledge of contract 19AQMM18F2561 as the contracting officer’s representative.
The Bureau of Counterterrorism, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, should develop a quality assurance surveillance plan for contract 19AQMM18F2561, in accordance with Department standards.
The Bureau of Counterterrorism should implement a plan to measure the effectiveness of administrative services, make service improvements based on these metrics, and communicate regularly about administrative issues within the bureau.
The Bureau of Counterterrorism should assess the viability of the CT Tasker Tracker and make a decision regarding its future use.
The Bureau of Counterterrorism should comply with Department standards to prepare a bureau emergency action plan.
The Bureau of Counterterrorism should establish a policy on personal use of U.S. Government cell phones in accordance with Department standards.
The Bureau of Counterterrorism should complete and implement information technology contingency plans for the unclassified and classified networks in accordance with Department standards.
The Bureau of Counterterrorism should establish a records management program that complies with Department standards.