Recommendations

Department of State

444

Open Unclassified Recommendations¹

134

Open Sensitive But Unclassified Recommendations²

416

Open Classified Recommendations³

U.S. Agency for Global Media

0

Open Unclassified Recommendations¹

36

Open Sensitive But Unclassified Recommendations²

0

Open Classified Recommendations³

Department recommendations include 49 recommendations that are associated with the International Boundary Water Commission.

Keyword or Phrase

Action Office

Status

Financial Value

Significant

Issued Date (From)

Issued Date (To)

Reports Per Page

Audit of the Department of State’s Efforts to Detect and Address the Use of Unapproved Portable Devices

AUD-IT-17-61 September 2017

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management develop and implement a process to periodically verify that the Enterprise Master List is kept current and complete.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management (IRM) develop and implement a process to verify that a Local Configuration Control Board has authorized the type of portable device requested each time a bureau or post requests that IRM add a type of portable device to the Enterprise Master List.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management enforce its authority to administer the use of portable devices in the Department of State, as well as the policies, standards, and procedures related to portable devices.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Acceptable Alternative Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management (IRM) perform and document an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages to limiting the brands of portable devices that are allowed to be connected to OpenNet, including connection though local networks. From the completed analysis, IRM should determine whether to limit or not limit the brands of portable devices.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Acceptable Alternative Significant

If the Bureau of Information Resource Management (IRM) determines that it should limit the brands of portable devices that are allowed to be connected to OpenNet (Recommendation 4), OIG recommends that IRM develop and issue a policy that implements this determination.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management develop and implement formal, standardized procedures for regularly performing an analysis of the Symantec Endpoint Protection Application and Device Control reports. At a minimum, the procedures should provide guidance for analysts on how to review the Symantec reports, how to identify high risk exceptions for follow-up, what actions should be taken during follow-up, and how to document the follow-up and the remediation taken.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management, in coordination with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, develop and implement formal procedures to identify and remediate cybersecurity policy violations created when employees connect unapproved portable devices to OpenNet. The formal procedures should include a description of each bureau’s roles and responsibilities in the process.

Audit of the Bureau of Consular Affairs Fee-Setting Methodology for Selected Consular Services

AUD-FM-17-53 September 2017

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Consular Affairs immediately set the fee amounts charged for Machine Readable Visas in accordance with Office of Management and Budget Circular A-25 and applicable fee statutes.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Consular Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Budget and Planning, (a) propose legislative changes, as suggested by Office of Management and Budget Circular A-25, to allow it to retain all consular fees collected or (b) seek appropriated funds during the annual budgeting process for any projected funding shortfalls created by not being allowed to retain all consular fees collected.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services determine whether the Bureau of Consular Affairs violated the Antideficiency Act, 31 U.S. Code § 1341, for each year in which it spent funds from any fee collections in excess of cost, and report any violations as required by 31 U.S. Code § 1351 and in accordance with Office of Management and Budget Circular A-11, Section 145.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Consular Affairs conduct an analysis to determine and formally document in its procedures, a reasonable maximum threshold for carry forward balances for each consular fee. Carry forward balances should be adequately precise and adequately explained estimates of actual costs. This determination should consider known and anticipated Consular and Border Security Program costs.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Consular Affairs design, implement, and formally document a procedure to review prior-year net financial results annually to determine whether the fee-setting methodology should be adjusted. The procedure should include a process to determine the effect of excess revenue and carry forward balances on the fee levels.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented $284,000,000 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Consular Affairs remit unobligated balances that exceed the carry forward threshold (Recommendation 4), which OIG reported as $284 million in funds that could be put to better use for FY 2017, to the Department of the Treasury.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Consular Affairs develop and implement policies and procedures that standardize the documentation used to determine consular fees and develop retention guidance for the supporting documentation to ensure historical source files and other information supporting consular fee calculations are available. The policy and procedures should include guidance on documenting changes made to data before the data are entered into the Bureau of Consular Affairs Cost of Service Model.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Consular Affairs develop and implement a quality control program to ensure data entered into the Cost of Service Model are complete and accurate. This program should include processes to validate data obtained from one source by comparing it to data maintained in other systems or databases.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Consular Affairs develop standardized reports within the Travel Documents Issuance System and Consular Consolidated Database to ensure the complete, accurate, and consistent generation of workload counts related to providing consular services.
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Consular Affairs develop and implement procedures to include only actual expenditures in the Cost of Service Model and eliminate non-expenditure items (such as obligations and allotments) from the cost inputs entered into the model.
Recommendation Number

11

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Consular Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, obtain read-only access within the Department’s financial management system to all financial information related to the Consular and Border Security Program fund codes, including revenue and expenditure information from other Department of State bureaus.

(U) Audit of the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, U.S. Section, Information Security Program

AUD-IT-17-57 August 2017

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

3

Closed New Report

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

4

Closed New Report

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

Sensitive Information Redacted

Management Assistance Report: The Process to Authorize and Track Information Technology Systems Needs Improvement

AUD-IT-17-56 August 2017

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management formally designate a central repository to track the status of systems authorizations and documentation for Department information systems, including Federal Information Security Management Act reportable systems.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management update Department policies and procedures to reflect the designation of the central repository in Recommendation 1.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Consular Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, fully comply with Department policy by completing the Systems Authorization Process with an authorization memorandum for the Consular Consolidated Database.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Consular Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, fully comply with Department policy by completing the Systems Authorization Process with an authorization memorandum for the Passport Information Electronic Records System.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, fully comply with Department policy by completing the Systems Authorization Process with an authorization memorandum for the Classified Investigative Management System.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, fully comply with Department policy by completing the Systems Authorization Process with an authorization memorandum for the SY Namecheck.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management develop and implement a corrective action plan that addresses how the Department will comply with Department policy on the Systems Authorization Process. The corrective action plan should identify the root cause of compliance failures, action steps to resolve such compliance failures, improvement benchmarks and a timeframe for completion, and an escalation process to hold system owners accountable.

Audit of Select Cost-of-Living Allowances for American Employees Stationed in Foreign Areas

AUD-FM-17-51 August 2017

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends the Bureau of Administration develop and implement a plan to use independent economic data to determine post allowance rates where such data for post exist.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented $18,200,000 Significant

OIG recommends the Bureau of Administration re-determine and update by the end of FY 2018 post allowance rates using independent economic data where such data for post exist. Once the rates have been updated, the Bureau of Administration should determine the amount saved by implementing the new rates. OIG determined that using independent, economic data would have saved the Department approximately $18.2 million between FY 2013 and FY 2015 for six posts tested (that is, funds that could have been put to better use).
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

For cases in which independent cost-of-living indexes are not available to establish post allowance rates, OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration revise and distribute updated policies and procedures to posts related to the post allowance rate methodology that provide detailed procedures for (a) collecting and summarizing living pattern questionnaires in eAllowances, and (b) collecting prices that reflect the requirements outlined in the Department of State Standardized Regulations on the retail price schedule Parts 3 and 4.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

For cases in which independent cost-of-living indexes are not available to establish post allowance rates, OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration revise and distribute updated internal procedures for calculating post allowances to include detailed instructions to (a) verify post living pattern questionnaire summary information in eAllowances with hard copies provided by post, and (b) remove inappropriate or unreasonable prices from the retail price schedule in a consistent manner across all subcategories of goods, including the use of independent data when available.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

For cases in which independent cost-of-living indexes are not available to establish post allowance rates, OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration conduct and formally document an analysis to determine how to make the Washington, DC, prices used in the post allowance rate calculations reflective of the consumption patterns of the average salary level for a post employee stationed in a foreign area so that data are comparable between Washington, DC, and the overseas post. The Bureau of Administration should implement changes as necessary as a result of its analysis.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends the Bureau of Administration revise the Department of State Standardized Regulations for changes in the post allowance methodology as a result of implementing recommendations from this report.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration develop and implement standard operating procedures to specify how analysts maintain and update the base schools list.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration develop and implement standard operating procedures for selecting base schools by grade for posts that do not have Department of State-assisted schools.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration develop and implement standard operating procedures to maintain and update an independent list of the conclusions related to the adequacy of Department of State-assisted schools.
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration review and update voluntary and involuntary separate maintenance allowance rates in accordance with its internal standard operating procedures and update the rates in the Department of State Standardized Regulations accordingly.
Recommendation Number

11

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration develop and implement internal controls to ensure separate maintenance allowance rates are reviewed annually, as required.
Recommendation Number

12

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration develop and implement internal controls to ensure analysts document the results of their reviews and supervisors validate the procedures used to determine separate maintenance allowance rates.
Recommendation Number

13

Closed Implemented $1,700,000

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, in coordination with the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, determine and report to OIG the amount saved for the first pay period after the recalculated separate maintenance allowance rates is applied [Recommendation 10], which OIG estimated would have been $1.7 million from FY 2013 through FY2015.
Recommendation Number

14

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services develop and implement uniform guidance for use by overseas posts to identify education allowance payments by student to comply with Department of State Standardized Regulations. This process, at a minimum, should include setting up individual obligations by student for the education allowance and include documentation requirements. The process instructions should be disseminated to all posts and then formalized in relevant Foreign Affairs Manual or Foreign Affairs Handbook sections, accordingly.
Recommendation Number

15

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management determine the reason or reasons that the Contracting Officer failed to implement sufficient contractor oversight and assess whether disciplinary actions and revisions to the delegation structure or oversight roles need to be implemented for the eAllowances task order (SAQMMA17A0001).
Recommendation Number

16

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations, Office of Allowances, modify the quality assurance surveillance plan for the eAllowances task order (SAQMMA17A0001) to include a methodology to measure and document contractor performance in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Department of State policies.

Inspection of Embassy Skopje, Macedonia

ISP-I-17-40 August 2017

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

Embassy Skopje should implement a vehicle key control system for all official vehicles.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

Embassy Skopje should implement monthly inventory and reconciliation procedures for the bulk fuel supply.

Inconsistent Guidance Governing Property Controls Over Mobile Devices Left Department at Risk of Wasteful Spending

ISP-17-31 August 2017

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Administration should publish specific, clear and consistent guidance and procedures for the management, inventory, and tracking of smart phones and similar mobile devices.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Administration, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, should issue comprehensive guidance mandating the use of the Office of Mobile and Remote Access for procurement of mobile devices and service plans.

Capital Security Cost Sharing Program: Inconsistent Criteria for Managing Vacant Positions Resulted in Inaccurate Counts

ISP-I-17-30 August 2017

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

The Under Secretary for Management, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources, should implement consistent criteria for managing vacant positions overseas.

Compliance Follow-up Review: Department of State Has Not Implemented Recommendations Pertaining to Official Residence Expense Staff Salaries

ISP-C-17-32 August 2017

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Not Implemented

The Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources, should issue consistent guidance to overseas missions on the proper procedures for paying Official Residence Expense staff salaries within 30 days of the issuance of this report.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Not Implemented

The Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources, should revise and reissue consistent Foreign Affairs Manual and Foreign Affairs Handbook guidance on paying Official Residence Expense staff salaries within 6 months of the issuance of this report.

Audit of the Conventional Weapons Destruction Program in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lebanon

AUD-MERO-17-49 August 2017

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs conduct risk assessments and develop monitoring plans for the five grants identified in Table 2.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs conduct annual reviews of all risk assessments and monitoring plans for the twelve grants identified in Table 3 and update the plans as necessary.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs develop and implement internal controls to enforce the annual review and update of risk assessments and monitoring plans, as required by the Federal Assistance Directive.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs develop and implement a risk mitigation strategy for all risks identified for the 10 grants identified in Table 4.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs develop and implement internal controls to enforce procedures that require reviews of both performance progress reports and Federal financial reports in www.grantsolutions.gov.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs develop and implement procedures to obtain, review, and document in the corresponding grant files the reports prepared by the independent National Mine Actions Centers to enhance oversight of the grantees’ performance and the grant terms and conditions are followed.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs develop and implement internal controls to require the development of objectives with expected outcomes and target levels of achievement.

7467 recommendations in total

Last Updated: June 8th, 2026

Note: The information includes all open recommendations from reports that were issued October 1, 2014. Potential Monetary Benefits values are as stated in reports—subsequent Department and USAGM management decisions and actions may result in different values.

Includes unclassified recommendations in unclassified reports; also includes unclassified recommendations in SBU reports that are publicly available.
Includes SBU recommendations in SBU reports; also includes unclassified recommendations in SBU reports that are not publicly available.
Includes classified recommendations in classified reports; also includes unclassified recommendations in classified reports.

Recommendations

444

$15,045,004

134

$0

416

$218,173,822

0

$0

36

$0

0

$0